The impact of micro- and macro-level educational environments on the use of artificial intelligence in education

2. Micro-level educational context

In the micro context of education, the application of AI is not universal and must be adapted to the specific educational environment. AI tools and methods should be selected based on the following factors:

• The specific characteristics of the academic discipline (type of subject)—for example, foreign language learning, mathematics, and history each require different approaches to personalisation, assessment, and support of learning through AI.

• The individual characteristics and needs of participants – including prior knowledge, learning style, pace of work, and specific needs such as learning difficulties or giftedness.

This statement emphasises the importance of pedagogically thoughtful integration of AI. Technology alone does not ensure quality learning unless it is aligned with the educational environment and individual needs.

Therefore, the need for personalisation, the type of activity, and the way AI is applied will vary, for example, between courses in law, medicine, computer science, art, and other fields.

Example:

In the course "Introduction to Statistics," the instructor uses an AI tool that automatically generates tasks for students based on their level of understanding and previous mistakes. Students with more prior knowledge receive more advanced tasks, while those struggling with the material are offered additional support through shorter video explanations generated by the AI. The instructor uses student behaviour analytics to differentiate the approach for the next meeting – offering some students additional literature and others group work to practice basic concepts.

This approach demonstrates how AI can support personalised learning and serve as a tool for teachers in data-driven lesson planning. The key responsibility of the teacher remains the ethical use of AI tools and the critical interpretation of the recommendations received.

Reflection questions:

• Consider your educational environment: How could you use AI to provide students with a more individualised approach to learning?
• Are there segments of your course that you could automate or further customise with the help of AI?
• How might the goals of your course align with the possibilities of artificial intelligence?

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