Beyond Streaming: How Universities Are Evolving Online Education with AI and Personalized Tools
For Prof. John Domingue, director of the Open University’s Knowledge Media Institute (KMI), the rapid shift to online learning due to the Covid-19 pandemic has opened up new possibilities that are here to stay. “The online genie is out of the bottle,” he says, acknowledging that universities must rethink their approach to teaching in the digital age.
Domingue criticizes the tendency of some universities to simply replicate traditional face-to-face teaching methods in an online format, often just broadcasting pre-recorded lectures. “Standing before a camera and broadcasting is not online teaching,” he asserts, emphasizing the need for a more innovative approach to digital learning.
To make online education more engaging and effective, Domingue suggests leveraging emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI). One of KMI’s ongoing projects includes creating an AI-powered online library for educators, similar to a Google search engine but specifically for educational resources. Additionally, Domingue envisions a Netflix-style recommendation tool that suggests content tailored to a lecturer’s field based on previous searches.
KMI is also developing other tools, including personalized AI assistants, career coaches, and AI-driven systems for grading essays and setting quizzes, all designed to enhance the learning experience beyond simple streaming and recording.
