Global Market for Artificial Intelligence for Higher Education to Grow by 2020
Higher education has undergone a palpable change in the past decades with the appearance of social media, smartphones, and various other technologies on the learning landscape. Artificial Intelligence is one of the key technologies in bringing about this educational overhaul. With its arrival on the scene, we are constantly moving towards smart, personalized automation which promotes productive learning behaviors.
A report by the research firm Technavio states that the global market for artificial intelligence for higher education sector is projected to grow at a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 39% by 2020! Not surprised? I was also not. With the rising infiltration of Artificial Intelligence technologies in all walks of life, it is only normal that education followed suit.
The question is how has AI changed higher education, if at all. Has it been welcomed with equal fervor worldwide? Is it gaining traction at the same pace across campuses globally? These questions require extensive deliberation and are beyond the scope of this article but working in the US higher education sector for the last some years, I have gained ample insight about AI’s ramifications on US campuses.
Artificial Intelligence for Higher Education-
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For the Learners and the Instructors:
AI-powered systems are complementing in-class teaching, creating customized content, providing personalized guidance to students, and assisting teachers through intelligent moderation.
For example, Intelligent One-on-One Tutoring Systems like Carnegie Learning or Third Space Learning, uses AI technology to customize learning based on the unique needs of individuals rather than following a “one-size-fits-all” approach. AI Teaching assistants like Georgia Tech professor Ashok Goel’s Jill Watson reduce the workload of instructors while ensuring that the students have access to help at all hours without the teacher having to put in extra time.
Artificial intelligence is being used with predictive analytics to identify critical patterns that can better a learner’s or teacher’s experience. It can learn students’ habits and propose the most efficient study schedules for them. It helps teachers find gaps in their teachings and points to where students are struggling with the subject matter.
The whole premise of AI in Higher Education is centered on improving student learning and assisting the teachers in their roles.
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For Educational Organizations:
For the educational institutions, AI’s smart automation is proving instrumental in cutting down operational costs, yielding better results, improving student satisfaction rates, and increasing their enrollment and retention rates considerably.
For example, educational institutions can adopt AI in their Help Desk Services and automate the repetitive tasks cutting down help desk costs. They can use AI to identify students at risk of attrition from their historical data and intervene in time to increase retention and graduation rates.
Besides the one-time implementation costs, AI proves to be quite cost-effective for the user-institutions. It works 24 hours, does repetitive and time-consuming tasks without losing efficiency.
The bottom-line is…
While its emergence might be sporadic, AI as technology in educational organizations is gaining traction at an unprecedented pace. It might not resolve all our systemic challenges but it is certain to help us bridge some glaring gaps in our teaching and learning methods.
Anthony Banford is an esteemed executive with 19 years of experience in technology, consulting, and education. He begins his latest chapter as Chief Revenue Officer at BlackBeltHelp, aiming to innovate in the higher education support industry. His move follows a successful stint as Head of Revenue at StudentBridge since March 2023, where he significantly contributed to the company’s merger with Full Measure Education, enhancing its service offerings.
Todd Hollrah joins BlackBeltHelp bringing 25+ years of experience managing service delivery operations for several Fortune 500 clients around the globe. After a distinguished career as an executive in the BPO industry, Todd will provide critical insight into building an exceptional customer experience combining both live voice and automated solutions.
Inspired by a family computer that always needed fixing, Chris Uthe has submerged himself in business and technology for the last 20 years. His first company, a PC repair and networking business, was started at just 16 and successfully fueled a deep interest in solving problems as he helped business customers throughout his hometown adopt technology into their business. He would go on to successfully run a media & managed IT company before joining the Ed Tech industry with a successful 13-year tenure within an ERP/SIS company leading the Student Portal & Learning Management division. His last startup, EdSolio, helped to fuel the winds of competency-based education by providing a comprehensive view of a student’s work and achievements. Chris is now focused on creating successful learners by ensuring the highest quality help and support through the use of AI backed toolsets spending the last 3 years in the student engagement and support markets.
Quaiser Absar is the Chief Technology Officer and Director of Institutional Computing at Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia.
Bringing in over 2 decades of experience with him, Manish has ensured seamless operations in terms of client delivery, reporting & analytics, quality, training, and transitions with a special focus on technical integrations to help reduce costs and improve the bottom-line.
Anthony has served higher education in diverse, leadership roles for over 30 years and has helped organizations thrive through his expertise in developing, analyzing, and executing growth strategies. Prior to joining BlackBeltHelp, he served in College Administration as well as in leadership roles within Blackboard Student Services and Ellucian, Inc.
Accomplished IT Specialist and Manager with extensive experience in a higher education setting and demonstrated abilities to effectively manage both student and professional staff. Self-motivated problem solver, who is skilled in managing many issues and prioritizing their importance to find resolutions in a timely and effective manner. Possesses strong abilities to adapt to new technologies by extrapolating from existing experience. Possess first-rate communication and collaboration skills to work with diverse groups effectively.
Lila Buytendorp has been serving as the Director of User Services at Moraine Park Technical College (MPTC) since 2000. In this role she is responsible for staff & lab desktop computing and end user support. She guides and supports technology based on the curriculum needs and ensures technology is implemented to support the emerging needs of the college. She builds and supports integrated systems to improve efficiencies and uses technologies to support data-driven decision making. Lila is a member of the Capital Projects Planning and Design Committee to ensure new or remodeled facilities have appropriate technology.