Search Search Artificial intelligence 'should be used to give children one-on-one tutoring' Academics argue AI could radically transform our education system for the better – but is being held back by funding Click to follow The Independent Online Academics argue that one-to-one tutoring could provide the most-effective approach to teaching but it's being held back by a lack of funding iStock Artificial intelligence should be used to provide children with one-to-one tutoring to improve their learning and monitor their well-being, academics have argued.
 One-to-one tutoring has long been thought the most-effective approach to teaching but would be too expensive to provide for all students.
 However, in a paper, academics from University College London’s Knowledge Lab argue that AI systems could simulate human one-to-one tutoring by delivering learning activities tailored to a student’s needs and providing targeted and timely feedback, all without an individual teacher present.
 Read more Facebook to use AI to map people's homes, give them internet Instead of being examined in traditional ways, children could be assessed in a more complete manner by collecting data about their performance over a long period, providing employers and educational institutions with a richer picture of their abilities.
 The report argues that AI could radically transform our education system for the better – but it is being held back by funding.
 In pictures: Artificial intelligence through history In pictures: Artificial intelligence through history Boston Dynamics describes itself as 'building dynamic robots and software for human simulation'.
 It has created robots for DARPA, the US' military research company Google has been using similar technology to build self-driving cars, and has been pushing for legislation to allow them on the roads The DARPA Urban Challenge, set up by the US Department of Defense, challenges driverless cars to navigate a 60 mile course in an urban environment that simulates guerilla warfare Deep Blue, a computer created by IBM, won a match against world champion Garry Kasparov in 1997.
 The computer could evaluate 200 million positions per second, and Kasparov accused it of cheating after the match was finished Another computer created by IBM, Watson, beat two champions of US TV series Jeopardy at their own game in 2011 Apple's virtual assistant for iPhone, Siri, uses artificial intelligence technology to anticipate users' needs and give cheeky reactions Xbox's Kinect uses artificial intelligence to predict where players are likely to go, an track their movement more accurately Proposals to use AI have been controversial.
 Professor Stephen Hawking and other leading scientists have warned of the dangers of it becoming “too clever”, and there are concerns about data security and privacy.
 Some teachers also fear their role could be diminished by this technology, or that it could be used as a “classroom spy” to monitor their performance.
 But the report’s authors believe there are huge potential benefits – and they argue it is essential the teaching profession is involved from the start.
 The report says: “We are in no doubt that teachers need to be central agents in the next phase of Artificial Intelligence in Education (AIEd).
 In one sense this is obvious – it is teachers who will be the orchestrators of when, and how, to use these AIEd tools.
 In turn, the AIEd tools, and the data-driven insights that these tools provide, will empower teachers to decide how best to marshal the various resources at their disposal.
” Read more intelligence It adds: “The increasing use of AIEd systems will enable the collection of mass data about which teaching and learning practices work best.
 This data will enable us to track learner progress against different teaching approaches and, in turn, will allow us to develop a dynamic catalogue of the best teaching practices suited to the development of different skills and capabilities, in particular the 21st century skills, across a range of environments.
” AI should also be used to tackle the achievement gap between the poorest children and their wealthier peers by helping low-income parents with parenting even before their offspring start school.
 The report says: “Low-income parents may also have had limited education opportunities, meaning they may face serious challenges in providing at-home learning support to their children.
 “AIEd systems can provide tailored support to parents in the same way that they can for teachers and students, improving education and outcomes for both parents and their children.
 Imagine, for example, providing parents with AIEd assistants that could advise them about strategies for talking to their child, sharing songs, and enjoying books.
 This could enable all parents to provide the right sort of support in those all-important early years.
” AI first appeared in a digital game in 1979, when Pac-Man used a technique known as state machine (transitioning between states depending on conditions) to control whether or not a ghost ran towards or away from a player.
 The AI in most modern digital games builds on this approach.
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