OBS Report: eLearning 2024 Trends and impact of the AI
OBS detects a decline in critical and creative thinking
- The OBServatory detects a lack of digital literacy among students and teachers, and notes a need for greater academic integrity and more intellectual autonomy in students
- Gamification is a key factor in the modernization of online learning and healthy competition among students
The OBServatory of OBS Business School, an institution belonging to Planeta Formación y Universidades, publishes the report eLearning 2024: Emerging Trends and the Impact of Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education, led by Professor Ericka Espino.
The growth of Artificial Intelligence (AI) worldwide and its impact on various sectors is undeniable, and the education sector is no exception. In distance education, AI is primarily applied in online exam proctoring, library services, and the admissions process. It also plays a significant role in analyzing student behavior through emotion recognition, predicting academic performance, and detecting potential early dropouts. Furthermore, Generative AI is transforming the structure and approach of online learning, driving changes in the assessment process, such as verifying the authenticity of student work.
The truth is that while most students and teachers recognize the value of AI in eLearning, there is still low digital literacy among students and a low level of digital skills among teachers; therefore, there is a lack of knowledge regarding its use on platforms. The report urges the development of digital literacy to overcome these hesitations. It has also detected a decline in critical and creative thinking. The OBServatory notes a need for greater academic integrity and more intellectual autonomy in students. Those who choose to pursue online training must have the ability to learn in a self-regulated, goal-oriented manner; however, it is also necessary for teachers to design a plan of milestones for students to follow.
How online studies are conducted
Higher education students primarily use Blackboard, Moodle, Canvas, and Google Classroom for their online studies. After their first experience, the vast majority have a highly positive opinion and recommend it to others. These students routinely use AI tools to complement their education, especially ChatGPT, translation tools, and virtual assistants, and they believe its future potential will be massive, particularly for generating educational content.
Gamification is also helping to improve online learning and foster healthy competition among students. Synchronous and asynchronous discussions are promoted, case studies are presented, and peer evaluation is occasionally introduced. To achieve this, having a collaborative learning space—using shared documents and group workspaces—is essential. This contributes to developing skills such as teamwork and communication.
Challenges
Online education has several challenges to address. On one hand, students come from different parts of the world, which is a source of enrichment; however, they sometimes face certain access issues to technology and connectivity due to an uneven distribution of resources. Challenges arising from cultural differences also emerge.
Another challenge lies in designing programs that foster greater interaction among participants, students, and teachers. This contact largely depends on two factors: teacher engagement and student initiative and self-discipline, which does not always occur. A different approach to design could improve this interaction.
However, the greatest challenge for online higher education, which concerns both students and teachers alike, is privacy and information security—an area where active development continues.
Content prepared by:
Carmen García-Trevijano
Press Office of OBS Business School
