Artificial Intelligence (AI) has impacted all sectors, including the education sector, and humans to a varying degree. We thought of writing this article pointing towards the possibility of getting along with AI in the education space, i.e., not to reduce or eliminate AI’s use but accept it as a reality and learn to get along with it. This is motivated in part by Dr S. Radhakrishnan’s quote – “True Teachers are those who help us think for ourselves” – and partly from the UN definition of education which is that it aims to deliver knowledge, values and skills to students. Though AI has impacted the education sector across its length and breadth, this article will focus on the student’ assignments generated through AI and what strategies can aid in elevating their thought process along with the journey of imparting education. 

Gone are the days when students would spend time in the library or use Google for their assignments. As they use AI nowadays, the entire assignment is done in a matter of a few minutes. The result, teachers get assignments with complicated concepts and graphs never covered in the class. Moreover, when the students appear for oral viva, they have no idea why they put them there. The faculty, on the other hand, rack their brains to come up with assignments that will have little use of AI

Given this scenario, the debate is around use of AI in assignment submissions. Let us see how AI can be useful in the education sector in elevating the thought process of students. Following are some suggestive strategies which can be adopted by educators:
 
1.    Saying yes to AI 
As students use AI, educators can help them understand how to use AI, and more importantly what is acceptable and what is not. AI can be of use to summarise complex topics, provide an overview of a situation, help provide a better flow for the presentation, etc. All of these are acceptable even in the academic community, what's not acceptable is AI doing the entire assignment itself.

2.    Train students to interpret the output
The next point is to train students to interpret the output generated, instead of just creating it. This increases their critical thinking, reasoning, and problem-solving abilities. Educators can use this as a great method of engaging their classes, by relating the concepts being taught with the results, while encouraging students to engage in discussion and providing directions.

3.    Field based assignments
Further, students must be encouraged to do a field-based assignment as part of every course. Students could be encouraged to identify the key challenges and the areas where these activities would be best suited using AI. The importance of Experiential Learning and its role in student development is recognized by the government and promoted through NEP 2020.

4.    Active Learning Strategies 
With the fall in attention span, the need for active learning strategies has never been greater. These strategies enhance student engagement and make the classrooms livelier. The idea is that the theory part or the part that can be done by the students should be done at home and the classroom be used for problem solving and application. One could ask students to study the basics about the theory/ concept on their own using AI, followed by a more engaging classroom by means of problem solving, interpretations, real-world scenarios, cases, etc. This improves the skill sets of the students and helps them apply their learning in the real world.

5.    Maintaining the balance
We Googled everything a few years back and today we turn to AI for all our questions. As educators we must be aware that AI domination has begun and it's only the beginning. We have to teach the students to use AI in a more ethical manner and as an efficient helper/ personal assistant. The students should be trained to ask better questions from AI and use the information to upgrade their own work and submissions. Let’s not forget that the process of nudging them to the right path is what we have pledged to do as educators.

The above discussion can be summarised as below based on the UN's definition of education mentioned above at the outset. 

Goals of Education and means to achieve same

Goal of Education         Measures to Achieve
‘Knowledge’ Transfer    Use AI, Field Work, In class discussions
Imparting ‘Values’         Field Work, Experiential Learning
Developing ‘Skills’        Maintaining the balance, Asking the right set of questions

Having said all that, can we say that AI offers a platform to go back to our Indian philosophical roots and approach the education process as an “Elevating Thought Problem” instead of just imparting knowledge, skills and values – which, anyway, will be a by-product of AI usage. This article aims to bring it to the notice of policymakers that AI must be integrated with balance and maturity in elevating the thought process of students. 

Dr Vijay Prakash Mishra is Assistant Professor at School of Management, Bennett University. Dr Palakh Jain is Associate Professor at School of Management, Bennett University and Senior Visiting Fellow at Pahle India Foundation. 
Views are personal and not of the organisation(s) of authors.