I spoke to Lynne Taylerson from Real Time Education recently. When asked about the most pressing challenges facing vocational education today, top of her list was budgetary constraints.
She told me, "There are many challenges facing the sector at the moment. It is a very complex picture. It's not going to surprise people when I say it's an underfunded sector. We’ve got a crisis in staff retention, in staff morale and wellbeing.”
She was, however, overwhelmingly positive—inspiringly so—about the importance of further education and the role technology is playing in this space.
Cut costs. Improve quality.
This sounds a little pie in the sky until we think about how tech has been doing this since the wheel, the printing press, the internal combustion engine, bulbs and batteries, compasses and calculators, email, and now AI.
The latter is nothing new, contrary to recent hype.
From search engines and social media algorithms to chatbots and editing tools, it’s been embedded in everything we do online and for some time.
We are, however, approaching a truly remarkable era of automated grading systems, personalised learning platforms, and data-driven insights—developments that streamline processes, enhance learning outcomes, and free up teacher time.
More effective. More efficient. More economical.
All sounds too good to be true—a bit like the idea of Gutenberg’s printing press and electronic mail.
Let’s delve into the granular detail. In the context of training, apprenticeships, and vocational programs, how is AI both reducing expenditure and enhancing the quality of learning? How do AI tools like Graide translate into tangible benefits for learning providers? All while reducing costs!
The economic advantage: how AI saves costs
1. Faster grading and assessment
Grading and assessing learners can be painfully time-consuming, especially in apprenticeship programs where the learning process is more hands-on and varied.
The good news is that adding AI into the grading process is increasingly taking the heat off overburdened educators, freeing up their time and improving morale, all while reducing costs significantly.
AI tools like Graide can handle repetitive tasks like marking quizzes, evaluating assignments, and providing consistent feedback. And this reduced need for manual grading means training providers can operate with smaller teams and educators can focus more on teaching rather than administrative tasks.
There was an 89% reduction in median grading times in our own efficacy research with the University of Birmingham, which compared manual and AI-automated grading.
And the number of words of feedback given increased by a factor of 7.2!
2. Efficient resource allocation
AI can also help learning providers optimise resource allocation.
Instead of spending resources uniformly across the board, by analysing data from student performance, AI can identify areas where learners need additional support. Providers can then target specific needs accordingly, reducing the time wasted on generic or irrelevant teaching.
Early intervention makes a world of difference to students, boosting their morale and improving learning outcomes for all.
Acting early avoids student attrition. More of that later!
A proactive approach to student retention saves both time and money in the long term.
3. Streamlining administrative tasks
AI-driven automation extends beyond grading and resource allocation.
AI is there to do the mundane, the repetitive, the tedious—those morale-sapping admin tasks that drown out the real business of education.
From attendance and scheduling to communicating with learners, AI is well suited to streamlining these processes.
Teachers have better and, arguably, more important things to do.
And this is the thing: a commitment to technology also demonstrates a tangible commitment to staff.
AI eases the load, making their working practices more efficient and their lives easier.
AI is a great way to boost staff morale and bolster recruitment at a time when recruitment and retention are challenging.
Elevating quality: AI's impact on learning outcomes
AI doesn’t just make training cheaper; however, it makes it better.
Here’s how:
1. Personalised learning experiences
One size doesn’t fit all in training, especially in apprenticeship programs where learners come with different skill sets and experiences.
AI can analyse individual learning patterns and adapt content accordingly, providing a more personalised learning experience.
This kind of tailored education helps learners grasp complex concepts at their own pace, leading to better retention and improved learning outcomes.
2. Consistent and unbiased assessment
Even with the best intentions, human grading can sometimes be subjective.
AI marking, on the other hand, ensures consistency across assessments, offering fair and unbiased evaluations. Maintaining high standards here is crucial for apprenticeship programs where skills need to be measured accurately and objectively to better prepare students for the world of work.
3. Immediate, actionable feedback
Feedback is fundamental to making progress, and speed is of the essence.
AI tools provide learners with instant feedback so that they can improve in real time. They no longer have to wait for an assessor’s availability.
Lynne Taylerson touched on this in our interview: “I think one of the challenges we have in FE is actually giving learners feedback and support [at] the time that they need it, so learners can receive real-time feedback and support from AI at the time and the place that they're learning.”
She went on: “That's particularly important for vocational learners who are often studying and completing assessments in unsociable hours and fitting in work with busy careers. They're working on a math program, for example, as we probably all have at some point at half past one in the morning with a deadline approaching. They cannot reasonably expect you to feed back, but an AI can analyse the work they've done and give them some hints and feedback.”
4. Enhanced engagement through AI-driven insights
AI also assists the educators.
Teachers, likewise, receive feedback on their students’ learning, leading to invaluable insights into what works and what doesn’t.
Are learners struggling with a particular module?
Is there a drop in engagement during certain topics?
Which content engages students the most?
All this lights the way for teachers to course-correct, adjust their approaches, and focus their efforts accordingly.
In summary, AI provides a more tailored experience, where students can progress at their own pace, receive immediate feedback—where and when it suits them—and gain a deeper understanding of the material.
Addressing common concerns about AI in training
While the benefits are clear, some education experience officers and decision-makers might still have concerns about integrating AI into training programs.
These aren’t something we take lightly.
Let’s address some common concerns.
Is AI implementation expensive?
All technology entails set-up costs, but with reduced administration and grading, as well as the improved efficiency of more targeted training programs, long-term savings outweigh the initial expenditure.
What about data privacy?
Data privacy is a critical concern, but reputable AI tools are designed with strict privacy standards in mind. It’s essential to choose providers that comply with relevant data protection regulations, ensuring the safety of learner information.
Will AI replace human educators?
AI is not here to substitute educators but to empower them.
Teachers are keen to hand over repetitive tasks like grading and administration to AI.
AI frees up educators to do what they do best: teach, mentor, and inspire learners.
Lynne Taylerson explained: “AI is not going to replace you, but it can reduce your workload and free up headspace and time for better learner support and for us to do some curriculum innovation.”
Still concerned?! Read No, educators won't be replaced by artificial intelligence. Here's why!
Making the leap: integrating AI into your training programmes
If you're considering implementing AI into your apprenticeship or training programs, start small.
Think baby steps.
Begin by automating one aspect of your training, such as grading, and measure the impact.
Simple to implement while delivering immediate results, tools like Graide offer easy wins to ease the transition.
As you become more comfortable with AI tools, you can expand their use into other areas, such as personalised learning and administrative automation.
The goal is to create a more efficient and effective training environment—one where costs are managed without compromising on quality.
For more on this read Implementing AI-assisted Grading in Education: Best Practices and Pitfalls to Avoid
The future of training is... AI-assisted
AI is no longer a distant possibility—it's here, making its implementation less a leap of faith these days and more a matter of following the best practices of those who are leveraging its capabilities to cut costs and reduce administrative burdens, all while significantly improving the quality of their training programs.
Embracing AI, letting AI take the strain, delegating the mundane, tedious, and time-consuming—all this is making a real difference in the world of training and apprenticeships.
Let AI do the heavy lifting. Take the burden off educators. To value their time is to value them.
Find out more about how Graide can help your institution today. Talk to us
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