In a rapidly evolving era of online education, the utilization of AI avatars emerges as a game-changer. This article delves into the pivotal role of AI avatars in transforming the educational landscape. From acting as interactive teachers and classmates to addressing critical issues like teacher shortages and high education costs, avatars are reshaping the way we learn. Join us on a journey through the potential of AI avatars to make education more accessible, engaging, and responsive to the evolving needs of learners worldwide. Discover how these virtual entities are becoming catalysts for innovation in the realm of education. Welcome to the future of learning with AI avatars.
How AI Avatars Revolutionize Education
Education is perhaps the industry that will be most affected by the use of avatars. The concept of e-learning has been around for a very long time, but in recent years its use has gained momentum. During the pandemic, ‘traditional’ education suddenly ceased everywhere and lessons were delivered via Zoom and videoconferencing. However, online education has brought many difficulties for both teachers and students. Human contact is important for learning. When someone explains the information to us, it stays in our memory much better than if we just read it.
Online courses make it much more convenient for learners to progress at their own pace. However, the online learning often can be boring.
Using avatars can make online lessons interactive. An avatar can play many roles. It can be a narrator, who generally guides the student through the material, or a teacher, who explains it. Research on e-learning has shown that interaction with the teacher is not the only important part of the learning process, but that interaction with “classmates” is also part of the learning process.
Three main roles emerge in the learning process
- Who knows more than you
- Who is on the same level as you in terms of knowledge
- Who knows less than you
The first category includes teachers who represent an autocracy. We may be less courageous in asking them, or we may not ask them at all. We are more likely to ask our peers at the same level as us about things we don’t understand, or to talk to them more openly about, for example, processing the material.
Those who know less than we do may ask us for help, and by explaining the material we understand it better.
When designing e-learning, it is, therefore, worthwhile to complement the “traditional” roles of narrator or teacher with the role of a classmate or of asking us for help.
For example, in a training session, an avatar can be used to illustrate problematic behavior or conflict situations that may arise in the course of work. In this way, people who take the training can more easily identify negative behavior in real life and learn how to deal with in these situations.
What problems does the use of avatars in education address?
- Teacher shortage
- Overloaded teachers
- High education costs
- Long geographical distances
Teacher shortage
Although everyone may agree on the importance of education, unfortunately, teacher shortages are a serious problem in many countries. The root of the problem is often low pay and a lack of replacement. Teaching is not as attractive a career as it used to be. As a result, many schools find themselves in a situation where there are simply no teachers to teach their students.
However, e-learning with a specific AI avatar could solve the problem. Of course, for the time being, an avatar could not fully replace the role of a teacher, as students would not be able to have a conversation with the avatar teacher. Thus, they would not be able to ask questions about the subject. But, for example, with avatars, a teacher would be able to give lessons in several places and students could ask questions by e-mail. Another effective method might be for the teacher to teach two courses at the same time. For example, by attending one of the courses in person during one week, and discussing any questions about the material there, and attending the other course the other week. When he/she is unable to attend, he/she will teach the class using the AI avatar.
Overloaded teachers
Previously, we have already introduced the issue of overloaded teachers, who may have to follow several courses and be in several places at the same time. For example, you can use avatars to answer students’ questions more effectively, or, as explained in the previous part, you can teach in more places at the same time.
High education costs
In some countries, the problem is not necessarily a shortage of teachers, but high education costs. For example, some families may have problems financing their children’s education. Avatars can help to reduce the cost of education, giving poorer people the opportunity to learn.
Big geographical distances
There are many international universities where some courses are taught by a professor from another continent or country. In this case, either the teacher has to travel to the location each time to teach the course, or he/she has to move to the university for the duration of the course. With the avatar, you can hold your classes without having to travel.
In summary, the use of AI avatars is truly reforming education and offers a solution to a number of challenges. If you’re intrigued by the world of AI avatars and want to try how they work, try Reavat, which lets you create your own avatar in just a few clicks.
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