From the course: Enhance Teaching and Learning with Microsoft Copilot

The role of generative AI in modern education - Microsoft Copilot Tutorial

From the course: Enhance Teaching and Learning with Microsoft Copilot

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The role of generative AI in modern education

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- I love to try new things. I like to explore new cities, taste new flavors, and read new authors. But I also like routine. I'm happy to have a predictable workday, a plan for dinner, and a scheduled dog walk in the afternoons. Whether you are addicted to novelty or feel comfortable with consistency, artificial intelligence has already changed your life in a hundred tiny ways. And for educators, the recent transition from chalkboards to chat bots will continue to impact all of us. 50 years ago, AI researchers dreamed of creating machines that could think like us. The '70s saw the birth of expert systems, computers designed to make decisions in specific fields, like diagnosing diseases or predicting the weather. Fast forward to the '90s and AI began to grasp language. Natural language processing took its first steps toward understanding human speech. The 2000s introduced us to machine learning, where AI started learning from data, spotting patterns and making predictions. But the real game-changer came in the 2010s with deep learning. AI got a serious boost in image and speech recognition. Suddenly, it could beat humans at games and recognize faces. And now, we're in the era of generative AI. This isn't just about recognizing patterns, it's about creating new ones. AI has become an artist, a creator, a teacher's aide, and more. In just half a century, AI has evolved from a science fiction dream to an everyday reality, and it's still just the beginning. Generative AI creates a collaborative relationship where educators guide the technology, not the other way around. You've probably heard all about the ways AI can save us time, and that's true. But generative AI isn't just a time-saver, it's a cognitive partner. By automating tasks like grading and feedback, AI takes on the heavy lifting, reducing the mental load on us. This allows educators to focus on making those critical human decisions that no algorithm can replicate. AI can personalize the learning experience for each learner's needs, pace, and inputs. It's like having a personal tutor for every learner. And for educators, it's a support system. With AI, we are free to innovate, experiment, and inspire. It's not about replacing the human touch, it's about enhancing it. AI handles the routine, while educators nurture the extraordinary. Think of Copilot as your thinking partner. Learning about Copilot is an investment in yourself and in your teaching.

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