Thanks to AI, no more burdened professors in classrooms By taking over routine tasks, AI will allow educators to focus on fostering creativity

Thanks to AI, no more burdened professors in classrooms By taking over routine tasks, AI will allow educators to focus on fostering creativity

 Divyansh.Kumar@timesofindia.com 14.10.2024

By automating repetitive tasks and taking over mundane administrative work, Artificial Intelligence (AI) will allow educators to focus more on fostering creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving. In a traditional classroom, teachers deliver lectures, assist and assess students’ work which often leaves little time for ideation, creative thinking and advanced learning. 

With AI integration, tasks such as administrative work, marking attendance, grading, and providing basic instruction can be automated. AI can assess students’ understanding by conducting quizzes and help prepare them before class discussions even begin, ensuring that students are better prepared for advanced interactions. Assess students’ knowledge In September, IIM Sambalpur introduced AI platforms that are being used to automate the initial layers of Bloom’s Taxonomy, including its six forms — knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis and evaluation. “This will be done by assessing students’ knowledge through quizzes and structuring discussions around case studies. 

This frees up professors to focus on higher-level creative and critical thinking tasks, enhancing students’ ability to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world problems,” says Prof Mahadeo Jaiswal, director, IIM Sambalpur. With AI playing a more prominent role, institutions across the globe are preparing the next generation for an AI-driven future. “This shift will empower educators to dedicate more time for indepth discussions, research and mentorship, and personalised guidance. This will also tackle faculty shortages while improving the educational experience,” adds Prof Jaiswal. IIM Sambalpu using AI for around five out of 20 sessions by automating structured tasks such as quizzes, participation tracking, and pre-class assessments. This enables professors to steer discussions towards higher-order learning,” he added. 

In the top US universities, AI has been handling repetitive tasks, allowing faculty to focus on more advanced learning. “Assessing the participation of 90 students can be overwhelming in traditional settings, but with AI, we can ensure equitable evaluation and feedback,” says Prof Jaiswal, underlining how AI will address faculty shortage. “Even the top institutions, including IIMs and IITs face a deficit of 30%-40% faculty. If AI can handle 20% of our faculty requirements, we will see a significant improvement in education quality without escalating the cost,” he adds. Implementation hurdles Despite its benefits, implementing AI has its challenges. Data privacy is a primary concern, and IIM Sambalpur plans to collaborate with tech companies to safeguard student information. 

Initial apprehension among faculty members will be addressed through workshops and pilot programmes. “The technology will be introduced in a phased manner, starting with a select group of faculty members. This will allow for real-time feedback and ensure a smooth transition,” Prof Jaiswal says, adding, “Notably, students accustomed to less structured learning may find the shift to a more accountable system challenging, but the goal is to enhance overall educational outcomes.” Cost factors While AI implementation comes with associated costs, Prof Jaiswal points out that the expenses are manageable. Currently, the institution pays around $5 per student for Harvard cases, and this increases to $10 with the AI platform. 

“However, faculty cost savings during AI-driven sessions balance the overall expenditure. As the system expands, we expect the per-session cost to decrease,” he says. “The professor is not replaced by AI; instead, AI tackles the repetitive tasks, freeing up time for professors to guide students through critical thinking and problem-solving,” Jaiswal says. “This shift aligns with our vision of nurturing responsible leaders ready to navigate complex business landscapes.” 

Key challenges ● Data privacy: Concerns about safeguarding student information during AI implementation

 ● Faculty resistance: Initial apprehension among faculty regarding AI integration 

 ● Student adjustment: Students may struggle with transitioning to a structured learning environment 

● Resource allocation: Balancing the costs associated with AI technology and training