AI industry targeting students instead of study guides
Generative AI Transforms Education Landscape
In the rapidly evolving world of education, a new player has emerged: generative AI. This cutting-edge technology is revolutionising the way students learn, offering personalised, adaptive, and interactive learning experiences that traditional study tools like textbooks and platforms such as Chegg and Quizlet can't match.
Generative AI vs Traditional Study Tools
Unlike textbooks and platforms that provide uniform, one-size-fits-all content, generative AI tailors learning materials to each student's pace, style, and weaknesses. It offers interactive simulations, adaptive quizzes, and AI tutors, providing instant, adaptive, and detailed explanations. Unlike traditional tools, generative AI is available 24/7 as an academic assistant and mentor.
| Aspect | Generative AI | Textbooks | Chegg/Quizlet | |---------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------| | Content Personalization | Highly personalized to student’s pace, style, weaknesses | Uniform, one-size-fits-all content | Limited personalization; user selects from fixed content | | Interactivity | Interactive simulations, adaptive quizzes, AI tutors | Static reading/text and fixed exercises | Some interactive quizzes, flashcards, and solutions | | Feedback | Instant, adaptive, detailed explanations | No immediate feedback | Feedback based on standard answers, less adaptive | | Availability | 24/7 academic assistant and mentor | Access limited to possession or library hours | Online, but less sophisticated AI support | | Scope of Services | Can generate new problems, explanations, multimedia content | Fixed scope; knowledge limited to what is printed | Provide homework help, practice, flashcards, but less generative content |
The Evolution of Chegg and Quizlet
Recognising the potential of generative AI, platforms like Chegg and Quizlet are integrating these capabilities to enhance their offerings. They are incorporating AI tutors to provide personalised help, generate custom practice questions, explain complex topics dynamically, and offer tailored study plans.
The rise of generative AI challenges traditional edtech platforms to move beyond static content repositories towards interactive, AI-driven personalised learning experiences to stay relevant. Chegg and Quizlet are evolving from primarily hosting user-generated content and fixed resources into platforms offering AI-powered study assistance, automated answer explanation, and adaptive learning tools to compete with new AI-native solutions.
Balancing Support and Academic Integrity
As academic integrity concerns grow with AI use, these platforms and educational institutions are exploring how to incorporate AI ethically—balancing support and preventing misuse such as plagiarism.
Student Adaptation
Students are adapting to this new educational landscape by mixing and matching AI and traditional tools. For example, Bryan Wheatley uses ChatGPT with Quizlet and Socratic.
The Future of Education
Macmillan Learning began rolling out its AI tool late last year, and over 66% of students in bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs are using ChatGPT regularly, according to July 2024 research from the Digital Education Council. However, over 50% of students believe that too much reliance on AI could negatively impact their academic performance.
Macmillan's AI tool guides students to the solution through open-ended questions that expose flawed thinking (aka the Socratic method). As the education sector continues to embrace generative AI, it will be interesting to see how this technology continues to shape and transform the learning experiences of students worldwide.
- In the future, educational platforms like Chegg and Quizlet may leverage ESG principles to ensure their AI technology is developed with responsible and ethical behavior, considering the impact on students' academic performance and their overall educational experience.
- As a result of the integration of generative AI technology, traditional educational tools such as textbooks might undergo transformation, adopting credit-based scoring systems to track students' progress and adapt their content accordingly, fostering a more personalized and effective learning environment.
