The projects of NOLAI aim to meet teachers' specific needs, resulting in solutions from the bottom up. Dr. Serge Thill, a Donders Institute scientist and co-lead of NOLAI’s technological AI team, explains: "NOLAI’s strength lies in its collaborative nature. Teachers identify their challenges, and we evaluate their feasibility, ensuring that the AI solutions are both practically useful and scientifically interesting. This approach avoids the common pitfall of researchers prescribing solutions without understanding classroom realities."
AI enhancing classroom dynamics
One of NOLAI’s innovative projects helps teachers analyze classroom interactions through video recordings. Teachers often review these videos to identify areas for improvement, a time-consuming process. Thill elaborates: “Imagine AI highlighting moments of interest in a video, such as when the classroom becomes unusually quiet or noisy. This saves teachers from watching hours of footage, allowing them to focus on critical teaching moments."
Another project focuses on Montessori schools, where students use tactile learning materials. By embedding sensors in these materials, the AI tracks their usage, providing insights into the learning process without invading privacy. "For instance," says Thill, "we can analyze how students interact with multiplication tools and give teachers meaningful data on their progress. The aim is to provide actionable insights without overwhelming educators with unnecessary information."
Bridging AI and education
Dr. Thill’s background in human-robot interaction and cognitive robotics makes him a natural fit for NOLAI. His research focuses on developing intelligent technologies for societal challenges, particularly in education and healthcare. "AI in education aligns perfectly with the Donders Institute’s mission to study and improve cognitive processes. Projects like NOLAI allow us to merge cutting-edge research with real-world applications, ensuring societal relevance," he notes.
As the project progresses, NOLAI aims to scale its solutions to have a lasting impact on Dutch education. According to Dr. Thill, the upcoming years will focus on gathering potential AI applications, determine the feasibility and translate these into projects that have a sustainable impact.
Working with NOLAI
NOLAI is always looking for partners to cooperate in its projects in primary, secondary and special education, businesses and academia. Interested in a partnership? Then you probably want to know exactly what this entails. Read more about this on their website.