3 Areas Where AI Will Impact Higher Ed Most in 2025
"Use of detection tools will improve as well, with a focus on preserving the teaching and learning process. In early stages, detection tools and indicator reports will create opportunities to focus teaching on addressing knowledge gaps and areas lacking original thought or foundation. Later stage detection will offer opportunities to strengthen the dialogue between educators and students, providing transparency that will reduce student risk and increase engagement."
— Eric Wang, VP of AI, Turnitin
"Generative AI has produced, and will continue to produce, many new tools for education. Some of these will have transformative potential, particularly in content creation and curation. There are effective courseware tools in the market now, and have been for some time, but AI can expand the reach of courseware in areas where it has previously been too expensive to build. As part of that growth, we expect to see more highly personalized content that actively engages students and greatly aids faculty efforts in course design.
"However, to create tools that truly support learning, it's essential that AI applications are grounded in learning science to ensure the technology isn't a fleeting trend but a lasting asset to students. To this point, I predict we will see a closer analysis and emphasis on how AI is impacting academic outcomes."
— Michael Hale, chief learning officer, VitalSource
"2025 promises exciting developments in educational technology. One of the most significant trends will be the increased integration of artificial intelligence to personalize learning. AI will enable real-time data analysis to tailor content to individual students' needs, enhancing engagement and outcomes.
"Augmented reality and virtual reality continue to advance, offering immersive, hands-on experiences in science, engineering, and medical education. These experiences allow students to explore complex concepts in new and interactive ways.
"Hybrid and remote learning ('hyflex') pedagogical models continue to evolve, supported by enhanced wireless collaboration tools and AV-equipped classrooms that mimic in-person interactions. These advancements not only improve accessibility but also create more inclusive learning environments for diverse student populations.
"As educational technology advances, the focus remains on fostering deeper engagement and enhancing the learning experience for all students.
— Craig Park, FSMPS, associate AIA, director of digital experience design, Clark & Enersen
"There's no question: Today's student body is more focused than ever on instant-gratification experiences, and higher education is no exception. As more and more students transition to skills-based learning and adopt new consumption models, such as bite-sized TikTok-style formats, higher ed institutions must meet students wherever they are in their education journey in a way that engages them.
"In 2025 and over the coming years, course content surfaced through emerging experiential learning platforms will augment and complement traditional learning methods. These platforms will validate content mastery and skill development replacing outdated, traditional higher education formats. Experiential learning platforms will incorporate gamification, and institutions will increase student engagement by catering to each student's individual learning preferences (for example, integrating rewards, challenges, and interactive storytelling into one educational experience).
"AI will be critical in this transformation, providing new tools for student success, with optimized skill development and performance tracking that enables students to build critical thinking skills, all while learning from analytics and actionable insights.