AI in education: Survey reveals optimism & concerns

Turnitin has released the findings from a survey regarding the influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on education, focusing on attitudes across various countries.

The survey, conducted by Vanson Bourne and commissioned by Turnitin, involved 3,500 participants including students, educators, and academic administrators from six countries: Australia, New Zealand, India, Mexico, United Kingdom, and the United States. The findings reveal both optimism and concern about the pervasive role of AI in academia.

Amongst the respondents in Australia and New Zealand, there is a notable positive sentiment about the impact of AI on education, with 78 per cent indicating positivity, a sentiment mirrored across other surveyed regions. This positivity is tempered by concerns, as 78 per cent of respondents in the same region express feeling overwhelmed by the abundance of AI technology.

Annie Chechitelli, Turnitin's Chief Product Officer, highlighted the importance of understanding AI's role in education to develop effective solutions. "Key learnings from our research and continued engagement with the academic community across regions help inform the development of future solutions, and increase the value of our current solutions," she stated. "To provide the right support for the global education community, we have to better understand how technologies, like AI, are used to either support or shortcut learning around the world."

The survey findings indicated that students are particularly concerned about the use of AI, with 64 per cent expressing worries about its impact in education, surpassing the concerns of educators and administrators. David Gallichan, Business Strategy & Partnerships Lead at Vanson Bourne, acknowledged this pivotal moment in academia, saying, "Our research, across all countries and surveyed groups, highlights a pivotal moment in academia. While there is clear optimism about AI's potential, there is also significant concern—particularly among students—about its misuse."

Despite being overwhelmed by AI's availability, students, educators, and academic administrators in Australia and New Zealand seem to adapt well to AI's presence in educational settings. James Thorley, Regional Vice President for APAC and EMEA, noted, "It is impressive how students, educators and academic administrators in Australia and New Zealand have grown and evolved with the continued presence and prevalence of AI. With nearly two-thirds of survey respondents in the region feeling they know how to get the most benefit from AI in their role/studies, Australia and New Zealand have an opportunity to establish and share best practices."

The survey reveals that a smaller number of respondents from Australia and New Zealand feel uncertain about leveraging AI effectively compared to the global average. 36 per cent of participants in these countries expressed uncertainty in this regard, which compares favourably against the 45 per cent across all surveyed regions.

The report titled "Crossroads: Navigating the Intersection of AI and Academia" sheds light on current perspectives regarding AI's role in education, underscoring the balance between its vast potential and the challenges it presents. The survey findings emphasise the need for ongoing evaluation and adaptation as AI becomes an integral part of educational methodologies worldwide.