Bringing AI to Life: Empowering students in their learning journey
This marks the third in a series of blog posts highlighting how we’ve already integrated AI into how we think and operate, and its place in the future of our customers’ learning journeys - as discussed in our 2023 Half Year Results.
The shift towards digital learning
New technologies are shaping the way that students are learning and accessing information. At Pearson we believe in the power of innovation to enhance education, and in combining AI with the insights of our authors to light the flame of learning. We’ve been active in responsibly harnessing technology to help people learn for many years – whether in the form of online assessments, digital teaching or learning resources. Most recently, attention has turned to the applications of AI in study.
The role of AI in learning
Our focus is on using AI in a way that really helps students learn and instructors teach. A large proportion of higher education course grades are based on exams, and the feedback we receive from the students we work with indicates that they want features that help them achieve success in those exams. We’re not interested in using AI simply to give students answers; we’re using it to help them learn and enhance their learning journey.
This is why we’re currently developing beta versions of generative AI tools in select higher education Pearson+ eTextbooks that will support the learning process. This includes being able to summarise eTextbook content and generate practice quiz questions. In MyLab & Mastering, we are developing tools that provide practice questions that support teaching by guiding students through complex problems, moving them towards mastery of challenging concepts in a personalised way.
The importance of security and trust
While opportunities involving AI are exciting and have the promise to benefit students and faculty, we are aware of questions around quality and security. We take this seriously and maintaining trust and quality is core to everything we do, and the use of AI is no exception.
“In this world of fast-moving AI, trust and quality must be at the heart of what we do.” - Marcia Horton, Vice President, Product Management, Higher Education
This is why our unique and proprietary Intellectual Property (IP) is so critical to the development of quality AI powered study tools that students and faculty can trust. We have a large library of the best content and most respected authors. Simply put, the purity of content equates to greater accuracy of any content output. To protect privacy while providing content that is personalised to a student’s prompt, personalised features are contained in a secure Pearson environment.
Technological advances, digital tools and AI provide exciting new ways for students to learn and achieve success. Pearson’s role is not only to help students harness these innovations, but allow them to do so in a secure and trusted way to provide a personalised, frictionless learning experience.
Hear more from Marcia Horton on the importance of trust, quality and creativity when working with AI and developing learning content: