Prime Highlights
- A new study highlights how AI is transforming teaching, learning and assessment in higher education.
- Researchers say critical thinking, ethics and human guidance will remain essential despite growing AI adoption.
Key Facts
- S. Joe Qin authored the study on AI’s impact on higher education.
- Lingnan University developed an AI-powered assessment system that provides personalised feedback and reduces marking time.
Background
Artificial intelligence is reshaping how universities teach, assess and support students, according to a new paper by Lingnan University President Prof. S. Joe Qin. Published in the journal Computers and Education: Artificial Intelligence, the study draws on Lingnan University’s own digital learning initiatives to examine how AI is entering higher education.
Qin argues the shift goes beyond adding new tools to classrooms. Universities are being pushed to rethink how students learn and how educators work. With the increasing popularity of AI, it is expected that the emphasis will shift from rote learning to analysis, problem-solving, and evaluation of AI content.
This paper discusses Lingnan University’s Generative AI Assessment System, which is a tool for assessment and personalized feedback of students. The system can assess work quickly and flag areas where individual students may need extra support. It won a Bronze Medal at the International Exhibition of Inventions in Geneva earlier this year.
One of the most immediate benefits has been less time spent on routine marking. Students also receive feedback faster than they would under traditional assessment methods.
Despite the growing use of AI, Qin holds that technology cannot replace teachers. Educational activities are still based on the human component which is judgmental, communicative and emotive. The paper also highlights the relevance of some skills including critical thinking, adaptability and ethics that are becoming more relevant in the future learning process. When most tasks are automated, the students should evaluate the information, its outcomes and make decisions.
