How AI Tools Can Empower Students Struggling in Traditional Education
Traditional education systems often emphasise rigid structures: lecture-based instruction, standardised testing, and a “one-size-fits-all” approach to learning. However, these models can leave some students feeling disengaged, overwhelmed, or discouraged. Fortunately, AI (Artificial Intelligence) is emerging as a transformative tool that educators and students alike can leverage to create a more personalised, engaging, and supportive learning experience. By addressing individual learning needs and adapting to various learning styles, AI tools can help make education more accessible for students who may struggle in conventional classroom settings.
The Challenge of Traditional Education for Diverse Learners
Students struggling in traditional classrooms may do so for a range of reasons. Some have different cognitive processing styles or learn at a different pace than their peers, while others may have challenges with attention, motivation, or memory. The standard educational model can often overlook these needs, making it difficult for students to keep up and stay engaged.
AI tools, however, offer the ability to adjust learning paths based on real-time data and student interaction, thus tailoring content, pacing, and support for each student. This technology enables educators to focus on personalising learning experiences and allows students to engage with content in ways that feel accessible, rewarding, and relevant to their individual needs.
How AI Tools Foster Engagement for Struggling Students
AI tools designed for education come in many forms, from chatbots that answer students’ questions to adaptive learning platforms that modify content to match a student’s progress and understanding. Here’s how they address some of the most common challenges students face:
- Personalised Learning Pathways: Many students find it difficult to stay engaged when lessons don’t align with their learning pace or style. AI tools can create customised lessons, breaking down concepts into smaller, more manageable parts, or offering alternate ways of presenting information (such as visuals, audio, or interactive activities) to suit different learning preferences.
- Interactive and Immersive Learning: AI-powered tools can bring subjects to life, turning passive learning into active engagement. With virtual environments, interactive simulations, and gamified experiences, students can explore, experiment, and learn from mistakes without fear of failure. This approach is particularly helpful for students who may feel intimidated by traditional methods of assessment and instruction.
- Real-Time Feedback: Instant feedback is essential for keeping students engaged, especially those who may feel left behind in a traditional setting. AI tools provide immediate responses to students’ actions, helping them identify and correct mistakes, encouraging a growth mindset, and reinforcing their efforts with positive reinforcement.
- Improving Focus and Reducing Distractions: For students who struggle with focus or become easily distracted, AI tools can adjust the learning environment to suit their needs. For instance, they can break lessons into shorter, digestible segments or provide regular reminders to re-focus attention.
- Emotional and Social Support: AI tools can help build students’ confidence and resilience. Some platforms offer virtual “mentors” or chatbots that provide encouraging prompts, mental health support, or a safe space for questions. This added layer of social-emotional learning support helps foster a supportive environment, making students feel valued and understood.
Five AI Tools to Support Engagement for Struggling Students
Below are five AI tools that educators can use to engage students in new and effective ways:
Khan Academy Kids
- Description: Khan Academy Kids is an AI-driven learning app designed for young learners. It features a wide variety of learning activities in math, reading, and problem-solving, tailored to each child’s ability and progress.
- How It Supports Engagement: The app uses interactive games, stories, and activities to make learning fun. The adaptive system personalizes each child’s learning path based on their performance, ensuring the content remains challenging but achievable.
- Example in Use: A student struggling with early reading skills can use Khan Academy Kids to practice through interactive, playful lessons. By progressing at their own pace, the student can build confidence without the pressure of keeping up with classmates.
Quill
- Description: Quill is an AI-supported platform focused on developing writing, grammar, and comprehension skills through interactive activities and quizzes.
- How It Supports Engagement: Quill’s AI engine adapts the difficulty of each activity to match the student’s skill level. Its real-time feedback guides students through errors, turning writing exercises into an interactive learning process.
- Example in Use: A student who struggles with sentence structure can use Quill for personalised exercises that gradually introduce complex sentences. The immediate feedback helps the student learn at their own pace and improves confidence with written language.
DreamBox Learning
- Description: DreamBox is a math learning tool that uses AI to adapt lessons based on each student’s progress, skills, and problem-solving strategies.
- How It Supports Engagement: DreamBox personalises math problems and presents concepts in a gamified, visually engaging way that keeps students interested. It allows students to learn math concepts through exploration and self-paced challenges.
- Example in Use: A student who feels discouraged by math can use DreamBox to learn foundational math skills in an interactive format. Through a series of engaging challenges, the student can build a stronger understanding of math concepts without feeling overwhelmed.
Grammarly for Education
- Description: Grammarly for Education is an AI-powered tool that helps students with writing by suggesting improvements in grammar, syntax, style, and tone.
- How It Supports Engagement: Grammarly acts as a virtual tutor, providing real-time writing feedback and encouraging students to improve their written expression. This tool is beneficial for students who need extra help refining their writing skills.
- Example in Use: A student who struggles with essay writing can use Grammarly to check and improve their drafts. Grammarly’s suggestions can help the student learn more effective ways to communicate ideas, thereby increasing confidence in written assignments.
Immersive Reader (Microsoft)
- Description: Immersive Reader is a Microsoft tool designed to improve reading comprehension and focus. It offers features like text-to-speech, word highlighting, and translation.
- How It Supports Engagement: By converting text into audio and visually guiding readers, Immersive Reader helps students who find reading challenging due to attention or processing issues. It also allows customization of text size, background colour, and spacing for accessibility.
- Example in Use: A student with dyslexia can use Immersive Reader to follow along with reading assignments, listening as the tool reads aloud and highlights each word. This experience allows the student to access and comprehend text in a supportive, adaptable format.
Conclusion
AI tools are reshaping the way we think about education, especially for students who find it difficult to thrive in traditional classrooms. By providing personalised learning experiences, interactive engagement, and real-time feedback, these tools create a more inclusive and supportive environment that adapts to each student’s unique needs. Embracing AI in education can help unlock the potential of students who may have previously felt sidelined, giving them the tools to succeed and, most importantly, to enjoy learning.