Building Confidence in the Classroom with Technology
Pursuing an academic career requires grit, determination, and perseverance. The transition from college to university, especially for those planning to graduate with a Master's or a PhD, is an obstacle course. However, with advancements in technology, students can now build confidence both inside and outside the classroom.
According to recent statistics from Save the Student, approximately 6.3% of students in the UK drop out of university each year. In the 2022-2023 academic year, over 41,914 undergraduate students withdrew from their courses, marking a 5% increase from the previous year and the highest figure since 2018-2019. With the rising university fees, increasing drop-out rates, and the cost of living crisis, these alarming statistics highlight the importance of increased support for the next generation of students.
For those students who, like me, have a neurodiversity, such as dyslexia, failure can be particularly challenging. Recent research highlights that these students face unique challenges at university, including difficulties with traditional teaching methods within a classroom environment, lack of proper accommodations, and insufficient support services, which can contribute to higher dropout rates. Yale Education Studies indicate that dyslexia affects a significant portion of the population, but a small percentage are diagnosed. Reports from the University of California Senate emphasise the need for better diagnosis practices and tailored educational strategies to support neurodiverse students effectively. Having the right tools within the classroom can help all students feel more engaged with their learning, improve confidence and make them more likely to be well prepared for their exams and complete their coursework.
Below are some of the top AI tools that I recommend to students entering higher education.
AI Tools for Building Resilience
Feedback tools
Grammarly ProWritingAid, QuillBot, and Turnitin provide immediate feedback on written work, highlighting grammatical errors, stylistic issues, and potential plagiarism in real time. These AI tools can help students meet deadlines coursework deadlines, erase embarrassing typos, and give them more confidence in their written work without waiting for feedback.
Assistive Technology for Writing
For students with learning difficulties, assistive technologies like Read&Write and Ghotit offer text-to-speech, speech-to-text, and advanced spell-checking features tailored for individuals with dyslexia or neurodiversity.
Large Language Models
Using tools like ChatGPT and Claude in the right way can support learning and help reinforce understanding of a subject. I find GPT-4 one of the more useful Large Language Models (LLM) on the market. These tools can help by answering questions and verifying statistics or research before starting coursework.
Personalised Learning
Personalised learning AI systems, such as those utilised by Khan Academy, Coursera, edX and Smart Sparrow offer tailored feedback to match individual learning styles and levels. These systems analyse a student's performance and provide personalised recommendations, enabling students to concentrate on areas that require improvement.
Reading Effectively
Tools like Scholarcy help by breaking down complex information into manageable sections and help students build their understanding of their course material. in a more structured and manageable way. It also helps with deeper analysis and understanding of the broader implications of a text on the field of study. And Scholarcy helps students retain more information and get a quick refresher of their texts to jog their memory before an exam or tutorial.
Impact of AI-Powered Toolkits on Academic Success
A Cambridge University systematic review of AI-based automated written feedback (AWF) has revealed that these tools significantly improve students’ writing scores. The availability of AI tools supports ongoing, self-paced study outside of the classroom, which is particularly beneficial for non-native English speakers, or students with learning difficulties. Between writing essays and receiving feedback, students can expand their vocabulary, conduct research, learn from their mistakes and prepare for exams.
A Standford-led study has found that AI tools can also improve instructors’ teaching practices, leading to a 10% increase in student assignment completion rates and a 5% reduction in teacher talk time, ultimately boosting student satisfaction.
Dora Demszky, an assistant professor at Stanford Graduate School of Education (GSE) and lead author of the study stated: “We know from past research that timely, specific feedback can improve teaching, but it’s just not scalable or feasible for someone to sit in a teacher’s classroom and give feedback every time. We wanted to see whether an automated tool could support teachers’ professional development in a scalable and cost-effective way, and this is the first study to show that it does.”
Confidence in the Classroom
AI can significantly aid students in overcoming failure and building resilience for life beyond academia. Personalised learning platforms offer guided support for managing large volumes of reading by summarising, analysing, and organising research materials effectively. Real-time feedback tools help students learn from their grammatical and spelling mistakes instantly, enhancing their writing skills. Tailoring learning experiences with Large Language Models can further develop critical thinking and overall academic performance, providing a comprehensive support system that empowers students to succeed once they graduate.
However, real education is a balanced approach that combines the benefits of these AI-powered tools with human support and guidance. Educators play a vital role in providing emotional support for students that AI can never fully replicate. It is through trial and error and human expertise that we can create a supportive educational environment for all students.