The rise of HyFlex learning in the Philippines calls for the need for students and educators to be adept in technology while at the same time, reaping the benefits of in-person classes. The new learning mode offers the best of both worlds and prepares the community for a brighter and more inclusive future.
HyFlex education also incorporates Artificial Intelligence, or AI, as the backbone in creating personalized learning and student assessment. There’s no question that AI makes everything faster, easier, and more convenient, but is it the best tool for dealing with students?
AI AND PERSONALIZED LEARNING
One of the most interesting ideas of using AI as a tool for education is its potential to improve personalized learning. AI-powered educational platforms can gather, store, and distribute learning materials to students and teachers. At the same time, AI can evaluate vast amounts of student data and tailor a specialized learning experience based on their preferences, behavior, and progress.
There’s no sci-fi reason behind AI, but it can take learning to leaps and bounds if administrators give it the green light. As an example, AI can detect if a student is struggling with a certain subject or who is having difficulty understanding a particular concept. It can then scour its resources, and provide additional information, alternative explanations, and easy-to-understand exercises to help the student jump over the hurdle.
On the flip side, students who are doing well and excelling can improve even more when AI offers more challenging materials for engagement and motivation. This is exactly one of the prime reasons why students, parents, and teachers can take advantage of AI since HyFlex also encourages students to use technology as part of their learning curve.
AI AND STUDENT ASSESSMENT
Student assessment is still a gray zone when it comes to the use of AI. Most parents and stakeholders would agree that human intervention is best when assessing students since it comes with a more direct and personalized approach. Likewise, teachers can form a bond with students wherein they can directly talk to them and offer insights and help even during after-class hours
Conversely, AI delves deeper into the student’s abilities and overall progress for a more comprehensive evaluation of their performance. For instance, AI can track a student’s interaction with the learning materials provided by the school, as well as their capacity to solve problems, emotional engagement, and the like. These important data can then be used by teachers to assess each student as they make their way to higher education.
This is particularly applicable to the Philippines, where the country is facing a shortage of teachers. Trinity University of Asia quoted DepEd Undersecretary for Human Resources and Organization Development Gloria Jumamil-Mercado when she said that the teacher-student ratio in the Philippines stands at 1:40.
One teacher to 40 students. This, paired with limited resources, can oftentimes spell disaster. AI, on the other hand, can alleviate some of these pressures through automation. This will save time and ensure that every assessment is done consistently. AI can also provide real-time feedback to students, thereby assisting and helping them improve their performance.
AI IN EDUCATION: IS IT WORTH IT?
AI will come with all the bells and whistles as a transformative figure in the education landscape. It is, however, not the final solution. AI depends on the Internet, the data it is trained on, the algorithm, the context, the list goes on.
While it does come with more pros than cons, we as humans must still be in charge in the field of education and should never be replaced by AI. Technology, no matter how advanced it is, can never replace how teachers mentor their students, how they show compassion, and inspire them on a more personal level.
Instead, AI should only be seen as a tool or a helping hand that provides teachers with resources and information to help with traditional teaching and that much-needed boost of confidence.
