Education is dynamic, and as it changes in response to technological advancements, more tools have become available to educators. The use of technology in the classroom is well established. Educators and leadership have many tools that can make planning, implementation, evaluation and iteration much easier than ever before. The flexibility and accuracy of technological tools has helped transform education.
Education has entered the artificial intelligence (AI) phase, and a whole host of uses have emerged around it. St. Thomas University (STU) has integrated AI and other technology into its curriculum to help educational leaders stand out as specialized digital practitioners and instructors. STU offers a Master of Science (MS) in Educational Leadership online program as well as a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership – Digital Instruction and Distance Learning online program for educators seeking to develop top-level leadership skills.
How AI Is Used in Education
The adoption of AI in education is not uniform and remains in its early stages. Many schools are still in the exploratory stage and are just beginning to develop strategies for implementation. Common ways AI tools are currently being used in education include:
- Adaptive learning systems that adjust content and pace based on student performance
- Chatbots and virtual assistants to support student inquiries and provide guidance
- Automated essay scoring and feedback tools
- Predictive analytics to identify students at risk of falling behind or dropping out
- Intelligent tutoring systems that provide targeted support and feedback
Educators who are new to AI in education have various concerns, including data privacy, staff training, technological challenges and maintaining a human connection in teaching and learning. Research helps identify ways AI can be utilized, which is vital for obtaining buy-in from teachers and administrators. A good approach is to set clear goals, develop a strategy and start small by piloting some AI tools for specific purposes, such as homework support, essay feedback and gathering feedback from students and teachers.
Successful Teacher AI Collaborations
According to the World Economic Forum, 71% of teachers and 65% of students say that AI tools are essential for students’ success in college and in the workplace. The goal is not to replace teachers, but to enhance their capabilities in ways that were previously impossible. The prediction is that the global AI in the education market will grow from $5.18 billion in 2024 to $112.3 billion by 2034.
Some ways AI has been used successfully in education include Squirrel Ai and Carnegie Learning’s MATHia. Squirrel Ai is a hybrid education company that offers an extensive adaptive model learning system through personalized learning paths. Student question accuracy rates have improved from 78% to 93% using this system.
Carnegie Learning’s MATHia platform combines teacher guidance with sophisticated AI that not only checks student accuracy, but also how they think through each problem. This allows teachers to see in real time if students are struggling and identify specific skill gaps so they can focus on what’s needed.
Generative AI tools, like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Anthropic’s Claude, enable teachers to create differentiated lesson plans in minutes. This allows educators to spend less time preparing and more time guiding and inspiring students.
Strategic Planning and Readiness for AI Implementation in Education
A recent case study on the use of AI in education found that the primary goals of AI-related strategic planning in higher education are related to supporting students. While most institutions don’t want to fall behind and are motivated to develop AI-related strategies, educators are concerned about the inappropriate use of AI by students in their courses.
The three highest-ranking goals of AI-related strategic planning as reported by survey respondents in this study are preparing students for the future workforce, exploring new methods of teaching and learning and improving higher education for the greater good. In furtherance of these goals, institutions provide training for faculty, staff and students.
Core areas of implementation of AI in higher education include using AI-powered platforms to personalize learning experiences for students, transforming curriculum design and professional development for faculty, enhancing administrative efficiency and addressing ethical and security concerns. Collaboration between virtual and in-person learning yields a hybrid learning model that is flexible and combines the best aspects of both environments.
Professional Development and Technology-forward Leadership
Educational leadership needs a solid foundation in technology and opportunities that AI can bring to the classroom. Digital learning, in all its various forms, is here to stay, and AI technology holds incredible potential to transform the learning experience.
Educators who want the knowledge and skills to become leaders in their community within the public school system or beyond can gain the expertise they need through the MS in Educational Leadership online program from St. Thomas University. Among the courses in this curriculum, students will learn about how to use technology for both administrative and instructional purposes.
STU’s online Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership – Digital Instruction and Distance Learning program will position graduates as subject matter experts in the field of cyberlearning. This is a highly specialized Ed.D. program that will prepare graduates to strengthen their pedagogical techniques by incorporating a range of technological instructional resources, discover new ways to promote technical skills that can be applied in real-world settings and learn to embed safety precautions when teaching students how to collaborate in digital learning environments.
Learn more about STU’s online Master of Science in Educational Leadership and Doctor of Education in Education Leadership – Digital Instruction and Distance Learning programs.
