It is said that the rapidly developing artificial intelligence will squeeze out some professions, even eliminate them.
Is there an impact of artificial intelligence on tutoring in Azerbaijan? If so, what are these effects? Is there a feeling that artificial intelligence has begun to replace tutors in Azerbaijan, are there signs of this? Can artificial intelligence specifically in our country ever squeeze out and eliminate tutoring?
Speaking on the topic to Medianews.az, chairman of the Azerbaijan Young Scientists, Doctoral and Masters Society, PhD Ilgar Orucov stated that the impact of artificial intelligence on the tutoring field in Azerbaijan is already manifesting itself: "However, this impact is not about the elimination of tutoring or replacing tutors, but rather about facilitating and strengthening their work. Since tutoring in our country is tied to strong economic and cultural roots, the complete elimination of this field by technology does not seem realistic in the near future.
In general, I do not believe that tutoring will disappear. I also do not understand the logic of those who demand this. Because tutoring exists in all countries with developed educational capacity. However, the essence of tutoring in our country sharply differs from the tutoring in other countries. Tutoring might even be more widespread in countries with strong educational capacity than in ours. However, in those countries, the essence of tutoring is not about preparing for university. Instead, it mainly focuses on deeply learning certain languages or gaining profound knowledge in a specialty. In our country, tutoring is widespread particularly in terms of preparing students and applicants for universities, and naturally, there are reasons for this. That is not our topic now. But of course, I can analyze those reasons as I have enough arguments on this topic.
Regarding the actual effects of artificial intelligence on tutoring activities in Azerbaijan, it is known that artificial intelligence is actively used as an auxiliary tool by teachers, students, and applicants. Tutors use ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence tools, as well as large language models, to prepare personalized tests and exercises aligning with students' weak results. In other words, this should be considered as a form of personalized assignments. Especially foreign language tutors organize interactive lessons through artificial intelligence by correcting texts, checking essays, and acting as dialogue partners. This accelerates language learning. At the same time, teachers save time by delegating lesson plan preparation, simplification of topic explanations, and assignments checking to artificial intelligence. Thus, this reduces their administrative burden."
Ilgar Orucov recalled that the Institute of Management Systems of the Ministry of Science and Education has developed a robotic tutor system in Azerbaijani language with the ability of understanding and answering for applicants: "This system will give students who cannot afford a tutor the opportunity to learn history, geography, and mathematics with virtual teachers. Essentially, this is largely based on test technology. The weak point of our exams is this: students prepare for exams more in a rote-learning manner rather than from a logical thinking standpoint, focusing on memorization and tests.
I believe that the Ministry of Science and Education should also work towards applying intelligent tutors and teacher assistants in education within the framework of cooperation with global companies. Some applicants and students with high digital literacy tend to prefer learning programming, mathematics, and foreign language topics directly with artificial intelligence without tutor assistance."
According to Ilgar Orucov, artificial intelligence will not completely eliminate the institution of tutoring in Azerbaijan, but it will radically transform it: "There are several reasons why it will not disappear entirely. For parents and students in Azerbaijan, live interaction with teachers, psychological support by teachers, the ability to create discipline, and moral motivation are certainly more serious factors. Artificial intelligence does not demonstrate emotional intelligence and empathy. It cannot assess the overall psychological state of the student.
The admission programs and curriculum requirements of the State Examination Center have local features. Until artificial intelligence is fully adapted to the Azerbaijani national database and also the model of thinking in Azerbaijani, the demand for local teachers will be higher. In this sense, in the future, we will see broader possibilities of artificial intelligence in terms of supporting tutoring. But for now, the reasons I mentioned do not allow artificial intelligence to fully meet the need for tutor teachers."
Only tutors who memorize mechanical rules, do not take a personalized approach to students, and give lectures using old methods, I think, will be pushed out of this market. On the contrary, teachers who use artificial intelligence as an assistant and can instill critical thinking and mentorship in students will become even more popular. Artificial intelligence will not eliminate tutoring in Azerbaijan, but it will have a say in ending traditional rote-learning tutoring. In the near future, a wider market will form for tutors who know how to use artificial intelligence, have other digital skills, and work with modern technologies."
Farida Mehraliyeva, Azerbaijani language teacher at Mammdli village secondary school of Absheron district, Medianews.az said in her statement that artificial intelligence is developing very fast and has already begun to enter various fields of life: "Therefore, in the future, it will not be surprising if artificial intelligence somewhat replaces tutoring. I see people around me who talk to artificial intelligence, consult it, and even confide in it. This technology helps people to perform many tasks more easily and quickly. From the next academic year, I plan to create a platform for myself in an artificial intelligence program to prepare tests and topics. Artificial intelligence speeds up work and allows accomplishing more in less time. Although there are still possibilities for certain mistakes, it is undoubtedly going to improve over time."
According to F. Mehraliyeva, artificial intelligence currently does not fully replace tutoring: "Students and applicants mostly use it as an auxiliary tool. The advantage still belongs to teachers."
Maleyka Aliyeva, 11th-grade student at Dondar Qushchu village secondary school in Tovuz district, stated to Medianews.az on the topic that she mainly uses artificial intelligence tools to quickly understand difficult topics and problems and to analyze her mistakes while preparing for exams: "I have mostly used artificial intelligence in mathematics. When I solve a problem wrongly or don't understand it, artificial intelligence can explain it to me in a simple way. I have used the 'Gemini' platform more because it explains topics step-by-step and clearly.
But artificial intelligence has not reduced my visits to our tutor teachers. I use artificial intelligence mostly when working on tests at home. At the same time, I also go to a tutor. Artificial intelligence has not eliminated my need for a teacher. It just plays an additional and auxiliary role for us."
Naila Gasimova,
Medianews.az
Note: The article was prepared on the topic of "Preparation of scientific-mass, cultural-educational, educational programs" with the financial support of the Media Development Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan and in accordance with competition requirements.
