Preply Reveals Five Ways Teachers Can Use AI as a "Superpower" to Address Education Challenges

BROOKLINE, Mass. - June 21, 2023 - PRLog -- Ukrainian-founded Preply, the online language learning marketplace that connects more than 32,000 tutors teaching 50 languages to hundreds of thousands of learners in 180 countries worldwide, is weighing in on the use of AI in the classroom. Unique in employing a smart algorithm to find the best tutor for each student, Preply has identified five challenges facing the education sector and language teaching in particular to consider the ways in which artificial intelligence may help to overcome them.

"We believe that AI-enhanced teaching tools and personalized classes will improve efficiency in teaching, making learning more accessible and engaging," said Dmytro Voloshyn, the co-founder and CTO of Preply. "AI will transform the way we teach and learn, relieving teachers of manual tasks and allowing them to focus on building more empathetic relationships with learners and spend more time providing one-on-one time with students on their coursework."

"Additionally," Voloshyn continues, "unlike those who claim that AI will replace human teachers, Preply believes that technology, combined with teacher-in-the-loop guidance, will help students realize their full potential. Teaching is a deeply personal activity that can never be replaced by technology, but that can benefit from the aid of technology."

Customize Learning Plans to Help Every Student  Thrive

The ratio of teachers to pupils and the associated difficulty of adapting the curriculum to each student's needs, abilities, and interests is one of the biggest challenges currently facing teaching staff. One of the advantages offered by AI is precisely that of customizing and personalizing the learning experience.

Every student has a particular learning profile, and not all learn at the same speed or via the same methods. This is even more important to take into consideration in cases where students are neurodiverse or have special needs. Algorithms can create personalized courses of study for every student, based on their individual strengths and needs. For example, AI can be used to prepare targeted materials and homework based on the content of the classes that have already taken place. This not only ensures a more interesting and motivating learning experience for the students but also allows them to advance at their own speed.

Smart technologies can also be used to give students personalized recommendations. For example, if a student is having difficulties in a particular area, smart algorithms can recommend additional resources (such as reading materials) or practical activities to help them to master the relevant knowledge.

Have Your Own Personal Teacher's Assistant 24x7

Teachers can use new generative AI technologies like ChatGPT to save valuable time and increase efficiency in various aspects of their work. By utilizing ChatGPT, teachers can reduce time spent on tasks like writing reports, responding to emails, and optimizing classroom dynamics, enabling them to allocate more time to direct student instruction.

For example, while AI currently struggles with grading written work, it still has the potential to expedite the grading process. AI-powered grading systems offer almost instantaneous feedback, allowing teachers to swiftly identify challenging assignments and pinpoint specific topics that require further attention in class. This feature not only saves time but also assists teachers in optimizing their instructional strategies to better support student learning.

Additionally, ChatGPT can be used to help teachers understand the best way to introduce or clarify difficult concepts, and also adapt materials for different grades or age ranges so teachers can present them in a way that their students will more easily understand.

Get a Transcript of Every Class You Teach with the Push of a Button

Taking notes during class can be challenging for the best of students, and it's physically impossible for teachers to capture a record of every single student's question, or student discussion, in the middle of class.

However, if teachers find it useful, they can record in-person and online classes and use tools to transcribe classes and distribute summaries to students via email immediately after class. Not only does this help teachers prepare for future classes, but it is a huge help to students who struggle with note-taking, or who are on an Individualized Education Program (IEP). Additionally in the context of foreign language classes,  this summary of notes can be used to suggest exercises to reinforce the new vocabulary that was introduced during the lesson.

Breaking Down Language and Cultural Barriers Becomes Easier

One of the applications of smart algorithms lies in automated translation, which facilitates access for students to educational materials in their native language, thus removing linguistic and cultural barriers.

This technology can additionally be hugely useful in terms of contact between students and teachers, using voice and text recognition to enable more fluid communication. Star Trek fans will fondly recall the UT (universal translator), which - although it seemed so futuristic at the time - may well already have been surpassed by current simultaneous translation models.

Re-engage Students By Better Understanding Their Feelings

Today's students face more distractions and tend to be overstimulated due to the pervasive nature of technology and the concerning mental health impact social media is having on them. It has become essential for teachers to understand their students' state of mind, identify what might be distracting them, or gain their attention to ensuring appropriate behavior in the classroom, whether virtual or in person.

Using AI, it may soon be possible to analyze emotions via video, using facial recognition and expression analysis technologies. Smart algorithms could identify and label different emotions, such as happiness, sadness, anger, fear, and surprise, by monitoring the position and movements of the facial muscles during a video call. The data could then be used to make recommendations to the teacher about how they might improve behaviors and attitudes in the classroom.

About Preply
Preply is an online language learning marketplace, connecting tutors to hundreds of thousands of learners in 180 countries worldwide. More than 32,000 tutors teach over 50 languages, powered by a machine-learning algorithm that recommends learners the best tutors for them. Founded in Ukraine in 2012 by Kirill Bigai, Serge Lujyanov, and Dmytro Voloshyn, Preply has grown from a team of 3 to a company of almost 500 employees of 60 different nationalities. Preply is a US company with employees based in 30 countries across Europe, USA, Africa, Asia and Latin America.