Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1500456
5.12.19 12 Alexiei Dingli Prof Alexiei Dingli is a Professor of AI at the University of Malta and has been conducting research and working in the field of AI for more than two decades, assisting different companies to implement AI solutions. He forms part of the Malta.AI task-force, set up by the Maltese government, aimed at making Malta one of the top AI countries in the world OPINION 1.6.2023 Is AI disrupting assessments or reshaping learning? R esisting the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into education would be like trying to stop the sea tide – impossible and unproductive. Moreover, not equipping our students with AI literacy could disadvantage them in our global- ly-connected world, where tech- nology is evolving at lightning speed. Let's start from the top prem- ise that education isn't a sprint; it's more of a marathon. e finish line isn't simply a certifi- cate or diploma but the growth of a well-rounded individual who is also a lifelong learner. is education journey should be tailored to each individual, promoting inclusivity, creativ- ity, problem-solving, cultural understanding, and ethical dis- cernment. So, if AI seems to be upending our traditional assess- ment methods, we might need to revisit and reframe those methods, not reject the tech- nology. After all, we all know that transformative artefacts like books, which revolution- ized the spread of knowledge, once faced similar scepticism. Let's take a trip down memory lane: not too long ago, research meant ordering academic pa- pers from a library and wait- ing months for them to arrive. e advent of Google changed everything, making informa- tion instantly accessible at our fingertips. Today, AI models like ChatGPT have ushered in a new era of information extrac- tion: ask a smart query, and you immediately get a comprehen- sive, well-articulated text re- sponse. erefore, withholding AI knowledge from students would be as counterproduc- tive as neglecting to teach basic skills like reading, writing, and arithmetic. Numerous AI tools are emerg- ing daily, but even the best de- tection tools struggle to tell AI-generated content apart from the human-produced text. For instance, Originality. ai claims to identify AI-pro- duced content with 96% accu- racy but often mistakenly flags human-written text. e most striking example of this involves cases in which passages from the Bible were erroneously marked as AI-generated. is failure is one of many and only reflects the complexity behind the issue. However, instead of instilling fear, we should direct our ef- forts towards creating AI usage guidelines that foster high-or- der level thinking skills, such as evaluation, synthesis, analysis, and application. Pedagogical ap- proaches like the flipped class- room – where students learn new content independently at home, using class time for col- laborative discussion and prob- lem-solving – could be increas- ingly valuable in this context. While traditional methods like quizzes, oral presentations, class discussions, peer reviews, project-based assessments, reflective journals, self-assess- ments, and portfolios remain effective, we must also explore and embrace innovative teach- ing strategies. ese may in- volve activities that promote students' strengths and pas- sions, like organising coding competitions (game jams), di- recting radio shows, designing a visual novel or even writing a poem. AI can be a beneficial tool that encourages creativity, supports active learning, and assists in organizing thoughts. It can even be a brainstorm- ing partner, helping students expand their ideas. erefore, knowing our students have ac- cess to these advanced tools and expect them to use them, we should also raise our expec- tations. AI is not only a powerful tool for students, but it also equips teachers with innovative meth- ods to enrich the learning pro- cess. It can simplify tasks like curating resources, personaliz- ing learning paths, and gener- ating new learning materials. Consider an English literature class where AI assists in creat- ing unique prompts for drama, thereby encouraging creativity. In a history class, AI can easily roleplay as a historical char- acter. It can act as an educator offering initial feedback when evaluating students' work, free- ing-up teachers for more per- sonalized student engagement. In specialized subjects like bi- ology or math, it can curate rel- evant resources or tailor learn- ing paths to individual needs. Similarly, AI can offer instant translations in language classes to support language learning. It could fuse learning styles in art classes or generate coding challenges in computer science, nurturing creativity and prob- lem-solving skills. AI can bring subjects to life through the gamification of books or by creating challeng- ing social simulations in an economics class. It can assist in processing large datasets in statistics, contribute to student well-being by addressing stress management queries in health classes, and even stimulate crit- ical thinking by generating ethi- cal dilemmas in philosophy. e possibilities are vast and varied. Whether generating narratives for geography field trips or melodies for music composition, AI is an invalua- ble assistant in the education realm, paving the way for dy- namic, interactive, and person- alized learning experiences. It would be an untold tragedy if educators failed to use it. e way forward is, without a doubt, to integrate AI into the curriculum. We must en- sure transparency and set clear guidelines. Hands-on learning activities should go hand in hand with discussions about the potential impact of AI. Intro- ducing real-world applications of AI encourages students to stay updated with technological developments and ensures that education stays relevant. Re- member, the goal isn't to replace learning with AI but to use it to enhance learning experiences and outcomes. erefore, in the face of AI's influence on assessments, we should adapt our teaching and assessment methods rather than resist the technology, en- suring a holistic, personalized, and engaging learning journey for all.