Enhancing Educational Support with GenAI: How Lyceo is Integrating AI into its Learning Framework

18

October

2024

No ratings yet.

The ongoing teacher shortage in the Netherlands is a growing concern, creating disruptions that impact the quality of education and limiting students’ future opportunities. With some classes and even entire school days being canceled, and certain subjects no longer taught, education has taken a hit. As a response, many parents have turned to private tutoring or homework assistance for their children, while schools increasingly seek external educational services. Among these, Lyceo has emerged as the largest provider.

As more and more schools rely on Lyceo, the company is able to leverage AI technology to address various educational challenges and automate tasks. With the introduction of the Lyceo GenAI learning tool, the company’s virtual tutors will be able to support students by answering questions and providing timely feedback on assignments. The tool will offer personalized insights, highlighting students’ strengths and identifying areas where they can improve. By considering diverse learning preferences and abilities, Lyceo can create tailored teaching strategies and resources for each student. This technology not only provides real-time explanations but also extends continuous support, even during late-night study sessions. This self-paced approach is particularly beneficial for those students who prefer to study according to their own schedules.

Additionally, Lyceo’s GenAI-powered chatbots will enhance customer service by assisting parents in obtaining answers immediately. The chatbots are designed to provide information and perform tasks. The informative chatbots will deliver pre-set information to help parents with questions about pricing or suitable programs tailored to a student’s needs. In contrast, task-based chatbots are programmed to handle specific requests, such as scheduling tutoring sessions for students.

However, integrating GenAI into Lyceo’s business model involves considerable investment. The costs for implementing generative AI can range from minimal to several million euros, depending on the specific use case and scale. While smaller companies may benefit from free versions of generative AI tools, like ChatGPT, Lyceo will likely need to invest in customized AI services to develop the online learning tool and sophisticated chatbots tailored to their needs.

The potential benefits make this investment worthwhile, enabling Lyceo to improve its educational support services and continue to meet the evolving demands of schools, students and parents.

Please rate this

From Dense Texts to Dynamic Videos: The Synopsis.ai Web App

17

October

2024

No ratings yet.

Team 6: Noah van Lienden, Dan Gong, Ravdeep Singh & Maciej Wiecko.

Ever found yourself staring blankly at a 50-page academic paper, wondering if there’s a faster, more engaging way to grasp the key points? What if that dense text could transform into a lively video, complete with animations and a friendly narrator? Welcome to the future of learning with our Synopsis.ai web app!

The Education Technology (EdTech) market is skyrocketing. In 2023, the global EdTech market hit a whopping $144.6 billion and is projected to triple by 2032. With advancements in AI, augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and more, the way we learn is evolving faster and changing day to day. Generative AI is the new superstar in the EdTech universe. Tools like Scholarcy are helping students by turning lengthy texts into bite-sized summaries. But let’s face it—reading summaries can still feel like, well, reading. How great would it be if you could watch a video instead?

Enter Synopsis, the groundbreaking web app that’s set to revolutionize how we digest academic content. Synopsis uses advanced AI to convert scholarly articles into short, engaging videos. It’s like having your own personal explainer video for every complex paper you need to read. You can customize these videos and choose either a lecture format or an animated video format. Furthermore, users can select their desired video length, content granularity and even add subtitles!

All this new content is not only wonderful for student learning with our web app, but also Researches, Educators and even Content Creators! All these different users can have different uses of our platform, and can each bring value in new ways to themselves, or even to others!

So how does this magic work behind the scenes? Synopsis leverages state-of-the-art AI models like GPT-4 and BERT, fine-tuned on vast academic datasets. It collaborates with AI research institutions to stay ahead of technological advancements and works with designers to create customizable templates and animations. While there are tools that summarize texts or create videos, none combine both in an educational context. Synopsis fills this market gap by offering a seamless solution that transforms academic articles into personalized video summaries.

In a world where attention spans are dwindling, and visual content reigns supreme, Synopsis is poised to make a significant impact. By making learning more accessible and enjoyable, it’s not just keeping up with the future of education—it’s helping to shape it!

Please rate this

“Beyond the Blackboard: How Technologies can Shape the Future of Education”

16

September

2024

No ratings yet.

The phenomenon of digitalization is now present in nearly every aspect of modern life. In schools and universities, where blackboards and cumbersome projectors once defined the learning environment, there are now modern whiteboards and computers. In recent years, we have taken a step further with the increasing popularity of the Metaverse, virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR) glasses among educational institutions, despite the high cost of such devices. Several companies already let employees take advantage of these technologies, enhancing efficiency and safety. 

Since the onset of Covid-19, digital classrooms have become familiar to almost every student. But can virtual and augmented reality enhance the student learning experience? To give you a preliminary idea, everyday AR glasses are priced between $300 and $700 (NRMyW, 2024), while high-end VR headsets cost between $600 and $1000 (Dai, 2024). While more affordable options exist, integrating AR and VR glasses into classrooms remains at a significant expense. Nonetheless, these technologies offer a novel and engaging learning environment. In such a virtual setting, students could engage in interactive simulations. However, is this suitable for every course? I believe not, but for many there are positive aspects. Several courses would benefit from such technologies, particularly those where visualization can significantly enhance understanding, such as in architecture, medicine, or engineering. This aligns with Danhoff’s (2021) observation that students who created experiences in AR showed increased engagement, illustrating how new technologies can positively influence traditional learning systems. I truly believe that additional courses can also benefit from such technologies, potentially at a lower level, but they can still profit. Within a business student aspect, benefits truly arise with the introduction of such technologies as for example data can be visualized and explored in several dimensions. Also, with regards to the complexity of several topics, IT systems can be visualized to understand and manage IT environments, and to prepare business students for digital aspects in their future career. 

If budgets are allocated for these new technologies in universities, schools, and courses, teachers and lecturers need to assess how the adoption of these technologies can enhance class participation and the learning experience. But one must also consider the implications new technologies may bring, so very careful consideration is required. 

References

Christine Danhoff. (2021, June 16). 7 augmented reality tools for the classroom. Edutopia. https://www.edutopia.org/article/7-augmented-reality-tools-classroom/

Daisy Dai. (2024, May 11). How much is a VR headset? Pimax Store. https://pimax.com/blogs/blogs/how-much-is-a-vr-headset?srsltid=AfmBOorwYwad9kr2WOEAYNuw9wQ1G9IPB34areTV_wQQRU4NEEq1kfpp

What’s the typical price of augmented reality glasses? (2024, May 26). NRMyW. https://nrmyw.com/blogs/articles/ar-glasses-price

Please rate this

Shaping Tomorrow’s Data Analysts: The Impact of AI in Data Analytics Education

16

October

2023

No ratings yet.

In the rapidly evolving world of data analytics, education is the cornerstone of staying relevant and effective. As the data landscape transforms, so too must the way we prepare the data analysts of the future. In my previous blogpost I assessed the question whether generative AI is a friendly companion or a sneaky enemy. I figured from some comments as well as other posts that generative AI has taken a prominent place in our educational journeys. It made me curious to explore the future of data analytics education a bit further.

The AI Revolution in Data Analytics Education

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been a game-changer in data analytics education. It’s not just about teaching students how to analyze data; it’s about equipping them with the skills to leverage AI and machine learning for more robust and insightful analysis. Through AI-driven algorithms and platforms, students gain access to hands-on experience with real-world datasets and can explore advanced techniques that would have been impossible a decade ago. One notable example of AI in education is personalized learning. AI algorithms can analyze a student’s progress and tailor lessons to their specific needs. This adaptive learning approach ensures that students receive customized support, helping them grasp complex concepts and skills more effectively.

Emerging Data-Fuelled Curriculum

The data analytics curriculum is evolving to keep pace with industry demands. Courses now cover emerging topics such as machine learning, big data, and AI integration. The emphasis is shifting from theoretical knowledge to practical skills. Students are encouraged to work with real-world datasets and apply their knowledge to solve complex problems.

My personal experience with generative AI tools, like ChatGPT, has been instrumental in this learning journey. These tools can assist in generating complex SQL queries, automating data cleaning processes, and even providing insights from basic data is what I personally experienced. The dialogue with for example ChatGPT – inserting error messages and getting back steps to take towards a solution – really felt like I had a virtual tutor within arm’s length.

Ethics and Responsible Data Analytics

While AI brings immense power to data analytics, it also raises ethical considerations. Data analytics programs are now integrating ethics courses to prepare students for responsible data analysis. This is crucial as data analysts often deal with sensitive data that can impact individuals and society.

An example that illustrates the importance of ethics in data analytics is the Cambridge Analytica scandal. Improper use of data led to severe consequences, highlighting the need for ethical guidelines and responsible practices in the field. Data analytics education should equip students with the knowledge and tools to make ethically sound decisions.

Real-Life Impact

The impact of AI in data analytics education isn’t just theoretical. It’s creating a workforce ready to tackle real-world challenges. Consider healthcare, where AI-powered analytics can predict disease outbreaks and improve patient care. In finance, AI algorithms analyze vast datasets to detect fraudulent transactions. These are just two examples of how AI-educated data analysts are making a difference.

In conclusion, the future of data analytics education is an exciting blend of AI-driven learning, emerging curricula, and ethical considerations. As a student, I’ve experienced the transformative power of AI tools in enhancing my data analysis skills. But not just with data analysis, they have helped me write essays in my bachelor program and even assisted me – after some discussions back and forth – in writing this blog. Could you tell?

Please rate this

Generative AI is going to take my job? Think more positively.

8

October

2023

No ratings yet.

Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) has emerged as a transformative force in our rapidly evolving technological landscape. While it holds the promise of incredible advancements, it also raises concerns, with job displacement being one of the most frequently mentioned. Many are worried about their jobs being replaced or even ceasing to exist. However, it is important to remember that GenAI is not only a threat, it can create opportunities such as workforce enhancement, helping us increase efficiency and learning.

CERTD & Long tail strategy in education

The silver lining offered by GenAI is that it can be utilized as a tool to provide personalized training and education. GenAI can be harnessed to create innovative educational solutions, making learning more accessible and personalized. CERTD is a company that has incorporated GenAI to create adaptive mobile-based learning tailored to blue-collar workers. Traditionally, the blue-collar workforce relied on hands-on training, with seniors who have extensive experience in the subject matter serving as the main resources for training. For example, coding learners can find numerous platforms offering coding courses, from online classes to self-paced tracks. This long-tailed education gives an array of choices and flexibility for learners by aiming for niche and personalised ways of learning. However, when it comes to learning blue-collar skills such as construction, hospitality, manufacturing etc., one would typically join a vocational school or gain practical experience through work. This traditional trajectory for the blue-collar force often follows a one mould fits all approach. CERTD offers a long-tail learning strategy by focusing on AI-generated learning content at a coarse level. GenAI has the potential to break the tradition of the apprenticeship, enabling workers to acquire new skills and fast-track their readiness for employment in an ever-changing job market.

Risk and Concerns

There’s a fly in the ointment as well. There could be concerns about the effectiveness, as blue-collar jobs heavily rely on hands-on skills. How effective would it be to learn from watching mobile devices? A potential solution could be introducing technologies such as AR in the training to enhance the learning experience.

Interested in this topic? Here is a good read:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/tedladd/2023/08/22/democratizing-opportunity-how-ai-enabled-long-tail-learning-empowers-the-blue-collar-workforce/

Please rate this

Using Metaverse and VR to enhance education

15

September

2022

No ratings yet.

The Metaverse is a concept that was already created 30 years ago by fiction novel author Neal Stephenson (Momtaz, 2022). For a long time, the Metaverse received only a limited amount of public attention, until large technology companies such as Facebook and Microsoft started to invest heavily in this futuristic technology (Brown, 2021). Simply put the Metaverse is a virtual world which enables people to use avatars (digital human which can be freely created) to take part in social and economics interactions (Lee et al., 2021; Momtaz, 2022).

Many popular examples of today’s Metaverse are in the context of gaming and simple social exchanges within the Metaverse. However, it is proposed that the Metaverse in combination with VR technology could also be used to significantly enhance the way today’s education is done (Ragav et al., 2022). According to (Suh & Ahn, 2022), the use of the Metaverse in an educational setting can actually have beneficial effects on the performance of students. So how could the Metaverse for educational purposes look like?

As the Metaverse enables the creation of virtual worlds, education gets unique possibilities to let the students discover and experience topics in a more realistic way. Ragav et al., (2022) propose to combine the metaverse with virtual reality (VR) technology to let students actively engage with topics which are currently only demonstrated using books and short 2-D videos. Image a history lesson where you really dive into the past and can learn about the time as if you are there. You can experience historic events and be immersed into the historic world in a way that is not possible using traditional teaching techniques (Ragav et al., 2022). Next to experiencing historic events, this technology can also help teachers and students to experience realistic scenarios which are normally very complex and therefore difficult to grasp for students or simply not within budget for the school (Jensen & Forbes Technology Council, 2022; Ragav et al., 2022). The metaverse opens up the possibility to conduct for example physics and chemistry experiments, which are too dangerous in real life (Jensen & Forbes Technology Council, 2022). So how realistic is it?

In my opinion and looking back at my own time at school with many complex concepts which were difficult to understand using a book and short videos, I see a large potential of using the Metaverse for educational purposes. A higher engagement always enabled me to better understand the topics that were discussed. However, I just think that the technology is not quite there yet. First, the required technology to create a Metaverse as well as VR technology is just still not realistic for the public schools yet. It is too complex and especially expensive to implement. Second, looking at the high hesitation with which schools implement digital technology, I assume the Metaverse will fare even worse than common technology such as laptops and tablets. Nonetheless, I am positive that the Metaverse and combining it with VR devices will be an important step in the future to bring education and teaching quality to the next level – of course effective strategies have to be formulized specifically for this new technology.

What do you think? Is the use of the Metaverse and VR technology a step into the right direction when it comes to education? Will it increase the overall quality of our educational systems?

References

Brown, D. (2021, August 30). What is the ‘metaverse’? Facebook says it’s the future of the Internet. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/08/30/what-is-the-metaverse/

Jensen, M., & Forbes Technology Council. (2022, August 24). The Accessibility And Affordability Of The Metaverse In Education Right Now. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2022/08/24/the-accessibility-and-affordability-of-the-metaverse-in-education-right-now/?sh=6eae95017f8f

Lee, L.-H., Braud, T., Zhou, P., Wang, L., Xu, D., Lin, Z., Kumar, A., Bermejo, C., & Hui, P. (2021). All One Needs to Know about Metaverse: A Complete Survey on Technological Singularity, Virtual Ecosystem, and Research Agenda. http://arxiv.org/abs/2110.05352

Momtaz, P. P. (2022). Some Very Simple Economics of Web3 and the Metaverse. FinTech, 1(3), 225–234. https://doi.org/10.3390/fintech1030018

Ragav, A., Noen, K., Lindahl, M., & Dohler, M. (2022, August 17). Metaverse education: from university to metaversity. https://www.ericsson.com/en/blog/2022/8/metaverse-education-from-university-to-metaversity

Suh, W., & Ahn, S. (2022). Utilizing the Metaverse for Learner-Centered Constructivist Education in the Post-Pandemic Era: An Analysis of Elementary School Students. Journal of Intelligence, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.3390/jintelligence10010017

Please rate this

Ethical considerations from future development and dependence on AI

8

October

2020

No ratings yet. Continuous breakthroughs in AI technology allow us to tackle ever more complicated problems with it that were previously exclusively within the domain of human cognitive problem solving. As advances in the technology have marched along from the first AI programs in the 1950s that could play amateur-level checkers, the excitement for the possibilities held within AI grew in parallel to the complexity of tasks it was able to solve. One key component of solving complex problems effectively however, which is intrinsic to human nature, is understanding the context of the surrounding world in which you are trying to solve the problem. Although humans can make AI more intelligent, in the sense that it can complete evermore complicated tasks at scale, the desired outcomes are increasingly more volatile as AI tries to find the most effective answer without necessarily a regard for the natural world.

A recent example of this is the public outcry over the ‘A-level’ results which were predicted by AI for the first time this year. Normally students would sit  ‘A level’ exams, based on which they would receive offers from universities. Prior to these exams, teachers would provide estimated grades which students could already use to get preliminary offers from universities. However due to the public health crisis caused by Covid-19, this system was disrupted and the UK’s assessment regulator Ofqual was tasked to find another way for students to obtain their ‘A-level’ results. Their solution was to use a mathematical algorithm which used two key pieces of information: “the previous exam results of schools and colleges over the last 3 years, and the ranking order of pupils based on the teacher estimated grades” (Melissa Fai, 2020). The result? Almost 40% of all 700,000 estimated scores were downgraded, causing numerous students to be rejected from universities they had been conditionally accepted to (Adams, 2020). Furthermore, the majority of the downgraded students came from state schools.

 

Although the UK government announced in August this year that they would reverse the grading to match more closely with the estimates provided by the teachers, its clear that for some of the students the damage has already been done. Affected students would not go to their desired university, or decide not to go to university at all and postpone their higher education by at least a year. Looking back critically, its evident that the ethical impacts of the mathematical algorithm were not considered before it was launched or simply ignored. Given the near limitless potential of AI in all facets of our lives in the future, its crucial that ethical considerations become a central component of the AI development process.

References

Adams, R. Barr, C. Weale S. (2020). ‘A-level results: almost 40% of teacher assessments in England downgraded’, The Guardian, 13 August. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/education/2020/aug/13/almost-40-of-english-students-have-a-level-results-downgraded (Accessed: 8 October 2020).

Fai, M, Bradley, J, & Kirker, E 2020, Lessons in ‘Ethics by Design’ from Britain’s A Level algorithm, Gilbert + Tobin, viewed 8 October 2020,< https://www.gtlaw.com.au/insights/lessons-ethics-design-britains-level-algorithm>.

Please rate this

The future of education with VR

2

October

2020

5/5 (1) Education is a field that is constantly changing. New teaching methods emerge frequently, and schools adopt them but above all, new technologies have led to big advancements for the education field. A basic example is the access to information. Before, all information was found in books and therefore libraries. Today, the same information is available to us in our phone, computer, iBook, etc. (Vera et al. 2005) The education is evolving, but still presents the two following problems. Firstly, most courses are based on a fact retention format, which becomes obsolete as people can access information at any time anywhere. Secondly, schools are still based on stiff educational concepts which do not fit to everyone. This is why Virtual Reality (VR) is offering alternatives to these mentioned issues. (Babich, 2019)

VR education enables students to live something, by seeing and hearing it through 360° glasses blinding out the real world and blocking any external distractions. That way, students can visit places and understand mechanisms, by experiencing them instead of only hearing or reading them (Gadelha, 2018). According to Gadelha (2018), technology is already so prominent in our lives, it would be absurd not to include this technology to the educational system. Schools are evolving and using new tools such as electronic boards, tablets or others but most of them have not taken the step of including VR to their pedagogical methodologies.

VR is assessing the two mentioned problems in the following way. The approach of fact-retention is addressed with VR, as it is shown that students can remember theories more easily by experiencing them instead of reading or hearing them. Furthermore, concepts can be adapted to individuals instead of a one-size fits all approach, currently putting students in difficulty who don’t correspond to the teaching method. To conclude, it can be said that VR has big potential in the educational field and its benefits are still underestimated by schools.

Do you think school education would have been different with VR?

 

Babich, N. (2019), “How VR In Education Will Change How We Learn And Teach”, Accessed on 2 October 2020 on https://xd.adobe.com/ideas/principles/emerging-technology/virtual-reality-will-change-learn-teach/

Gadelha, R. (2018), “Revolutionizing Education: The promise of virtual reality”, Childhood Education, 94(1), pp.40-43

Vera L., Herrera G., Vived E. (2005) Virtual Reality School for Children with Learning Difficulties. Proceedings of the 2005 ACM SIGCHI International Conference on Advances in computer entertainment technology, Vol. 265, pp.338-341.

 

Please rate this

The role of tech companies in education

16

September

2020

No ratings yet. Remote learning is a phenomenon that has penetrated our educational system in 2020. Covid-19 emptied our classrooms, so schools were forced to provide online alternatives. Fortunately, a lot of great tools, like Microsoft Teams and Zoom emerged, which provide us with the opportunity of attending virtual classrooms. Not only virtual classrooms have become a crucial part of education. We use grading tools, educational games, plagiarism software, attendance checks, communication tools, and lots more. US Tech Giants are becoming more and more important stakeholders in educational systems over the world. Not only do they provide software tools, but they also have their own philosophy regarding the way we educate our students. Reoccuring themes among companies like Google and Microsoft are that we should shift focus from knowledge-based to skill-based learning and focus on ‘personalized learning’. A question we should ask ourselves, is: what role do we want businesses to fulfill in education?

‘The future of learning will be profoundly social, personalized, and supported by teachers and technology.’ This is how Microsoft foresees the ideal future of education. By putting more focus on emotional and cognitive skills, students will not only be ‘work-ready’, but also ‘life-ready’.

For private-sector businesses, profitability and efficiency are some of the most important factors. With their vision, the private sector can have a major impact on making education more efficient, and, more generally speaking, make younger generations more resilient towards challenges that our future will bring. A problem with public schools is that, although it’s clear a lot of educational systems are outdated and non-efficient, reform is very slow.

On the other hand, do we really want big tech companies to impact our educational systems? A major issue that should be considered is that one can have little impact on private companies. In our public system, one can vote for a party that serves one’s interests when it comes to one’s preferences regarding education. It also might be out of place to have a foreign company’s vision taking on a major role in a child’s education.

Another important factor is that companies are economically driven, so their goal will possibly be to educate in a way that will enhance skills best suitable for economic purposes that align with their own businesses.

Privacy is another issue people are concerned about. By learning interactively from a very early stage, with devices like the iPad, all information is being saved and added to a profile. This profile could take over the teacher’s view on the level of a pupil.

Taking everything into consideration, schools should be openminded as well as critical towards tech companies and their interference in the educational system. They should consider if the visions of both parties correspond. I think the keyword is cooperation. The publicly arranged school system must partner up with tech companies to develop a shared vision on how upcoming generations can be educated to deal with challenges the future will bring.

References:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/nickmorrison/2018/06/20/the-three-steps-to-make-google-vision-for-education-a-reality/#1ab6b39973aa

https://educationblog.microsoft.com/en-us/2020/08/disruptions-and-opportunities-navigating-hybrid-education/https://

www.microsoft.com/en-us/education

https://www.oecd.org/education/2030-project/

Please rate this

How blockchain could disrupt the education system

17

October

2019

No ratings yet. In 2017, it was highly possible that even your local baker or butcher advised you to invest in cryptocurrencies. The hype seems over and the dust seem to have relatively settled. Now that most people do not only see the technology as a medium of exchange, it is time to bring the real potential of blockchain to the mass. The founder of Ethereum describes blockchain as “a decentralized system that contains shared memory” (Buterin, 2017). Therefore, the technology offers a solution to any environment that wishes decentralization and transparency. Due to the peer-to-peer nature of the technology, the middleman is redundant. The first industry that comes to mind to most people is the banking industry, while thinking about Bitcoin in the back of their mind. However, it offers a solution to many more industries and markets.

An interesting affair that blockchain could possibly disrupt is the education system. The way we have been facilitating learning has been around since the 19th century (Rose, 2012). In most countries, there is a four-year university degree model where the education often fails to calibrate the needs of students and employers. Students learn different skills during their curriculum and are therefore not prepared for the job market. Therefore, many employers offer traineeships to acquire additional skills. Additionally, at average there are five intermediaries between the education and the students that all take a percentage of the tuition fee (Raffo, 2018). This is one of the big reasons why the tuition fees in the US are so high.

A platform with professors, students and employers can be created to solve these two problems. With blockchain, educators are no longer chained to these old institutions and can instead offer their curriculum that fits the wishes of employers directly to students. Students can communicate directly with the professors, so that both parties get what they want. This makes education more affordable as it removes expensive intermediaries. Certificates received on the public blockchain after taking the class are accepted by employers within the network. To disrupt an old invariable model that has been around for centuries like the education system, bootstrapping and expanding the community of the platform is pivotal. However, once the community matures, it could potentially overrule the current education system. Could it be just an utopic idea or reality in the next few decades?

Sources:
Buterin, V. (2017, September 18). Decentralizing Everything. Personal Interview with N. Ravikant.
Raffo, E. (2018, February 15). BlockchainTalks – Decentralized Education Marketplace.
Rose, J. (2012). How to Break Free of Our 19th-Century Factory-Model Education System, The Atlantic.

Please rate this