Application Of Artificial Intelligence In The Digital Age For Teaching-Learning Process In Higher Education

Abstract

India is working towards bridging the digital divide and ensuring that everyone has access to digital and technological skills. Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the simulation of human intelligence processes by machines. The Centre for AI and Digital Policy (CAIDP) is a global research organization advising national governments and international organizations on AI and digital policy. Its aim is to promote democratic values, the rule of law, and fundamental rights.

Recently, this organization published its annual report reviewing and assessing AI policies and practices worldwide. It highlights that AI-based learning technologies are a recommended approach to overcoming current educational challenges. The goal is to raise the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education, including vocational education, to 50% by 2035. Enhancing the quality of education will require a large-scale expansion of high-quality educational opportunities. Thus, AI is considered a key tool to achieve this objective.

NEP-2020 also emphasizes that existing digital platforms and ongoing ICT-based educational initiatives must be optimized and expanded to meet both current and future challenges in providing quality education for all. The time has come to rethink traditional educational models, equipping teachers with technological skills and knowledge, while fostering positive attitudes towards technology among educators to create a better learning environment.

AI is expected to play a vital role in achieving these goals. Teachers can be introduced to new digital tools and given opportunities to experiment with them, helping them develop their own ideas for integrating technology into the classroom. AI can enable learners to pass traditional exams with minimal cognitive effort. Teacher educators need to explore how the presence of AI technologies affects the roles of teachers and learners, learning activities, task design, and assessment criteria.

UNESCO is also committed to supporting Member States in harnessing the potential of AI technologies to achieve educational progress towards SDG 4 by 2030, while ensuring that their application in educational contexts is guided by the core principles of inclusion and equity.

The purpose of this paper is to study various initiatives to develop AI skills for teaching to achieve higher education goals. It explores the concept of AI, its various applications and uses, and the importance of AI in the teaching-learning process. Additionally, the paper focuses on the development of cognitive skills, encouragement of critical thinking, the role of teachers in fostering open-minded environments, and the challenges associated with using AI in higher education. It concludes that AI-based educational initiatives can support learners in building a better future and achieving the educational goals necessary for 21st-century learning.