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Exploring the future of AI in online education

Despite established caution and skepticism concerning artificial intelligence, AI and higher education go hand in hand. Why? Because AI in online college education provides tools that enhance both teaching and student engagement.

This technology comprises algorithms and models that enable machines to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence. In an online learning environment, AI analyzes student data, helps educators make informed decisions, adapts its algorithms based on student interactions, and much more.

About 57% of U.S. adults support the use of AI in classroom settings. Whether you’re one of them or among the skeptics, you’ll likely use AI to some degree while pursuing an online college education. To prepare, read on to learn about AI’s uses, its limitations and the ethical issues surrounding this technology.

How are classrooms using AI in online college education?

The integration of AI in online higher education has transformed traditional approaches to teaching and learning. The AI tools you may work with when pursuing an online college degree include:

●      Personalized learning platforms that adapt to individual student needs

●      Content creation, curation and editing tools

●      Chatbots for student support and answering frequently asked questions

●      Automated grading systems for objective assessments

●      Plagiarism detection software for written assignments

●      Data analytics for tracking student progress and engagement

AI in higher education comes with some tantalizing benefits. Online educators can spend less time on mechanical or administrative tasks and more time on what truly matters: teaching and engaging with their students.

Plus, AI can provide students with personalized learning experiences and improved accessibility to educational resources. This could help create a more equitable learning environment in which students can get the most out of their online college education.

How can online colleges enhance student learning with AI?

According to Dr. John Woods, chief academic officer and provost for University of Phoenix, AI in higher ed can enhance the student experience and provide support both in and out of the online college classroom.

“In the service realm, we believe we can use AI to help students get 24/7 access to support or answer questions they may have about topics that are of critical importance to them, like financial aid or their schedule,” says Dr. Woods.

“In the classroom, we believe we can teach students how to use AI as a productivity tool. In the world of work, AI will change how work is done, and we can give our students an edge by giving them exposure to it across all of our programs, which we plan to work toward in the future,” he adds.

AI technology can create personalized learning experiences by tailoring course content and pacing to individual needs. It achieves this by analyzing student performance data, learning styles and engagement patterns.

AI-powered adaptive assessments are another innovative tool enhancing online education. These assessments adjust their difficulty based on student responses and provide a more accurate measure of knowledge and skills. The immediate feedback these systems provide allows students to identify areas for improvement quickly and efficiently.

How can colleges transform online teaching with AI?

Since AI technology has burst onto the scene, some college educators have approached it with enthusiasm, while others remain hesitant to utilize it. The reality is college educators can use this technology to transform online teaching in many ways.

AI-based content creation and curation

Creating one hour’s worth of instructional materials for online college often takes several hours. The good news is that AI-based content creation and curation tools can save educators time and tedium.

Content creation tools such as ChatGPT use prompts and analyze vast amounts of data to generate output. For online college educators, these tools can analyze large datasets, create outlines and streamline long-form course module creation.

“Instructional designers and course developers can create assignments and other kinds of learning activities leveraging AI in that creation process, much like we see people using GPT as a productivity tool to help them, for instance, write a business or marketing plan.” Dr. Woods says.

Automated grading and feedback

College instructors must still grade assignments and provide feedback manually. However, AI grading tools such as Gradescope and Cognii can speed up the process by analyzing students’ answers to exam questions. Additionally, tools such as Turnitin can detect plagiarism on written assignments, provide feedback and help students improve their writing skills.

AI in online college education can automate grading and provide feedback to students. While these tools are particularly effective for objective questions, advancements in natural language processing are making it possible for AI to provide useful feedback on essays and other written assignments. 

AI-driven instructional design and course customization

Educators may soon be able to use AI tools such as LearnLM to tailor lesson sequences and ensure that instructional content is both relevant and engaging. These tools can also adapt to students’ needs in real time and offer additional support for those who may struggle with certain topics. 

AI in online college education can be used to adapt curricula specifically for job market demands. For example, there are tools that can personalize learning paths for students, help them acquire relevant skills for their chosen fields and bridge the gap between education and employment requirements.

How can AI affect online college student success and retention?

One powerful application of higher education AI is its ability to identify at-risk students early in their academic journey. Tools such as Civitas Learning can analyze data on student engagement, performance and even login frequency. Additionally, it can flag students who may be struggling before traditional warning signs appear.

Once an AI tool identifies an at-risk student, it can help tailor interventions and provide personalized support outside of normal university hours. This might include recommending additional resources, suggesting study strategies or even adjusting course pacing to help students catch up.

What are the ethical considerations in AI-enabled online education?

Ethical use of AI has become a subject of debate since its widespread use. Dr. Woods likens the use of AI to the historical use of calculators and other tools that help students find quick answers.

“History is filled with examples of tools that came along that had the potential to make us more productive in the workplace but also carried with them ethical issues needing to be addressed. AI is no different,” he says. 

Data privacy

Websites with sensitive personal, financial and healthcare data are often targeted by hackers. In fact, data violations due to cyberattacks on education websites have increased in the United States from 2020 to 2023.

AI systems, which require access to large amounts of student data to function effectively, can understandably give rise to concern about widespread use. Online colleges must ensure they have adequate data protection measures in place and are transparent about how student information is used.

Algorithmic bias

AI systems are only as unbiased as the data they’re trained on and the people who design them. These systems could perpetuate or even exacerbate existing inequalities in education if not carefully monitored and adjusted.

For example, if an AI system is trained on data from predominantly affluent, urban students, it might struggle to accurately assess and support students from rural or lower-income backgrounds.

Academic integrity

As AI tools become more sophisticated, it's becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish between original student work and AI-generated content. For example, a student might use ChatGPT or a similar content creation tool to generate an essay on a complex topic with just a few prompts.

Currently, only 13% of universities worldwide report having policies and guidance on the use of ChatGPT.

Educational decision-making

While AI can help streamline instructional design, grading and feedback, its use also calls for the need for transparency and accountability.

“AI detectors are not yet proven to be reliable and have been found to be implicitly biased,” Dr. Woods says.

Educators must find a balance between leveraging AI’s capabilities and applying human judgment to ensure decisions are ethical and in the best interest of students. 

How do you prepare for using AI in higher education?

According to Dr. Woods, preparing for the use of AI in online college education requires three key steps:

 “First, we recognize that it has potential, and we have a responsibility to teach with it as a productivity tool, and to also teach its ethical use by our students. Second, we need to recognize how quickly this technology is evolving, and as such what we do will need to constantly evolve as well.”

Colleges can accomplish this by implementing digital literacy into online college training (this is not the same as AI). Additionally, colleges should offer professional development opportunities that focus on incorporating AI tools into online instruction while preserving the integrity of traditional teaching methods.

Educators should also be aware of the potential drawbacks of AI. For example, AI poses a risk of “de-skilling,” when overreliance on it diminishes creativity, problem-solving and critical thinking skills.

Dr. Woods continues, “Third, we need to be constantly evaluating positive use cases for AI that can help our students, to test those, and to scale the tests that work as quickly as possible.”

Are you ready for the future of AI in online college education?

As AI in online college education continues to transform the way we learn, it’s important to stay ahead of the curve. At University of Phoenix, online degree programs are designed to equip you with skills to prepare you for new opportunities.

Explore UOPX’s online technology program, in which you can deepen your understanding of AI in an online learning environment as part of the curriculum:

  • Bachelor of Science in Computer Science: Develop core skills in programming and networking and gain a deeper understanding of AI and big data. Learn to apply computer science theory to real-world business challenges, including writing and presenting your app to your peers.
  • Bachelor of Science in Data Science: Gain fundamental knowledge to analyze, manipulate and process datasets using statistical software. Learn extract, transform and load (ETL) processes for integrating datasets for business intelligence platforms. Discover techniques to transform structured and unstructured datasets into meaningful information to identify patterns and drive strategic decision making.
  • Master of Science in Data Science: Learn to analyze, design and manage complex and unorganized datasets for businesses, and increase your leadership capabilities. Strategically apply data science to optimize functionality, scalability and system performance. Plus, gain career-relevant skills in topics like artificial intelligence, database administration, data warehousing, data visualization, machine learning, statistical analysis and more.

Ready to take the next step? Request more information today and prepare for your future.

Headshot of Dillon Price

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dillon Price is a detail-oriented writer with a background in legal and career-focused content. He has written and edited blogs for dozens of law firms, as well as Law.com. Additionally, he wrote numerous career advice articles for Monster.com during the company’s recent rebranding. Dillon lives in Western Massachusetts and stays in Portugal each summer with his family. 

Headshot of Kathryn Uhles

ABOUT THE REVIEWER

Currently Dean of the College of Business and Information Technology, Kathryn Uhles has served University of Phoenix in a variety of roles since 2006. Prior to joining University of Phoenix, Kathryn taught fifth grade to underprivileged youth in Phoenix.

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This article has been vetted by University of Phoenix's editorial advisory committee. 
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