{"id":562807,"date":"2021-06-07T04:00:14","date_gmt":"2021-06-07T04:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/blackboards\/education-automation-and-the-use-of-advanced-ai-in-egypts-international-schools\/"},"modified":"2021-06-07T04:00:14","modified_gmt":"2021-06-07T04:00:14","slug":"education-automation-and-the-use-of-advanced-ai-in-egypts-international-schools","status":"publish","type":"blackboard","link":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/blackboards\/education-automation-and-the-use-of-advanced-ai-in-egypts-international-schools\/","title":{"rendered":"Education automation and the use of advanced AI in Egypt's international schools"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a> Education automation and the use of advanced AI in Egypt's international schools: <\/strong>The use of adaptive learning software \u2014 offering automated learner feedback and basic follow-up tasks based on performance \u2014 has been steadily growing<\/a> in Egypt\u2019s international schools, and is probably used in some form by all of them, sources estimate.<\/p>\n

Now, more advanced AI software has also emerged in Egypt: <\/strong>Century Tech<\/a>, an advanced machine learning platform that builds personalized learning paths for learners, was first used<\/a> in Egypt in 2019. Now, it works with three Cairo schools: Cairo English School (CES)<\/a>, the British International School of Cairo (BISC)<\/a> and Kipling School<\/a>, Century\u2019s Head of International Charles Wood tells Enterprise. Century uses the British curriculum, but has recently partnered with AIS<\/a> to design software following the American curriculum. It combines learning science, AI and neuroscience to develop individualized learning pathways for students, constantly adjusting based on learner input, Wood adds.<\/p>\n

It goes beyond adaptive learning to actually learn from information given by the learner, <\/strong>experts say. Adaptive technologies are often conflated with artificially intelligent software, but that\u2019s reductive, says Wood. Adaptive technology is like Netflix, where an algorithm makes recommendations based on how one user\u2019s habits link to other user engagement. \u201cEven if the algorithm itself is relatively complex, if it only operates based on its coding and design \u2014 rather than on live data it\u2019s constantly collecting \u2014 it isn\u2019t artificially intelligent,\u201d he says. Adaptive software is an adaptation, agrees AIS Director Kapono Ciotti. \u201cIt isn\u2019t really learning from you and with you.\u201d<\/p>\n

So how does it work in practice?<\/strong> Century Tech identifies initial gaps<\/a> in learner knowledge through a diagnostic assessment. Learners are directed to \u201cnuggets,\u201d bitesize lessons in English, math or science comprising videos and slideshows, followed by questions. When they complete a nugget, their recommended pathway automatically updates, based on what the software has \u201clearned\u201d from the new information provided. It assesses learner confidence levels, strengths, areas for improvement, focus, engagement and memory recall, says Wood. It links subject areas \u2014 like math with physics \u2014 to help clarify concepts. And it uses AI to look for big data patterns and correlations to identify learning trends.<\/p>\n

The goals? Precise learner assessment, agile and accurate recommendations:<\/strong> All Century Tech courses are broken down into the most granular iterations possible, to assess skills and knowledge very precisely, says Wood. The software determines when a student needs subject-matter knowledge, a different kind of learning \u2014 like visual or auditory \u2014 or simply more practice, says Ciotti. A child could be struggling with a physics topic like velocity because she has difficulty applying math equations, not because she doesn\u2019t understand velocity or kinetic energy, notes Wood. Once the software understands this, it can make the relevant math recommendation for her, to address the problem.<\/p>\n

Teachers can access greater amounts of more precise data:<\/strong> Century Tech provides more detailed feedback than adaptive learning software, says CES Head of Secondary Andrew Lennie. \u201cAdaptive learning programs show student assessment scores, but Century Tech is more intelligent, identifying key areas that students have fallen behind in.\u201d Teachers can see individual student challenges, and look at the big-picture data to see when whole classes are struggling with particular concepts, agrees Toya Are, CES Deputy Head of Key Stage 2.<\/p>\n

Advanced AI software could even rival teachers in helping students remember and understand information. <\/strong>Advanced AI can actually accelerate aspects of learning \u2014 particularly when it comes to remembering and understanding<\/a> information \u2014 potentially halving the time needed for this kind of teaching, says Ciotti. It could sometimes even do this better than a single teacher in a class full of students, because it\u2019s so personalized. \u201cThis could free the teacher up to focus on things like knowledge application and project-based work.\u201d <\/strong><\/p>\n

Century appears to be the only advanced AI education software used in Egypt: <\/strong>Century Tech features in<\/a> multiple lists of the top global<\/a> edtech companies using AI in education. Of these companies, it\u2019s the only one being used in Egypt, several sources believe. \u201cIn terms of intelligent software, Century Tech is the only platform I know of in Egypt,\u201d says Lennie.<\/p>\n

Adoption may be limited, as it offers only three academic subject areas:<\/strong> Century Tech is currently being used for CES pupils at Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3 level, Esol Education\u2019s<\/a> Assistant COO Hazem Girgis tells Enterprise. \u201cWe don\u2019t use Century for our GCSE students because it only offers English, math and science, while edtech platform GCSEPod<\/a> covers nearly all subjects,\u201d says Lennie.<\/p>\n

Still, it\u2019s on a rapid growth trajectory in Egypt and regionally:<\/strong> Century Tech\u2019s usage in Egypt has seen a 50% y-o-y increase in terms of lessons completed this academic year, says Wood. It has a significant regional presence, working in some 40-50 schools in the UAE. Altogether, it\u2019s active in some 40 countries, he adds. \u201cIn Egypt, we\u2019re actively targeting international schools, but we\u2019re also very interested in working with the education ministry and making our tech available to the public sector.\u201d Overall, the company wants to branch out into a broader range of subject areas, he says.<\/p>\n

Its AIS content-creation partnership is a move to diversify its offerings: <\/strong>AIS has a team of four people working with Century Tech to design American curriculum math content. So far, it\u2019s completed a mapping exercise to identify learning gaps for one grade level, says Wood. \u201cWith our current time and budget, we could probably design one grade level in five months, but I think this will accelerate,\u201d says Ciotti. \u201cEventually, I\u2019d expect it to take three months per grade level per subject area.\u201d AIS is currently the only partner Century\u2019s working on American curriculum design with, says Wood. \u201cWith further investment, we could roll this out and move into other subject areas,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n

For AIS, it\u2019s a worthwhile investment in cutting-edge tech: <\/strong>Ciotti hopes that the partnership will continue into other subject areas. \u201cI think both sides are investing quite a bit and taking some bold risks here,\u201d he says, without disclosing any investment figures. \u201cThe vast majority of the investment is in person hours and expertise,\u201d he adds. It\u2019s all worth it, because AIS believes in the value of the tech. \u201cWe\u2019re confident this is the tech of today and many of our tomorrows, and that it will continue to adapt.\u201d<\/p>\n

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