The era of artificial intelligence (AI) has begun, and educators are only just beginning to understand the impact of AI on higher education and K-12 learning. As advanced AI tools become increasingly available, more teachers will begin using them as support within their classrooms, making it critically important to understand the full effects. 

How AI Is Transforming K-12 Education

New AI tools are emerging rapidly in K-12 education, prompting educators to consider how these technologies fit into teaching and learning. Many teachers recognize that AI will shape students’ future academic and professional experiences and want to prepare them for a technology-driven economy. AI also offers practical classroom benefits, including more personalized learning experiences and reduced administrative workload, allowing teachers to focus more directly on instruction and student support.  

The benefits of AI in K-12 education include: 

Personalized and Adaptive Learning

Information from Education Week reveals that more than 85% of teachers and students use AI tools in classroom settings. A primary reason that teachers are adopting this technology is that it enables automated personalized learning in the classroom, giving each student differentiated instruction. Through this approach, teachers can address varying skill levels, learning speeds, and academic needs within the same classroom. 

Early Intervention and Student Support 

The data collected and analyzed by AI outputs can better identify opportunities for early intervention, allowing students to receive the support services that they need as quickly as possible. This can help educators address academic or behavioral concerns before they escalate into long-term challenges. 

Enhancing Classroom Instruction

Educators are finding that AI tools can be a powerful support, with advanced systems offering immediate feedback and personalized learning. This extends the reach of teachers managing a large classroom, helping ensure every student gets the support they need. 

Reducing Administrative Burden for Teachers

By automating some of the most time-consuming and tedious tasks, AI technology reduces the administrative burden that may otherwise prevent teachers from spending time with their students. Automated tasks may include assessing exams, evaluating essays, and generating performance reports.  

Adaptive Tutoring

To best meet the needs of all students in a learning environment, AI technology offers adaptive, intelligent tutoring. For example, some AI outputs can transcribe verbal instruction in real-time or record instruction for students to play back later for review.  

Supporting Special Education

Adaptive AI platforms play a powerful role in supporting the efforts of special education teachers, who are responsible for developing targeted interventions that will meet diverse learning needs. These tools can help customize instruction while supporting compliance with individualized education plans (IEPs). 

Improving Accessibility

According to the World Economic Forum, AI technology helps improve accessibility in education. For instance, UNICEF is currently working to use AI technology to create adaptive textbooks and learning materials that can be distributed globally to vulnerable students (such as those with disabilities or limited resources). 

Beyond K-12: AI’s Role in Postsecondary and Higher Education

While there is clearly a need for AI in K-12 education, many are also noticing the impact of AI on higher education. Research from the World Bank Group shows that the AI transformation is taking place in real time, with significant changes happening nearly every day in higher education institutions around the globe. 

How AI is Changing Admissions

Historically, college admissions relied on a team of admissions officers to review each application by hand. Today, AI is automating many of these tasks, allowing admissions teams to review applications at a faster rate. For instance, AI can help flag missing materials and identify key academic indicators. Prospective college students are now responsible for submitting optimized applications that are clearly structured and aligned with admissions criteria.  

Improving Student Retention and Success

Given that AI technology promotes personalized learning in classrooms, it is not surprising that it is improving student success overall. When students receive timely feedback and individualized learning pathways, they are more likely to stay engaged and persist through their programs. Over time, these supports can contribute to improved retention outcomes at colleges and universities.  

Transforming Online Learning

Online learning has become the norm in higher education, and AI technology is making this learning environment more accessible, engaging, and effective. For example, chatbots can provide answers to students’ questions in real-time, and AI tools can instantly assess assignments and tests, giving online students the immediate feedback they need. 

Research, Academic Writing and Innovation

As professors and instructors work to ensure authenticity and reduce plagiarism, many are also identifying responsible ways to integrate AI-powered tools into research and writing instruction. When used appropriately, these tools can support activities such as organizing research sources, improving clarity and structure, and generating ideas during early drafting stages.  

Streamlining University Operations

On the administrative side, the impact of AI on higher education is quite clear. Many of the leading AI-powered tools are automating administrative tasks such as processing admissions documents, scheduling courses, and tracking enrollment data. This allows universities and colleges to reduce costs, maximize resources, and ultimately operate more efficiently.  

Broader Workforce and Lifelong Learning Implications

There are some educators who are resistant to using the latest AI technology in their classrooms — and their concerns are valid. For instance, many are worried about the potential spread of misinformation, particularly when AI-generated content is inaccurate or incomplete. However, the reality is, today’s students will be working with rapidly advancing AI technology in the years to come. Thus, it is important for students to gain familiarity with these tools early. 

Preparing Students for an AI-Enhanced Workforce

According to the World Economic Forum, students need to know the sheer power of AI technology, and they need to develop the technical and critical thinking skills required to use it safely and responsibly. By introducing students to AI technology in the classroom environment, teachers can begin preparing them for a workforce that will depend heavily on AI tools. 

Upskilling and Reskilling Adult Learners

Even experienced professionals at the height of their careers may need to head back to the classroom to learn how to navigate the AI era. Colleges and universities, for example, should begin developing programs designed to equip established professionals with the skills required for today’s AI-enhanced workforce. 

Expansion of New Career Fields

Although there is a lot of talk about AI replacing jobs, the truth is this technology is actually working to change many of the jobs that currently exist. It is also opening new possibilities in different career fields. To be prepared for these new and evolving roles, students need to be exposed to AI technology in the classroom environment. 

Challenges and Considerations for AI

Education Week states that more than 87% of educators believe that AI will permanently alter the educational landscape, and the vast majority are already using AI in their classrooms. However, there are few rules and regulations guiding educators about how to safely and responsibly use AI technology. 

These are some of the top challenges of implementing AI technology into classroom settings: 

Data Privacy and Security

AI-powered tools rely heavily on student data to automate tasks and personalize the learning experience. To protect student privacy, educators and institutions must carefully evaluate how these tools collect, store, and share data. Responsible use may include limiting data access, maintaining transparency with students, and selecting vendors with clearly defined security safeguards. 

Algorithmic Bias

AI systems can reflect biases present in the data used to train them, which may result in unequal or inaccurate outcomes for certain student populations. When implementing AI tools, educators and administrators should review bias risks, assessing how algorithms make decisions, and whether AI outputs are equitable across diverse learners. 

Academic Integrity

Perhaps one of the most pressing concerns surrounding AI is that it can put academic integrity at risk. In an age of AI-powered writing tools and chatbots, students can easily falsify their work or plagiarize. To prevent an overreliance on technology, educators should utilize AI as a supplement — rather than as a replacement — for learning. 

Teacher Preparedness and Training 

In many cases, teachers are expected to integrate AI tools into instruction without sufficient guidance or professional development. Effective adoption depends on providing educators with training that explains not only how to use AI tools but also when and why they are appropriate in instructional settings.  

The Future of AI in Education

Educators have only skimmed the surface in terms of what AI-powered tools can do in the classroom. These are the emerging trends that will shape the future of AI in education: 

Hybrid Human-AI Teaching Models 

According to the Media Education Lab, hybrid human-AI teaching models will define the learning experience for the next generation of students. These models blend the interpersonal skills of teachers with the power of AI tutors, allowing students to enjoy an efficient yet empathetic learning experience. 

More Immersive and Interactive Learning Experiences

By providing personalized scenarios and immediate feedback, AI tools will likely continue to create more immersive and interactive experiences. This is particularly for students who are enrolled in online programs and lack the traditional interactive elements of on-campus programs. 

Policy and Governance Will Shape Adoption 

While there are few regulations in place now, it is expected that there will be updated policies and guidelines that schools will have to adhere to as they continue to adopt advanced AI technology. These policies can help protect both students and teachers by establishing standards for data privacy, transparency, academic integrity, and appropriate use in instructional and administrative settings. 

Explore the Impact of AI on Education at Keiser University Graduate School

Artificial intelligence is poised to reshape daily life in many ways, and students at all levels will begin to see the impact of AI on education. The next generation of educators and leaders will need to know how to leverage the power of AI in a way that is safe, responsible, and effective. 

The education graduate degrees at Keiser University Graduate School explore the role of AI in K-12 education and higher education, allowing experienced teachers to become more familiar with this advanced technology and learn how to implement it in educational settings. The Master of Science in Education, Teaching and Learning degree, the Education Specialist in Instructional Design and Technology program and the Master of Science in Educational Leadership degree all prepare students for an evolving educational landscape. 

Contact a Graduate Admissions Counselor today to learn more about our graduate degree programs and find the right fit for you.