Technology • September 20, 2024

Top 5 AI Tools in Higher Education: Transforming Learning

An Overview on AI Tools in Higher Education

Higher education is under transition in today’s world and it is considered to go through the digital revolution. AI tools in higher education are very effective as they not only ease learning but also research and productivity. AI study guides or AI note-taking tools are among those that are opening new possibilities for learners and teachers. 

Want to learn how to make training videos for education using AI? Check this out!

A robot holds a light bulb in a classroom, symbolizing AI tools enhancing higher education, with a chalkboard in the background.

But with so many options to choose from, which are the right ones to select? In this blog, we will be looking at the Top 5 AI tools in higher education and how AI can be of value to students, researchers, and the institution. These tools are useful whenever you are trying to complete challenging coursework or explore academic subject matter. 

AI Integration Trends for Education

As the AI technology advances, the incorporation of AI in higher learning has also assumed more complexity. These institutions are embracing use of artificial intelligence in analyzing students’ outcomes and in improving teaching methods. In addition, the advancement of the adaptive learning technologies with uses of artificial intelligence creates utile paths that change according to students’ progress. This section shall discuss the emerging trends of AI deployment in further learning institutions and how this is changing the face of learning.

1. Taskade: All-in-one AI PDF Notetaker 

Papers are a staple of college and, dealing with massive PowerPoint files in the form of PDF may take time. Introducing you to Taskade, which is one of the finest examples of AI tools in higher education to make reading PDFs quite seamless, and make notes from PDF AI.  

Taskade involves summarization where the tool reduces huge portions of information into small, manageable notes. It is ideal for AI PDF note-takers when students have massive research that needs to be sorted out as soon as possible, which is why it’s the best AI tool for research. From summarizing papers and making other important synopses, Taskade assists students in comprehending materials in the shortest time. 

The image depicts the homepage of Taskade, a platform offering AI-Powered Workflows. The top section features a dark background with a gradient design and bold white text highlighting "AI-Powered Workflows." Below this headline are icons representing different functionalities such as AI Agents, AI Automation, Tasks & Projects, AI Mind Maps, and AI Chat. The website navigation bar at the top includes links for Product, Solutions, Learn, Tools, Pricing, along with buttons to Log in or Sign up for free in the top right corner. There's also a live chat icon in the bottom right for support.

image source

Key Benefits: 

  • Summarize very long documents in PDF format. 
  • Creates outlines from textual information which could otherwise be challenging to analyze. 
  • Aids management of courses that require extensive research and information retrieval. 

For learners, who want to immerse themselves in academic work without getting lost, Taskade is very helpful. 

2. Notion AI: Your Study Partner 

Notion AI can be a versatile tool for a workspace or for personal use; and it has made it powerful for students. As an AI Study Assistant, Notion AI can keep track of your study resources, draft notes, and outline possible strategies to improve your studying schedule. 

Notion AI is like having a personal assistant for your academics having features of making to-do lists, organizing projects, and study reminders. Stuck on a difficult topic? You can use Notion AI to summarize textbooks or notes so that you do not have to go through hundreds of pages in text. 

The image depicts a homepage banner for Notion AI with the heading, "Meet the new Notion AI." The page emphasizes that the tool allows users to search, generate, analyze, and chat—all within Notion's platform. Below the main headline, there's a call-to-action with buttons for "Get Notion free" and "Request a demo." The page also mentions that the tool is trusted by notable teams such as Toyota, Discord, and 1Password. An illustration on the right side shows a person typing on a laptop with a smiling face floating above, representing interaction with AI.

image source

Key Benefits:

  • Files documents and notes in a systematic manner. 
  • Translates content into several easily manageable and consumable parts. 
  • It comes with features such as study reminders to help you stay on track. 

Notion AI is among the best AI tools if you are looking for an app that can help you track your study time as well as the resources that you use. 

3. ScreenApp: Make Notes from Video AI 

As more and more instructors incorporate videos into their teaching, knowing how to effectively learn from video lectures becomes paramount. ScreenApp is an effective and unique tool that can help students take notes from the video with the help of artificial intelligence. 

Regardless of whether the input is a recorded lecture, an online course, or a video found on YouTube, ScreenApp brings out the important information from the video and prepares notes that can be easily revisited at convenience. This tool is particularly useful for students who learn better through videos but often find that they forget content without having typed notes. 

The image showcases the homepage of ScreenApp, with a prominent tagline that reads "Recordings to Insights. Fast." Below the tagline, the text explains that users can record anything, summarize, take notes, and ask anything with AI to quickly find the information they need. There are two call-to-action buttons: "Start Free" and "Add to Chrome." The page also mentions that the app is loved by over 1 million users, with profile images of three users displayed next to this statement. The interface is clean and minimal, with options for Pricing, Chrome Extension, Features, Blog, and login/signup buttons in the top navigation.

image source

Key Benefits: 

  • Converting the video content into writing notes. 
  • It supports different formats of video. 
  • Reduces the amount of time spent by summarizing hours of lectures within just a few notes. 

It is also ideal for students who desire to learn through videos but do not have the time to pen down notes for hours. 

A robot instructs students on educational concepts using a computer, showcasing an AI study assistant in action.

4. Perplexity AI: A Treasure Trove of Study Assistance 

In simple terms, Perplexity AI is like having an academic advisor at your beck and call and is a great AI learning app. Be it a research paper or exam preparations, Perplexity serves as an AI study to help enable students to overcome challenging study topics and master complex areas. 

In particular, it performs quite impressively in terms of providing comprehensive and brief answers to questions. It helps students using it to dissect concepts or get concepts explained that may be hard for them to understand. Whether helping to frame the components or giving examples, Perplexity always keeps you in the loop. 

The image displays the homepage of Perplexity AI with the tagline "Where knowledge begins." The main focus of the page is a search bar where users can "Search anything..." with the option to enable a Pro mode. There are also suggested searches below the bar, such as "Most popular YouTube creators in 2024" and "Recent research on longevity." On the left side, the navigation menu includes options like Home, Discover, Library, and Sign in, along with a Sign Up button. The bottom of the page shows additional links like Pro, Enterprise, Playground, and Careers, as well as a download icon. The overall design is clean and minimalistic, emphasizing knowledge discovery and search functionality.

image source

Key Benefits: 

  • Offers straightforward and simple elaborations. 
  • Compartmentalizes large topics into manageable sections. 
  • Can be present online at any time of the day and night to provide assistance with last-minute questions. 

Perplexity AI is a great help for students who might face challenges in understanding some classes but might not be close to a teacher or a tutor at that moment. 

5. Otter.ai: Real-time Note-taking AI Tool in Higher Education

It is challenging to keep abreast with the live lectures besides paying attention to note-taking. This task is less stressful when Otter. ai employs the use of artificial intelligence to capture notes from the lectures as they happen. This tool takes what is said and records it into clear notes that are structured for the student to avoid them missing important aspects. 

It also offers the ability to go back to the transcription and add notes which is incredibly useful for students who need to be stimulated during hours-long lectures. The fact that it can arrange and store the notes enables you to access the material whenever you desire. 

The image displays the homepage of Otter.ai with the tagline "The #1 AI Meeting Assistant" in bold text. The page emphasizes that Otter helps users by allowing them to never take meeting notes again, with features like transcripts, automated summaries, action items, and an AI chat to extract insights from meetings. Below the main tagline, there is a prominent "Start for Free" button, encouraging users to try the service. At the top, the navigation bar includes options such as Solutions, Pricing, Apps & Integrations, and Resources, along with options to Schedule a Demo, Log In, and another Start for Free button. There’s also a banner mentioning OtterPilot™ for Sales, an AI tool specifically tailored for sales meetings, with a Learn More button next to it. The layout focuses on simplicity and clearly highlights the AI capabilities of the platform.

image source

Key Benefits: 

  • Real-time transcription of lectures. 
  • Saves lecture notes in a more organized manner for ease of referencing. 
  • A time-saving tool as it automatically generates notes. 

 Students who attend many classes or are struggling to take notes when the lecturer is speaking very fast will benefit from Otter. ai as it captures all information. 

The Advantages of AI Tools in Higher Education

The integration of AI tools in higher education, particularly in higher learning continues to redefine the learning processes. Whether you’re a first-year student or a seasoned academic, these AI-driven solutions offer several advantages:

  • Enhanced Productivity: With the help of such technologies, students can save the time and effort used in writing notes or summarizing materials. 
  • Improved Learning Efficiency: From AI study assistants to not-taking applications, students can study more effectively than merely harder. 
  • Accessibility for All: AI tools support increases the chances of success irrespective of the learner’s background or preferred style of learning. 
  • Support for Research: Notes-writing tools and content summarizers based on artificial intelligence save time for reading and analysis of research papers. 

Why AI Tools in Higher Education Are the Future of Education 

The most effective AI tools in higher education for research and learning are constantly developing, and their impact on higher education is getting starker day by day. They also have such aids as individualized learning tools, time management tools, and more effective research tools. No matter whether you require assistance in compiling study resources or seeking a quick review of the content of research papers, the AI components will always be beneficial in the attainment of the academic goals. 

There is much more to the note-taking tools, ranging from AI PDF note-takers, and AI learning apps to video summarizers which I have elaborated on in this blog. Since advancement in technology is a continuous process, the future educational system will be more personalized and efficient. Future students would then not need to spend time on trivial functions hence leaving them more time to reflect and be creative through the intelligent use of technology. 

Conclusion: Integrate AI Tools in Higher Education to Enhance Learning Outcomes 

In conclusion, the use of AI tools in higher education has enriched the process of learning and is not just as a mere convenience, but as a revolution. It presents students with a different approach to embodying content, whether it is videos, PDFs, or live lessons. Through the use of these techniques, students can have an enhanced process of learning that is less stressful, more effective and personalized. 

We are just at the onset of what AI technology has to offer in terms of AI study help and things are just getting interesting especially when it comes to education. So if you haven’t joined the bandwagon yet, it is high time you began to use AI to improve on your learning, academic planning and achievement. 

Categories

Tags