Changing exam preparations with Gen AI: The beginning of AIndexamen

18

October

2024

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(A research and blog by team 9)

Our team looked into how generative AI (GenAI) can change the way students prepare for exams in the Netherlands. By using AI to make learning more personal, we want to improve the way high school students study. This idea led us to create an exciting new e-learning platform called AIndexamen.

The current exam training market

Currently, Dutch high school students have a lot of options when it comes to exam preparations. Companies like Lyceo, SSL and Luzac offer both online and in-person tutoring to students aged 15-19 (Examen Overzicht, 2024). They help students to study in ways to match their learning style, but these services can be expensive and are not always accessible to everyone. One big problem that we found is that the expensive prices make it hard for students from families with a lower income to afford these services. A lot of these platforms rely on technology. This means that students without good internet access can miss out and with so many competitors, it is tough for cheaper alternatives to stand out.

Gen AI to the rescue

Our research shows that students learn better when lessons are tailored to their needs (Das, Malaviya, & Singh, 2023). This is where GenAI comes to the rescue. AI can analyse how a student is doing in real time and give them exercises that focus on the areas they struggle with (Williams, 2023).  This way encourages students to stay more motivated and more likely to succeed. AI is a big help for teachers too. It can handle tasks like grading and automatically tracking the progress of the students (Shulman, 2024). This way the teachers have more time to focus on helping students one-on-one.

AIndexamen: A new way to learn

In order to solve these issues, we created AIndexamen. It’s a learning platform powered by GenAI. AIndexamen is designed to give students a more engaging and personalised learning experience. Some of the key features include:

  • Personalised exercises: AI looks at the strengths and weaknesses of each student to create study tasks that match what they need to learn.
  • Visual learning: AI-generated videos turn difficult subjects into easy-to-understand animations to make learning more fun.
  • Real-time feedback for teachers: Teachers get instant updates on how students are doing to help them plan lessons and support students better.

AIndexamen is built to grow and change easily. It can be used by schools or by individual students and it has a free version along with a paid for more advanced tools.

Facing challenges and looking forward

Even though AIndexamen is a great step forward, it still has to deal with issues like data privacy, acceptance of AI technology, AI bias, keeping up with changes and handling growth and scale. The plan is to handle these problems by keeping data secure and training people to use the platform smoothly. To avoid AI bias, algorithms will be regularly checked for fairness to ensure equal opportunities for all students. A dedicated team will monitor new trends and incorporate user feedback to keep AIndexamen improving. Finally, to manage the increase in users, cloud services will make sure the platform runs efficiently, especially during exam periods.

In the future, AIndexamen aims to go beyond Dutch high schools and reach universities and students around the world. By always improving by listening to the users, the plan is to create a platform with high-quality and personalised learning that is available to everyone.

AIndexamen is leading the way in changing how students prepare for exams using Gen AI. By focusing on what each student needs and helping teachers with time saving tools, it is ready to make a big impact in education. The goal is simple: to make learning easier, personalised and available for everyone

References

Examen Overzicht. (2024, October 17). Alles over examentrainingen (2025 update). Retrieved October 17, 2024, from ExamenOverzicht.nl: https://www.examenoverzicht.nl/examen-informatie/voor-het-examen/examentraining

Das, A., Malaviya, S., & Singh, M. (2023, August). The Impact of AI-Driven Personalization on Learners’ Performance. International Journal of Computer Sciences and Engineering, 11(8), 15-22.

Williams, J. (2023, December 7). Visual Learning: Effective Strategies and Best Practices. Retrieved September 19, 2024, from Instructure: https://www.instructure.com/resources/blog/visual-learning-effective-strategies-and-best-practices

Shulman, A. (2024, January 23). AI in Education: How Artificial Intelligence Can Empower Teachers & Students. Retrieved September 19, 2024, from TeachingTomorrow: https://teachingtomorrow.co.uk/news/ai-in-education-how-artificial-intelligence-can-empower-teachers-students/

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My love-hate relationship with ChatGPT: Trust issues exposed

8

October

2024

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In this world where technology is unimaginable, artificial intelligence like ChatGPT has become big part of our everyday lives. My experience with this AI has turned into a complicated love-hate relationship that is filled with enthusiasm, confusion and frustration.

Building trust

When I first started using ChatGPT, I was excited. It felt like having an assistant always near me, ready to help with my questions, schoolwork, recipes and even emails. It was even better than Google at some points. I could ask questions and get clear answers almost immediately. At first I thought it was fantastic and that I could rely on it for anything. The AI provided explanations, helped me brainstorm ideas and suggested solutions to problems I was struggling with. In those early days it felt like I was forming a solid partnership.

Doubts start to appear

However, the excitement did not take long, when I started asking more straightforward school related questions, questions like “Is this right?”, to check if I’m on the right track with my homework, I found myself getting different responses each time. I expected a confirmation but instead I received answers that did not match what I was looking for.

I tried and intentionally gave a wrong answer to a question and asked if it was right, just to see how ChatGPT would react. When it told me my answer was right, I asked, “Are you sure?”  it replied, “I apologize for the mistake. Let me provide the correct information.” That left me more confused than ever. How could it change the answer so quickly? It was hard to trust it when it seemed so inconsistent.

Growing trust issues

When I used it more often, my trust issues increased. I found myself repeating questions, hoping for a good answer. I had moments when I spent more time discussing things with ChatGPT than it would have taken to just do the task myself. I would find myself getting frustrated and typing in all caps. I felt like I was talking to someone who did not even want to understand me. Instead of feeling that it helped me, it felt like I was only arguing back and forth and it was exhausting.

Realising that my frustration only increased. I knew that I had to change the way how I asked my questions. I started double checking answers and used other sources to confirm information. I realized that while it could be a helpful tool, it was important to verify the information I got. I learned to ask more specific questions and provide additional context, this led to better results.

Lessons learned

I learned an important lessons about trust, not just with AI but in all areas of life. Trust takes time and clear communication. It is important to realise that even advanced technology can make mistakes. My relationship with ChatGPT changed from blind trust to a more cautious partnership. I learned to appreciate the strengths while acknowledging the limitations.

Looking back on my experience with ChatGPT, I realised how unstable technology can be. While my experience has had its conflicts, I still appreciate the value it brings to my learning process. Have you ever felt frustrated using AI? You are not alone, let’s share our struggles and find ways to make it work better for us! 

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Is the Metaverse just a grown-up version of The Sims?

17

September

2024

5/5 (1)

The Metaverse is a famous topic nowadays, it’s a virtual space where people can live, work, play, and interact with others. After the videos we had to watch for the lecture I realized it reminded me of the game The Sims.  If you ever played The Sims, the Metaverse might remind you of that game, it’s a game where you control characters, build homes, go to work, and socialize. The Metaverse offers a similar experience but on a larger scale. Is the Metaverse just The Sims for adults or is it something more?

How the Metaverse is similar to The Sims

In The Sims, there are virtual characters that you control and guide through their daily life. You make them work,  buy clothes, meet people and even build their homes. The Metaverse is similar, you create an avatar, which is like your character in The Sims. However in the Metaverse, that avatar is you.

You can walk around virtual worlds, attend events, talk to other people and even shop for digital clothes. Both The Sims and the Metaverse are about living a life in a virtual world. The difference between the two is that the Metaverse aims to be a huge, infinite virtual world that makes a connection with real life, while The Sims is just a game.

How the Metaverse is more than just a game

The Metaverse is not just for fun, it is already being used in many serious ways: 

  • Virtual workspaces
    • In The Sims, your character might have a job or run a business (Pittman, 2023). In the Metaverse, companies like Meta and Microsoft are creating virtual offices, where people can meet as avatars in a virtual room instead of video calls, making remote work feel more interactive (Moates, 2024). 
  • Digital shopping
    • Just like you can buy clothes and furniture for your The Sims character, this is also possible in the Metaverse, brands like Gucci and Nike are selling virtual clothes for avatars in the Metaverse. Some people are even buying virtual land, which is becoming valuable. For the brands, it gives them the space to try new and bold designs without the actual traditional manufacturing process. It opens infinite possibilities for self-expression and creativity (Haqshanas, 2024). 
  • Entertainment
    • In The Sims it is possible to join different activities and social interactions. The Metaverse takes this a step further with virtual events like concerts. For example, Travis Scott performed a virtual concert on Fortnite in 2020, at least 12 million people attended this virtual concert, all together in the same virtual world. Other artists announced they are planning to do the same (White, 2021).

The Metaverse might look like an adult version of The Sims, but it has more potential than just a game. It can change the way we work, shop and socialize. While this can be exiting and fun, there are still questions about security and privacy regarding the Metaverse.

What do you think about the Metaverse? Do you see it as an addition of games like The Sims or will it be a big part of our daily lives? Share your thoughts!

References

Moates, C. (2024, June 25). Virtual offices: Are they the future? Retrieved September 17, 2024, from Landvault: https://landvault.io/blog/virtual-offices-are-they-the-future

Pittman, T. (2023, August 22). The Sims 4: How to Go to Work. Retrieved September 17, 2024, from Gamerant: https://gamerant.com/the-sims-4-how-go-to-work/

Haqshanas, R. (2024, June 11). From Gucci to Nike: How Top Brands are Redefining Fashion in the Metaverse. Retrieved September 17, 2024, from Cryptonews: https://cryptonews.com/news/from-gucci-to-nike-how-top-brands-are-redefining-fashion-in-the-metaverse/

White, M. J. (2021, November 23). What is the metaverse? A deep dive into the ‘future of the internet’. Retrieved September 17, 2024, from Digital Trends: https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/what-is-the-metaverse-the-future-of-the-internet-explained/#dt-heading-the-future-of-the-metaverse

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