Using Conversational Agents for Educational Purposes

This past year (2023/2024) has been quite eventful, with significant advancements in artificial intelligence, generative pre-transformers (GPTs), and large language models (LLMs). The capabilities of conversational agents have also seen a notable increase due to the growing use of artificial intelligence. What was once seen as limited in use in classrooms has expanded to encompass many different features and functionality. The distinction between artificial intelligence and conversational agents appears to be continuously fading. With the enhanced capabilities of conversational agents, there is enormous potential to revolutionize education.

The possible uses of conversational agents in the classroom seem almost limitless.

Picture sourced from https://pixnio.com/people/children-kids/child-son-indoors-education-baby-room-son

Educational uses of Conversational Agents

Conversational agents, chatbots or virtual assistants are revolutionizing the educational landscape by offering interactive, personalized, and accessible learning experiences.

These intelligent systems are designed to engage with students in real-time, providing instant feedback, answering queries, and guiding them through complex topics. By incorporating natural language processing and machine learning, conversational agents can adapt to individual learning styles, making education more inclusive and effective.

From tutoring and language learning to administrative support and mental health counselling, the applications of conversational agents in education are vast and varied, enhancing both teaching and learning processes.

Explore how these innovative tools are integrated into classrooms, online courses, and educational platforms to create dynamic and supportive learning environments.

Curious about the software available for use? Let's explore some of the options.

Specific Examples of Classroom Use

Helping with lesson planning and workflow optimization: Chen et al. (2020) highlighted that chatbots and virtual assistants can help handle administrative tasks, like grading assignments, scoring, and giving student feedback.

Personalized learning: "The use of chatbot technology in education is one of the most important approaches to enhancing and promoting a more personalized learning experience" (Cunningham-Nelson et al., 2019, pp. 299–306). Virtual assistants can customize a curriculum to the learner's needs and wants, allowing flexibility in learning resources.

Curriculum delivery:Chen et al. (2020) also stated that "because the systems leverage machine learning and adaptability, curriculum and content has been customized and personalized in line with students' needs, which has fostered uptake and retention, thereby improving learners experience and overall quality of learning. "The possibility of having immediate assistance provided to students is one of the most significant advantages of utilizing chatbots for educational purposes. (Okonkwo & Ade-Ibijola, 2021)

Reading aloud and dictation: Virtual assistants can help with multitasking and research. Being able to quickly ask a question or research for more information can aid in focusing on tasks, as the person using it would not need to refocus on another task.

Translation: Students learning a language can translate a specific phrase or word to aid their understanding and learning. The ease of operation and the ability to use dictation offer an alternative method when a student is unsure how to write the word.

Weather: In classroom settings where students engage in outdoor activities, the ability to swiftly check the weather, UV index, and other advisories can be invaluable. It not only aids in smooth transitions but also ensures student safety, showcasing the diverse capabilities of conversational agents.

Many platforms provide customization, such as Amazon Alexa through blueprints. These allow teachers to set up customized routines that benefit them.

Personalized Tutoring

Always available

Adaptive learning by ability

Dedicated

Language Learning

Conversational practice

Pronunciation assistance

Translation

Accessibility Support

Hands-free operation

Reminders and alarms

Text-to-Speech

Engagement and Motivation

Interactive communication

Emotional connection as enhance interaction

Time Management

Scheduling and reminders

Time tracking and reporting

Calendar Integration

Workflow Optimizations

Rapid Information Searching

Calculations

Note taking

Siri’s Upcoming Upgrade: What It Means for Kids and AI Literacy

With the upcoming iOS update, Siri is set to become more advanced, integrating ChatGPT's language model capabilities. This upgrade will make Siri more human-like, offering enhanced interactions and more sophisticated responses. But what does this mean for children who will regularly use AI assistants?

Children and AI: Misunderstandings Persist

A recent study by Andries and Robertson (2023), revealed that many children aged six to eleven believe assistants like Siri and Alexa might have feelings or think independently. Despite their frequent use of these devices, children often overestimate their intelligence. For example, about one-third of surveyed children thought smart speakers could think for themselves to some extent.

Key Findings:

The children overestimated the cognitive abilities and agency of smart speakers.
The children were uninformed but concerned about privacy and security issues.
The children believed that it is wrong to be rude to conversational assistants.
The majority of the children showed interest in learning more about AI systems.

The Importance of AI Literacy

This misunderstanding highlights the need for AI literacy in education. Children should be taught to discern AI's true nature and limitations using critical thinking and responsible technology. Educators should integrate AI literacy into their curricula to prepare students for a future where AI is ubiquitous.

Implications of More Human-Like AI

As Siri becomes more sophisticated, several implications arise:

Enhanced Learning: Advanced AI interactions can provide children with more accurate and relevant information, improving their educational experiences.
Risk of Misunderstanding: As AI becomes more human-like, children may increasingly mistake it for having emotions or independent thoughts.
Educational Need: Comprehensive AI education is crucial to helping children and adults understand AI's capabilities and limitations.

Navigating the AI Future

AI voice assistants will continue to evolve, and enhancing AI literacy among children is imperative. Educators and technology designers must collaborate to understand AI’s capabilities and limitations.

Reference:

Andries, V., & Robertson, J. (2023). Alexa doesn’t have that many feelings: Children’s understanding of AI through interactions with smart speakers in their homes. Computers and Education. Artificial Intelligence, 5, 100176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.caeai.2023.100176

The Challenges of Using Conversational Agents for Educational Purposes

Ethical Issues and Privacy Concerns

Managing conversational agents poses a challenge due to ethical concerns surrounding their responses to specific questions. Data retention and storage are an important aspect in regard to policies of use. Many jurisdictions also lack updated policies that address technology use (especially with regard to conversational agents) in educational settings.

The absence of clear guidelines on data storage and software utilization may create reluctance to implement these technologies, potentially putting educational institutions and students at risk. Discussions with policy makers are important when determining the proper usage of conversation agents.

Technical Issues

One of the key considerations in using conversational agents in the classroom is ensuring that they work seamlessly across different devices used by students. In schools where students use a variety of devices, such as mobile phones, tablets, and personal computers with different operating systems, compatibility issues can create operational and planning challenges.

The solution lies in deploying conversational agents with software that can run on multiple devices, making it easier and more accessible. It's also important to note that many conversational agents rely on Wi-Fi, which may be limited in some school settings. Addressing these technical challenges is crucial for successful classroom management before implementing the software.

Research Issues

The use of conversational agents in the classroom is relatively new, which has resulted in limited documented research on its impact on learning and learning outcomes.

This lack of research and longitudinal studies presents a challenge for educators, as best practices are not yet established. More empirical research on conversation agents, chat-enabled AIs, and virtual assistants must be undertaken. Wu, R., & Yu, Z. (2024)

The initial research primarily shows positive results, especially in higher education, but it is still in the early stages of development. Ongoing research encourages users to stay updated on continuously changing information.

Behaviour / User Issues

It's crucial to consider that students may not be fully experienced in using conversational agents in a classroom setting. Although some students may have personal experience with these agents, their application in educational environments remains somewhat restricted.

Therefore, it's important to demonstrate best practices and usage protocols to students to ensure they understand how to utilize conversational agents in their learning effectively.

In addition, there has been a growing trend to ban electronic devices and, by extension, chat-enabled AI instead of providing training on how to use them, adding complexity to this problem.

Quality and Accuracy of Responses

There is a risk that these agents may provide inaccurate, fabricated, or biased information, prompting consideration of their appropriate use.

Due to virtual assistants often relying on pre-programmed or machine learning algorithms (Shumanov & Johnson, 2021 ), there can be instances where the information provided is incorrect or misleading. This can negatively impact students' learning experiences if not carefully monitored and corrected by educators.

Encouraging students to evaluate the information they receive and conduct additional research critically is crucial for their learning

A Changing Role of an Instructor / Teacher

The introduction of virtual assistance changes the dynamic between students and instructors. Instructors need training on properly integrating these resources to complement classroom teaching methods, teaching strategies and address any technical issues that may arise.

A change in more student lead learning is also another impact of conversation agents, chat-enabled AIs, and virtual assistants.

Reflection Activity: What challenges do you foresee in utilizing conversational assistants in your classroom or workplace? Post in the Discussion Board.

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse