As AI technologies rapidly evolve, people across all industries seem to be racing to find ways to optimize work processes with AI. Education is one of those industries, and higher education administrators must especially learn to incorporate AI responsibly.
Graduates of the Youngstown State University (YSU) online Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership – Higher Education Leadership & Administration program are poised to guide institutions forward through thoughtful considerations when using these new tools. This article examines the strategic planning necessary for AI integration in higher education, its benefits and drawbacks, and recommendations for effective implementation.
The Pros and Cons of AI Implementation
AI technology is full of treasures currently being discovered by education professionals. According to a LinkedIn article by surgeon, medical educator and instructional designer Vaikunthan Rajaratnam, AI’s “integration into classrooms promises myriad benefits — from boosting critical thinking in journalism students to crafting personalized learning experiences. AI can streamline educational processes, foster valuable skills, and potentially reduce administrative costs. Classroom AI tools offer the allure of deeper analysis and collaboration.”
AI technologies can bolster student success initiatives by offering tailored learning experiences. AI-driven platforms adapt to individual learning styles and progress, delivering customized support and feedback. This personalized approach helps identify struggling students early, enabling timely interventions and targeted assistance. Additionally, AI aids in developing adaptive learning materials that address the needs of diverse student populations, ensuring equitable learning opportunities.
However, all of this comes at a cost. The author points out challenges such as the impact on students’ mental well-being, data breaches that reveal vulnerable information, and the inherent bias that many AI tools still carry, which may lead to problems, especially among a diverse student population.
Improving Administrative Efficiency
Another common fear is that AI implementation may lead to higher unemployment rates. However, people can alternatively use AI to streamline administrative tasks, significantly improving efficiency within educational institutions. FeedbackFruits highlights three ways AI enhances productivity:
- Support admission process: AI saves faculty time by processing application data and identifying potential applicants. It conducts predictive analysis to foresee students with higher admission likelihood and allocates financial aid more effectively.
- Manage student progress: AI’s predictive analysis tracks student progress, flags those struggling academically or emotionally, and creates a comprehensive assessment environment beyond just grades.
- Reduce drop-out rates: AI helps identify at-risk students in advance and provides personalized instructions and support to improve their learning experiences and retention.
Facilitating Data Analysis
While AI’s capability to facilitate data analysis of current students is one of its greatest advantages, AI can also be used to foresee the incoming student population. When used for higher education marketing, artificial intelligence “looks at tons of data, helps create targeted messages, predicts how many might enroll, predicts enrollment trends, and delivers content that resonates with students at different stages of their education,” writes Sarah Russell from EducationDynamics.
Russell states that this marketing focus not only makes “outreach better but also makes it more personal, significantly enhancing recruitment and retention outcomes.” This data-driven approach helps institutions continuously improve and adapt to changing needs.
Developing an Implementation Roadmap
“Ignoring generative AI or banning its use on the academic side of higher education seems naïve and possibly misguided,” write the authors of EDUCAUSE Review. They strongly emphasize the need for higher education institutions to prepare “graduates to work in a world where generative AI is becoming ubiquitous.”
The article points out a 2022 recommendation of the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) that member states “work with international organizations, educational institutions, and private and non-governmental entities to provide adequate AI literacy education to the public on all levels in all countries.” Therefore, a comprehensive implementation roadmap is crucial for guiding AI integration efforts. This roadmap should outline the steps to achieve strategic objectives, including timelines, resource allocation and key performance indicators.
Through courses such as Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education, students of YSU’s online Ed.D. in Educational Leadership – Higher Education Leadership & Administration program learn how to assess curriculum-based learning outcomes, create measures to improve teaching and learning, and make more informed decisions for the future of their pupils.
Learn more about YSU’s online Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership – Higher Education Leadership & Administration program.
