Just as we no longer solely rely on letters, letting email take the strain, or turning to a calculator to do... calculations, we’re now increasingly turning to AI to automate everyday tasks, consigning many mundane and mind-numbing tasks to the dustbin of history.
In the world of vocational training, AI is transforming how providers streamline systems and optimise resources in the process.
Most importantly, it is enhancing educational outcomes with personalised learning pathways, consistent and unbiased assessment, real-time feedback, and increased student engagement with AI-driven insights.
Former educators ourselves and proud winners of “The Technology Innovator of the Year Award” this year, we’d love to walk you through some real-world examples of how AI, particularly tools like Graide, is making a tangible difference in vocational training.
Graide’s collaboration with Aptem
In partnership with Aptem, the market-leading apprenticeship management system, we have developed the first AI-driven marking aid specifically designed for apprenticeships.
The collaboration has led to the creation of a tool that allows tutors to save up to 50% of their marking time.
This means that educators have more time to dedicate to high-value tasks: improving the quality of their instruction, getting to know their students, and providing additional support when needed.
Aptem's own extensive customer research revealed that 70% of tutors spend 20–40% of their time marking assignments, which takes up a significant portion of their working week.
Far more than a mere convenience, the reduction in grading time allows training providers to maximise their resources without compromising on quality.
Translating into real cost savings, higher efficiency, and enhanced learning, AI is a boon to apprenticeship programs when every pound and penny has to count.
A case study: Graide and Oxbridge
AI’s growing versatility is evident in Graide’s collaboration with Oxbridge, a leading provider of online vocational courses. Oxbridge utilised Graide's AI-powered grading platform to streamline their assessment process.
AI-powered essay grading systems are now capable of analysing and assessing a multitude of factors, such as grammar, structure, content, and more, with remarkable speed, precision, and consistency.
In a trial involving over 235 responses on complex subjects like Shakespeare’s Othello, The Great Gatsby, and poetry analysis, Graide achieved up to 100% congruence with teacher marking.
This result demonstrated not only the accuracy of AI-assisted grading but also its potential to handle intricate assignments effectively.
Immediate, actionable insights help students immensely.
And rather than weeks, complex, lengthy assignments can be turned around in a matter of days.
Managing Director and Founder of Oxbridge Matt Jones said: “Students love the ability to submit work in a range of formats, whether that be handwritten or typed. What we're seeing is happier students, happier markers, and it's freed up our markers to do the stuff that they love.”
Teaching is about relationships and confidence-building.
To that end, teachers can direct their time, energy, and expertise to mentoring rather than administration.
Matt Jones also welcomed the data-driven insights into what is working and what isn’t: “As an organisation and a management team, we can start making decisions even down to the granular point. Do we need to bolster—I don't know—unit three in this course, because actually everyone seems to be struggling on that, so perhaps we need to offer a little bit more help and support?”
Squirrel AI Learning: Personalized adaptive learning
Another noteworthy example of AI transforming vocational education comes from Squirrel AI Learning.
Now in its tenth year, it was one of the first companies in the world to offer large-scale AI-powered adaptive education solutions. Its AI-driven platform tailors educational content to individual learners' needs, ensuring personalised learning experiences.
By analysing student performance data, the system identifies knowledge gaps and adjusts the curriculum accordingly, promoting far more efficient learning.
This approach has been particularly effective in vocational education, where students require customised training paths to develop specific skills.
A study published in the IEEE Xplore Digital Library also highlighted the application of AI in oral English teaching within vocational colleges. The research demonstrated that AI technology could provide accurate teaching, construct intelligent learning networks, and address challenges in traditional English instruction. By leveraging AI, educators were able to offer more personalised and effective language training, enhancing students' communication skills essential for their vocational careers.
Real economic and quality benefits
The benefits of integrating AI into vocational training are both economic and qualitative. With AI tools like Graide, learning providers can reduce administrative burdens, enhance the quality of assessment, and provide learners with immediate, consistent feedback. By streamlining these processes, AI allows educators to focus more on personalised teaching, ultimately leading to better learning outcomes.
Graide's platform has demonstrated that AI can work hand-in-hand with educators to deliver accurate, reliable grading for even the most complex assignments. For vocational training providers, this means the ability to improve efficiency while also maintaining, or even elevating, the standard of education.
The future of AI in vocational training
An increasingly indispensable tool, AI is quickly becoming as much a part of education as email and calculators or Excel. The real results are difficult to ignore.
Tools like Graide and platforms like Squirrel AI Learning are not only making education more accessible and efficient but also elevating the quality of instruction and feedback.
For learning providers looking to stay ahead in a competitive market, integrating AI into their training programs is the obvious next step.
Ready to transform your vocational training with AI?
We’d love to walk you through the process.
