Artificial intelligence has the potential to revolutionise the way we learn and teach. As a tool in the classroom, AI can provide students with personalised learning experiences, automate repetitive tasks and provide instant feedback. However, it also has its limitations. Let us explore the pros and cons of AI as a tool in the classroom, address the concern that AI could be a threat to teachers’ and instructors’ jobs and discuss the role of edtech companies in advancing this AI use case. Advantages of AI in the Classroom One of the main advantages I see of AI in the classroom is personalised learning. Al-powered educational tools can analyse data on student performance and provide tailored support to improve their grades. AI can also provide instant feedback. For example, AI-powered educational tools can provide students with immediate feedback on their work, allowing them to identify and correct mistakes quickly. Another advantage of AI is its ability to automate repetitive tasks. It can grade assignments and quizzes, which can free up teachers’ time for other tasks, such as lesson planning and providing more one-on-one attention to students.

There are already a few AI tools that support learning in classroom or workplace contexts. For example, Ahura is an Al-powered learning assisant that tracks learning habits by observing attention and engagement. Knewton offers an adaptive learning platform that provides personalized learning experiences for English For Today students. Querium is an Al-powered tutor that provides students with step-by-step tutoring on math problems and builds personalized lesson plans. ALEKS is an Al-powered learning platform that provides individualized learning paths based on students’ strengths and weaknesses. Carnegie Learning offers an AI-powered tutor that helps students improve their math skills by providing personalised learning based on their performance. There’s also Smart Sparrow, which allows users to provide constructive feedback that is unique to each student. Finally, Gradescope is an Al-powered grading tool that automates the grading process, which can free up teachers’ time and alle students.

These are just a few examples of Al tools with applications in the classroom. It is important to note that these tools should not replace teachers but rather assist them in their work.

Downsides and Challenges of AI in the Classroom

Some teachers and instructors may see AI as a threat to their jobs, believing it will automate their tasks and make them redundant. But it is important to note that AI is not meant to replace teachers but rather to assist them in their work. Al is a tool and should be developed and used as such. There are also negatives to consider, one of which is the cost of developing and implementing Al-powered educational tools. This can be a significant barrier for schools and teachers who need more resources to invest in AI technology. There is also the lack of human interaction and emotional support that students receive when using Al-powered educational tools. While AI can provide personalized learning and instant feedback, it cannot replace the human and emotional support that students need to succeed, and relying too heavily on Al-powered educational tools may impact students negatively.

Privacy concerns are also a limitation of AI in the classroom. AI-powered educational tools may collect and store sensitive personal data, which raises concerns about privacy and security.

The Role of EdTech Companies

Edtech companies play a crucial role in advancing the use of AI in the classroom and ensuring that it is used ethically and responsibly. To do so, they should consider the following:

1. Cost: The cost of developing and implementing AI-powered educational tools can be a significant barrier for schools and teachers. Edtech companies should work to make Al AI technology accessible to a broader range of schools and teachers and explore alternative funding options, such as grants or partnerships, to help offset the costs.

2. Human interaction: Al-powered educational tools cannot replace the human and emotional support that students need to succeed. Edtech companies should aim to develop AI tools that augment, rather than replace, the role of teachers and provide students with a well-rounded education that includes both personalized learning and human interaction.

3. Privacy and security: Privacy concerns are a significant limitation of AI in the classroom. Edtech companies must ensure that the sensitive personal data collected and stored by Al-powered educational tools are properly secured and that privacy is maintained.

4. Improved Al capabilities: Current AI-powered educational tools have limitations, such as a lack of creativity and originality and a limited understanding of context. Edtech companies should aim to improve Al capabilities and overcome these limitations to create more advanced, innovative and effective AI tools for the classroom.

5. Ethical considerations: Edtech companies should consider the ethical implications of Al technology in education and develop AI tools in a transparent, fair and responsible manner. They must also ensure that they develop and use AI tools in accordance with the laws and regulations governing data privacy, security and intellectual property.

In conclusion, Al has the potential to be a valuable addition to the classroom. Still, edtech companies should develop AI tools with caution and in collaboration with teachers, educators and students to ensure that they are helpful, ethical and effective in meeting the needs of learners. I believe that AI could revolutionise the way we teach and learn.

Bangla Translation: কৃত্রিম বুদ্ধিমত্তা (AI) শিক্ষাদানের এবং শেখার পদ্ধতিতে বিপ্লব আনতে সক্ষম। শ্রেণীকক্ষে একটি টুল হিসেবে AI শিক্ষার্থীদের জন্য ব্যক্তিগত শিক্ষার অভিজ্ঞতা প্রদান করতে পারে, পুনরাবৃত্তিমূলক কাজগুলি স্বয়ংক্রিয় করতে পারে এবং তাৎক্ষণিক প্রতিক্রিয়া দিতে পারে। তবে, এর কিছু সীমাবদ্ধতাও রয়েছে। আসুন, AI-এর শ্রেণীকক্ষের টুল হিসেবে সুবিধা এবং অসুবিধাগুলি বিশ্লেষণ করি, AI শিক্ষক প্রশিক্ষকদের চাকরির জন্য হুমকি হয়ে উঠতে পারে কি না তা নিয়ে উদ্বেগ আলোচনা করি এবং এই ক্ষেত্রে অগ্রগতি সাধনে এডটেক কোম্পানিগুলোর ভূমিকা নিয়ে কথা বলি।

শ্রেণীকক্ষে AI-এর সুবিধাসমূহ

AI-এর একটি প্রধান সুবিধা হলো ব্যক্তিগত শেখার সুযোগ। AI চালিত শিক্ষা টুলগুলো শিক্ষার্থীদের পারফরম্যান্সের তথ্য বিশ্লেষণ করে এবং তাদের গ্রেড উন্নত করার জন্য উপযুক্ত সহায়তা প্রদান করে। এছাড়া, AI তাৎক্ষণিক প্রতিক্রিয়া দিতে পারে। উদাহরণস্বরূপ, AI চালিত শিক্ষা টুলগুলো শিক্ষার্থীদের কাজের উপর তাত্ক্ষণিক প্রতিক্রিয়া প্রদান করে, যার ফলে তারা দ্রুত ভুলগুলো শনাক্ত সংশোধন করতে পারে। AI পুনরাবৃত্তিমূলক কাজগুলোকেও স্বয়ংক্রিয় করতে সক্ষম, যেমন অ্যাসাইনমেন্ট বা কুইজের মূল্যায়ন, যা শিক্ষকদের সময় বাঁচাতে পারে এবং তাদের পাঠ পরিকল্পনা বা শিক্ষার্থীদের সাথে একান্ত মনোযোগ দেওয়ার জন্য বেশি সময় প্রদান করতে পারে।

এরই মধ্যে কিছু AI টুল শেখার ক্ষেত্রে ব্যবহার করা হচ্ছে। উদাহরণস্বরূপ, Ahura হলো একটি AI চালিত লার্নিং অ্যাসিস্ট্যান্ট যা মনোযোগ সম্পৃক্ততা পর্যবেক্ষণ করে শেখার অভ্যাস ট্র্যাক করে। Knewton শিক্ষার্থীদের জন্য একটি অ্যাডাপ্টিভ লার্নিং প্ল্যাটফর্ম প্রদান করে। Querium AI-চালিত টিউটর যা গণিত সমস্যাগুলোর ধাপে ধাপে সমাধান এবং ব্যক্তিগত পাঠ পরিকল্পনা তৈরি করে। এছাড়া, ALEKS, Carnegie Learning, এবং Gradescopeএর মতো টুলগুলো শ্রেণীকক্ষের কার্যক্রম সহজতর করে এবং শিক্ষকদের কাজের সহায়ক হয়।

এইসব টুল শিক্ষককে প্রতিস্থাপন করার উদ্দেশ্যে নয়, বরং তাদের কাজ সহজতর করার জন্য তৈরি।

শ্রেণীকক্ষে AI-এর চ্যালেঞ্জসমূহ

কিছু শিক্ষক মনে করেন, AI তাদের কাজ প্রতিস্থাপন করবে এবং তাদের চাকরি হুমকির মুখে ফেলবে। তবে এটি বোঝা গুরুত্বপূর্ণ যে AI শিক্ষকদের কাজ প্রতিস্থাপন নয়, বরং তাদের সহায়তার জন্য একটি টুল। AI-এর আরেকটি চ্যালেঞ্জ হলো এই প্রযুক্তির উন্নয়ন বাস্তবায়নের উচ্চ খরচ। এছাড়াও, AI-চালিত টুলগুলোর মাধ্যমে শিক্ষার্থীরা মানবিক এবং আবেগগত সহায়তা থেকে বঞ্চিত হতে পারে, যা তাদের সাফল্যের জন্য অপরিহার্য। AI-এর উপর অতিরিক্ত নির্ভরতা শিক্ষার্থীদের নেতিবাচক প্রভাব ফেলতে পারে।

গোপনীয়তা সম্পর্কিত উদ্বেগও একটি বড় চ্যালেঞ্জ। AI চালিত টুলগুলো প্রায়শই ব্যক্তিগত তথ্য সংগ্রহ করে, যা গোপনীয়তা নিরাপত্তার জন্য হুমকি হতে পারে।

এডটেক কোম্পানিগুলোর ভূমিকা

এডটেক কোম্পানিগুলো AI-এর সঠিক ব্যবহার নিশ্চিত করতে গুরুত্বপূর্ণ ভূমিকা পালন করে। তাদের উচিত নিম্নলিখিত বিষয়গুলো বিবেচনা করা:

খরচ: AI প্রযুক্তি আরও বেশি বিদ্যালয় শিক্ষকদের কাছে সাশ্রয়ী করতে কাজ করা।

মানবিক মিথস্ক্রিয়া: AI টুলগুলো এমনভাবে তৈরি করা উচিত যা শিক্ষকের ভূমিকা বৃদ্ধি করে, প্রতিস্থাপন নয়।

গোপনীয়তা নিরাপত্তা: AI টুলের মাধ্যমে সংগৃহীত ডেটা সুরক্ষিত এবং গোপনীয় রাখা।

উন্নত AI ক্ষমতা: বর্তমান AI টুলগুলোর সীমাবদ্ধতা, যেমন সৃজনশীলতার অভাব, কাটিয়ে আরও কার্যকর টুল তৈরি করা।

নৈতিকতা: AI প্রযুক্তির উন্নয়ন ব্যবহার স্বচ্ছ, ন্যায্য এবং দায়িত্বশীল হতে হবে।

সর্বশেষে, AI শ্রেণীকক্ষে একটি মূল্যবান সংযোজন হতে পারে। তবে এটি শিক্ষার্থী, শিক্ষক এবং শিক্ষাবিদদের সঙ্গে একযোগে কাজ করে উন্নত, নৈতিক এবং কার্যকরী শিক্ষা সরঞ্জাম তৈরির মাধ্যমে বাস্তবায়িত হওয়া উচিত। AI শিক্ষাদানের এবং শেখার পদ্ধতিতে বিপ্লব আনতে পারে বলে আমি বিশ্বাস করি।

A. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives:

  1. How can edtech companies improve accessibility?
    By creating high-cost tools
    ii. By offering grants or partnerships
    iii. By limiting features
    iv. By avoiding global markets
  2. What is one advantage of AI in the classroom?
    Increased distractions
    ii. Personalized learning experiences
    iii. Replacing teachers
    iv. Lack of interaction
  3. What does AI automate to save teachers’ time?
    Classroom decorations
    ii. Grading assignments
    iii. Writing textbooks
    iv. Organizing field trips
  4. What kind of feedback can AI provide?
    Slow feedback
    ii. Instant feedback
    iii. Delayed feedback
    iv. No feedback
  5. Which AI tool tracks learning habits?
    Querium
    ii. Ahura
    iii. ALEKS
    iv. Knewton
  6. Which AI platform provides step-by-step math tutoring?
    Smart Sparrow
    ii. Querium
    iii. Gradescope
    iv. Knewton
  7. What is ALEKS primarily used for?
    Creative writing
    ii. Individualized learning paths
    iii. Virtual tours
    iv. Class discussions
  8. What does Gradescope automate?
    Lesson planning
    ii. Grading
    iii. Attendance
    iv. Scheduling meetings
  9. Which AI tool focuses on adaptive learning for English students?
    Smart Sparrow
    ii. Ahura
    iii. Knewton
    iv. ALEKS
  10. What is a major concern regarding AI in education?
    Overqualified teachers
    ii. Privacy and security issues
    iii. High emotional intelligence
    iv. Lack of technological support
  11. Why is human interaction important in education?
    To improve AI capabilities
    ii. To provide emotional support
    iii. To increase the cost of tools
    iv. To enhance automation
  12. Which document outlines students’ human rights?
    Universal Declaration of Human Rights
    ii. AI Ethics Code
    iii. Teachers’ Code of Conduct
    iv. International AI Standards
  13. How does AI help students correct mistakes?
    By highlighting their names
    ii. By providing immediate feedback
    iii. By assigning tutors
    iv. By delaying results
  14. What is the main purpose of AI tools in education?
    Replacing teachers
    ii. Assisting teachers
    iii. Reducing class size
    iv. Automating all school functions
  15. What is an ethical consideration for edtech companies?
    Reducing teacher salaries
    ii. Securing sensitive personal data
    iii. Limiting access to technology
    iv. Encouraging teacher replacements
  16. What is Smart Sparrow known for?
    Teaching science experiments
    ii. Providing unique feedback
    iii. Writing essays
    iv. Creating games
  17. Which of the following is a limitation of AI tools?
    Instant feedback
    ii. High implementation cost
    iii. Automation of grading
    iv. Personalized lesson plans
  18. What do edtech companies need to improve in AI tools?
    Limited creativity
    ii. Grading speed
    iii. Standardized lesson plans
    iv. Reducing teacher involvement
  19. How can AI support teachers?
    By managing administrative tasks
    ii. By replacing their roles
    iii. By making manual corrections
    iv. By reducing student participation
  20. Which AI tool helps in building personalized lesson plans?
    Querium
    ii. Gradescope
    iii. ALEKS
    iv. Smart Sparrow
  21. What role should AI play in classrooms?
    Lead teaching efforts
    ii. Assist teachers and students
    iii. Eliminate teaching jobs
    iv. Replace classroom discussions
  22. What can heavy reliance on AI cause in students?
    Improved interaction
    ii. Lack of human support
    iii. Increased emotional intelligence
    iv. Better teamwork
  23. How do AI tools benefit students?
    By automating lessons
    ii. By providing tailored support
    iii. By creating test papers
    iv. By removing classroom stress
  24. What aspect of privacy concerns people regarding AI tools?
    The cost of tools
    ii. Storing sensitive personal data
    iii. Lack of creativity
    iv. Delayed responses
  25. Which AI tool helps students improve their math skills?
    Ahura
    ii. Knewton
    iii. Carnegie Learning
    iv. Gradescope
  26. What should edtech companies focus on to ensure AI is ethical?
    Teacher replacement
    ii. Transparent development
    iii. Fast automation
    iv. Competitive pricing
  27. What barrier does the high cost of AI tools create?
    Reduced class size
    ii. Limited access to technology
    iii. Lowered teaching standards
    iv. Increased efficiency
  28. Why is the cost of AI tools an issue?
    Schools have limited resources
    ii. They lack modern technology
    iii. They are overly complicated
    iv. Teachers resist change
  29. Which organization oversees human rights declarations?
    UNESCO
    ii. United Nations
    iii. AI Ethics Council
    iv. National School Boards
  30. What is one way AI supports teachers?
    By replacing their roles
    ii. By automating repetitive tasks
    iii. By limiting student participation
    iv. By increasing class size
  31. Which of the following is a key benefit of AI in education?
    Delayed learning feedback
    ii. Personalized learning paths
    iii. Reducing the number of teachers
    iv. Automating communication between students
  32. What type of feedback does AI offer to students?
    Delayed feedback
    ii. Instant feedback
    iii. Inconsistent feedback
    iv. Minimal feedback
  33. Which AI tool specializes in math tutoring?
    Gradescope
    ii. ALEKS
    iii. Smart Sparrow
    iv. Ahura
  34. What is a limitation of AI in the classroom?
    High teacher involvement
    ii. Lack of human interaction
    iii. Low implementation costs
    iv. Overdependence on textbooks
  35. What does “privacy concerns” in AI refer to?
    Students’ exam scores
    ii. Data collection and storage issues
    iii. Lack of technological advancements
    iv. Excessive teacher interactions
  36. How can AI improve students’ performance?
    By reducing exam schedules
    ii. By identifying weak areas and providing support
    iii. By removing personalized study plans
    iv. By delaying their learning process
  37. What is an important responsibility of edtech companies?
    Making teachers redundant
    ii. Ensuring ethical development of AI tools
    iii. Focusing on offline tools only
    iv. Replacing traditional classrooms
  38. Why might schools hesitate to implement AI tools?
    Lack of qualified teachers
    ii. High development and implementation costs
    iii. AI tools’ slow learning pace
    iv. Low student engagement
  39. What is the focus of Carnegie Learning?
    Science lessons
    ii. Math skill improvement
    iii. Historical research
    iv. Language development
  40. How can AI tools complement teachers?
    By taking full control of classrooms
    ii. By assisting in grading and lesson planning
    iii. By limiting creativity in the classroom
    iv. By reducing the role of physical classrooms
  41. What is one ethical issue edtech companies must address?
    The automation of teachers’ tasks
    ii. Privacy and security of student data
    iii. Delayed use of AI tools
    iv. Removal of student interaction
  42. Which AI tool is used for automating grading?
    ALEKS
    ii. Querium
    iii. Gradescope
    iv. Knewton
  43. How do tools like Querium help students?
    By focusing on only one subject
    ii. By providing step-by-step tutoring
    iii. By eliminating classroom assessments
    iv. By increasing workload
  44. What is an example of personalized learning in AI?
    Assigning identical lessons to all students
    ii. Creating learning paths based on performance
    iii. Randomly assigning topics
    iv. Removing individual feedback
  45. Why is the human aspect important in education?
    It ensures emotional and social support for students
    ii. It decreases interaction in the classroom
    iii. It focuses on technical solutions only
    iv. It limits students’ creative skills
  46. What is one downside of relying heavily on AI?
    Reduced access to online tutorials
    ii. Overdependence and lack of emotional support
    iii. Increased classroom interaction
    iv. Faster grading processes
  47. What should schools prioritize when introducing AI?
    Cutting down teaching staff
    ii. Enhancing human-AI collaboration
    iii. Reducing student interaction
    iv. Delaying its adoption
  48. Which of the following AI tools provides constructive feedback?
    Smart Sparrow
    ii. Querium
    iii. ALEKS
    iv. Ahura
  49. Why are edtech companies critical in AI’s development?
    They decide how teachers should teach
    ii. They ensure responsible and effective AI use
    iii. They reduce student participation in learning
    iv. They focus on building non-interactive tools
  50. What can excessive use of AI in classrooms lead to?
    Improved interpersonal skills
    ii. Reduced emotional and human interaction
    iii. Increased focus on teamwork
    iv. Enhanced teaching creativity
  51. What is one example of an AI-powered learning assistant?
    Gradescope
    ii. Ahura
    iii. Smart Sparrow
    iv. Carnegie Learning
  52. What can personalized feedback from AI improve?
    Group work efficiency
    ii. Individual student performance
    iii. Classroom layout
    iv. Grading consistency
  53. Which AI tool is specifically designed for English students?
    Knewton
    ii. Querium
    iii. ALEKS
    iv. Gradescope
  54. What is a key concern for schools implementing AI tools?
    Teacher availability
    ii. High costs and budget constraints
    iii. Student interest in AI
    iv. Increased focus on traditional methods
  55. What aspect of AI tools is beneficial for teachers?
    Eliminating classroom discussions
    ii. Automating repetitive tasks
    iii. Focusing solely on theoretical concepts
    iv. Encouraging no interaction
  56. What does “adaptive learning” mean?
    Standardized learning for all students
    ii. Customizing lessons based on student needs
    iii. Eliminating feedback mechanisms
    iv. Focusing only on advanced learners
  57. Which tool offers unique, constructive student feedback?
    Querium
    ii. Smart Sparrow
    iii. ALEKS
    iv. Knewton
  58. What is a significant limitation of current AI tools?
    Creativity and originality
    ii. Speed of grading
    iii. Data collection processes
    iv. Teacher involvement
  59. What is one positive impact of AI on teachers’ workloads?
    Reducing classroom sizes
    ii. Automating grading tasks
    iii. Limiting creativity
    iv. Replacing human involvement
  60. Why is it important to balance AI and teacher roles in classrooms?
    To reduce costs
    ii. To provide holistic education
    iii. To minimize student involvement
    iv. To fully automate learning

B. Answer the following questions:

  1. What potential does AI have in the field of education?
  2. How does AI provide personalized learning in the classroom?
  3. What types of tasks can AI automate for teachers?
  4. Why is instant feedback important for students?
  5. Where can AI-powered tools be used in education?
  6. Who benefits from personalized learning paths created by AI?
  7. What is the role of edtech companies in advancing AI in education?
  8. How does AI help teachers focus on other tasks?
  9. Why do some educators see AI as a threat to their jobs?
  10. What are the limitations of AI in the classroom?
  11. What does Ahura track in students?
  12. How does Knewton support personalized learning?
  13. Where is Querium used as a tutoring tool?
  14. What does ALEKS focus on in student learning?
  15. How does Carnegie Learning help students?
  16. Which AI tool automates the grading process?
  17. What feedback does Smart Sparrow provide?
  18. Who can benefit from Gradescope’s automated grading feature?
  19. What are some examples of AI tools used in the classroom?
  20. How do AI-powered tools like Querium create lesson plans?
  21. Why is human interaction essential in education?
  22. How does AI affect emotional support for students?
  23. What are the privacy concerns associated with AI tools?
  24. Why are AI implementation costs a challenge for schools?
  25. How can edtech companies reduce the cost of AI tools?
  26. What is a downside of relying too heavily on AI in education?
  27. How can overdependence on AI impact students negatively?
  28. Why is ethical development of AI tools important?
  29. What issues can arise from AI collecting personal data?
  30. How can AI tools assist teachers instead of replacing them?
  31. What kind of feedback does AI provide to students?
  32. How do AI tools analyze student performance?
  33. What is meant by adaptive learning in AI tools?
  34. How does AI improve efficiency for teachers?
  35. Why is creativity a limitation for current AI tools?
  36. What type of support does ALEKS provide?
  37. How does AI help students with immediate corrections?
  38. What are some innovative capabilities of AI in classrooms?
  39. How do AI-powered tools foster personalized support?
  40. What is the significance of step-by-step tutoring in Querium?
  41. Why should edtech companies focus on improving AI capabilities?
  42. How can edtech companies address privacy concerns?
  43. What ethical considerations should edtech companies keep in mind?
  44. How can edtech companies ensure their tools remain accessible?
  45. What are the regulations edtech companies must follow?
  46. Why should edtech companies collaborate with teachers?
  47. How can edtech companies ensure their tools are inclusive?
  48. What should edtech companies prioritize when creating AI tools?
  49. How can partnerships help schools afford AI-powered tools?
  50. What measures can edtech companies take to improve students’ AI experiences?