A new approach to customized computer education could mitigate challenges posed by teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms, and ineffective self-study, problems that have become even more acute since the pandemic.
The EdYOU solution revolves around an innovative AI-driven learning tool designed to elevate the educational experiences of both students and adults looking to change their careers. Data from Education Week, the National Center for Education Statistics, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that approximately 270,000 teachers and staff members leave their positions each year across the nation. The pandemic has exacerbated the existing teacher shortage. In recent years, 41 states and the District of Columbia have reported shortages in at least one subject area or grade level.
Currently, many states are experiencing a higher number of unfilled positions and underqualified teachers in classrooms compared to previous years. Last year, the nation faced over 55,000 teacher vacancies for grades K-12. The U.S. Department of Education identifies three categories of teacher shortages: unfilled roles, positions occupied by underqualified teachers, and roles filled by teachers teaching outside their area of certification. Enrollment in teacher certification programs is either declining or stagnating.
Many states have witnessed a significant rise in teachers leaving their positions over the past two years compared to the last decade. Alarmingly, surveys show that a growing number of remaining teachers (12%) are unhappy in their roles. More than 40% of teachers indicated they are likely to depart within the next two years. To address the teacher shortage, Michael Everest, the founder and CEO of edYOU, has developed an innovative approach to tackle the challenges posed by traditional teaching methods. By providing personalized tutoring and learning resources, edYOU supports both students and educators, filling the gaps created by staffing shortages and ensuring that students receive the necessary attention. “I launched edYOU driven by a desire to reverse the declining trends in educational outcomes. EdYOU is the first AI company that goes beyond chatbots, employing human-like meta-humans [animations] to facilitate real-time conversational teaching, rather than relying on pre-recorded videos,” he shared with TechNewsWorld.
Intelligent AI Avatars for Educational Assistance
This method is based on flexibility. Everest has built three avatars on the platform, which are safe AI entities. As he explained, each one provides tailored and continuous support, encourages interactive dialogue and offers a unique learning journey.
EdYOU features APIs that facilitate seamless integration with popular educational software used in classrooms, learning management systems, and corporate tools. Users of all ages can access the website and use a web browser or mobile app to select the academic support and topics they need.
As students engage in their studies, they can summon their AI avatar companion for tutoring or to clarify concepts, allowing them to learn at their own pace. For example, when preparing multiple-choice questions, Hannah, Nova or Eddie (as shown above) can help them by guiding them towards the correct answers.
Students can select subject areas and easily engage with their study buddy avatars, as shown in this screenshot from the company’s YouTube video demonstrating the on-screen learning system.
When a student makes a mistake, the digital teaching assistant offers a detailed explanation of the error and its underlying reasons. This method helps students gain a better understanding and learn from their missteps.
Broadening Understanding Without Digital Overwhelm..
The edYOU platform utilizes AI technology to create a secure and effective learning environment, whether at home or in school.
Essentially, the lifelike avatar acts as a personal study companion. Students can skip the hassle of typing questions into on-screen terminals and reading lengthy responses. Instead, they can engage in natural conversations by simply clicking the microphone icon, allowing for smooth and interactive discussions. All interactions are encrypted, and student data is anonymized and aggregated before being reviewed by in-house technicians who monitor voice recordings. Parents have access to transcripts and recordings of their child’s sessions, ensuring transparency in the learning process. EdYOU’s support team is available around the clock through in-app chat, email, and phone, ensuring that students and parents can always connect with a real person.
The teaching staff includes Ph.D. scientists, former educators, child development specialists, data ethics professionals, and seasoned AI researchers and engineers. Flexibility is Key This guided approach sets itself apart from traditional computer-assisted and guidebook-style learning solutions, as offered by Everest. Students can directly ask their avatars questions to receive accurate answers or assistance with exam preparation. The platform employs natural language processing (NLP) to create personalized conversations that cater to each learner’s interests and knowledge base. It goes beyond simply repeating information found online.
The unique conversational “AI beings” foster mentor-like relationships with students, delivering a highly customized educational experience. Everest highlights that edYOU’s emphasis on adaptability significantly contributes to its high success ratings. Many existing solutions strive for a one-size-fits-all program, but he argues that AI systems must be trained to adjust their approach and exhibit non-robotic personalities tailored to each user.
“That philosophy is the foundation of edYOU, blending a universal approach with a personal touch,” he shared. Traditional education often follows a one-size-fits-all approach, lacking variety in learning methods. Everest pointed out that attention spans in schools are notoriously short.
However, avatar-based presentations change that dynamic. When students encounter difficulties, they can proactively search for the information they need. Unlike traditional classrooms, there’s no pressure to ask questions in front of classmates, alleviating the fear of appearing “dumb.” “Several factors come into play, like the challenge of finding specific answers online, which often lack the necessary context,” Everest elaborated on why other solutions might not cater to every student’s unique needs.
Why the Platform Works for Students, Teachers…
Updates to school curricula and educational software are infrequent, leaving students to rely on textbooks that are often a decade old, along with outdated teaching practices.
“It’s tough to ensure success for every student when they are grouped together, especially when some teachers manage classes of up to 100 students. While the current system functions, it isn’t structured to boost success rates, which continue to decline each year,” Everest pointed out.
Lessons Learned for Implementing Contact Center as a Service Solutions
AI technology offers personalized tutoring by analyzing participant interactions and the insights derived from them. This approach resembles one-on-one virtual tutoring, enhanced by extensive AI knowledge and expert-curated information.
This educational tool promotes the responsible use of AI in the classroom. Everest emphasizes that responsible AI can help teachers improve their effectiveness while also focusing on their own well-being.
“This kind of AI platform can act as a helpful assistant for teachers and educators, providing support and enriching the learning experience. It’s essential that it is properly vetted to ensure accuracy and alignment with the established curriculum,” he stated.
“This level of support can be incredibly uplifting for those who might otherwise feel disheartened and overwhelmed,” he added.
Advancing the Future of Education…
Everest believes that the thoughtful integration of instructional AI represents the future of education. He aimed to create an experience where individuals feel more connected than just interacting with technology, which led to the concept of using an avatar. Creating the AI platform was quite a challenging task. The journey was extensive and resulted in a product that diverged significantly from the original concept. “It required years of exploring various developers and numerous trial runs to achieve the level of meta-human quality I envisioned,” Everest shared about his development experience.
