Innovation in Higher Education with AI

Introduction

The purpose of this talking-paper is to explore creating hybrid online regionally accredited degrees powered by AI platforms like Axio.ai. In the rapidly evolving landscape of higher education, institutions face significant challenges: rising tuition costs, student debt, the demand for real-world job skills, and the need for surplus cash for operations.

Concurrently, professors seek better compensation, and there is growing concern and curiosity about the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in academia. AI platforms like Axio.ai, which, in my opinion, represents the best of AI EdTech, offer a solution that addresses these challenges while preserving the core values of education. Central to the discussion is the deployment of AI to offer regionally accredited Masters degrees based on accreditors' requirements, which include mission, ethical and responsible conduct, quality of teaching and learning, and institutional effectiveness.

The Role of AI in Higher Education

Transforming the Role of Faculty

AI is rapidly revolutionizing the educational experience, enhancing the role of professors rather than replacing them. As Sarah Hampton aptly noted, "Humans are well suited to discern the outcomes…because we are the ones that have the capacity for moral reflection and empathy. So, in other words, I want the AI to help me really quickly and easily see what my student needs in their learning journey."

AI platforms like Axio.ai embody this vision by allowing professors to focus on what they do best—teaching, mentoring, and inspiring students—while AI handles administrative tasks and personalizes learning experiences in hybrid online classrooms.

Always Center Educators (ACE)

Success in integrating AI into education depends on centering professors in the process. This involves:

1. Empowering professors to make real-time decisions in their hybrid online classrooms.
2. Supporting professors in planning and reflecting on their teaching methods, enhanced by professional development.
3. Involving professors in the design, selection, and evaluation of AI technologies to ensure they meet the needs of both educators and students.

By implementing Axio.ai, professors can efficiently predict and understand students' responses, allowing for creative approaches to unique challenges and fostering a more personalized educational experience. AI platforms like Axio add tangible value to the learning experience, acting as a personalized tutor, coach, emotional support, and providing specific real-time career guidance. These benefits extend beyond graduation, as the AI platform remains accessible to students, offering continuous support throughout their careers.

The New Role of the Professor

The introduction of AI brings back the classic "Sage-on-the-Stage" model, where professors deliver weekly lectures to their class cohort. AI note-taking technology creates individualized follow-up assignments for each student, tailored to their progress in the course based on previous grading or participation. The future role of the professor involves real-time monitoring of each student's progress, with technology alerting the professor when students need special support, whether they are falling behind or require accelerated learning. This allows professors to focus on one-on-one teaching, offering personalized assistance to students who need it most.

AI also creates individualized or highly personalized content for each course, aligning with the course’s expected outcomes for every student. This approach is the culmination of years of research into "adaptive learning," where AI interviews the student to ensure they are not required to learn something they already know. Additionally, AI will scour the globe within specific master prompts set by the professor or institution to keep all curricula current. This results in a "living curriculum" that adapts daily to empower student success, moving away from the costly, one-size-fits-all approach to education...and in any language.

Financial and Operational Benefits

Axio.ai introduces a one-to-many financial model that allows professors to focus on teaching rather than administrative tasks. This model increases the capacity of each professor, enabling them to teach larger classes without sacrificing the quality of education. The AI platform assists in creating individualized learning plans (ILPs) for students, which surpasses traditional competency-based models by offering tailored support and feedback.

Education-to-a-Job

AI platforms like Axio support the critical "Education-to-a-Job" pipeline by continuously updating course content to reflect current industry trends. This ensures that students acquire relevant skills for their careers, leading to improved job placement rates and a better return on investment for their education. Axio actually suggests career paths in realtime, individualized for each student.

Why Axio Stands Out

We believe Axio stands out because it was developed over the last six years, prior to OpenAI becoming available to the public. While there are many competitors, we believe Axio is at least seven months ahead of all its closest competitors. A big component of this advantage is the incredible team behind it—eight full-time, highly experienced developers who have worked together for seven years. This deep bench of talent is the hardest part of creating AI products or services, and it’s a key reason why Axio represents the best of AI EdTech.

A New Financial Model for Professors

AI has the potential to significantly increase the earning potential of professors by expanding their reach. For example, a professor trained to leverage AI could effectively teach 1,000 students per course. At $1,000 per student, this model generates $1 million in revenue per course, justifying enhanced compensation for the professor. This model not only benefits educators financially but also aligns their success with the institution's growth.

Conclusion

The purpose of this talking-paper is to explore creating hybrid online regionally accredited degrees powered by AI platforms like Axio.ai. AI platforms like Axio.ai are not just technological tools—they are transformative forces that empower professors, enhance student outcomes, and secure financial sustainability for institutions. By integrating AI into higher education, we can address the challenges of rising costs, student debt, and the demand for real-world skills, all while preserving the critical role of professors as mentors and guides. The future of education lies in the thoughtful deployment of AI, and Axio represents the best of AI EdTech, leading the way.

PS - When I bought Grand Canyon University (#GCU) in 2023, I spent most of my time trying to convince everyone I met that a person can indeed learn online :-)

References:

• Bryant, J., Heitz, C., Sanghvi, S., & Wagle, D. (2020). How Artificial Intelligence Will Impact K-12 Teachers. McKinsey & Company. Link
• Hammerness, K., Darling-Hammond, L., & Bransford, J. (2005). Preparing Teachers for a Changing World: What Teachers Should Learn and Be Able to Do. Jossey-Bass. ISBN: 0787996343