Three NUS students build AI tool to tackle teachers’ marking load, give quality feedback

Three NUS students have developed an AI-driven tool named Ren, designed to alleviate the burden of grading for educators while offering students detailed, high-quality feedback. This innovation emerged from the challenge faced by Senior Lecturer Lee Boon Kee, who spent six weeks marking assignments for 490 NUS computing students last semester—until the introduction of Ren, which reduced the process to just five minutes for an initial assessment. The tool, created by Wong Eu En, Justin Cheah, and Natasha Koh, is part of a broader trend of integrating artificial intelligence into educational settings to enhance efficiency and consistency.

Ren operates by analyzing submissions—whether handwritten or typed—and cross-referencing them against marking rubrics, syllabus content, and learning objectives provided by instructors. The AI generates preliminary grades and comprehensive feedback, which teachers then review, edit, and finalize before releasing to students. This hybrid model ensures that while the AI handles the bulk of the work, human oversight remains crucial for accuracy and nuance. Currently, Ren is being trialed at 11 institutions in Singapore, including the School of Science and Technology and NUS, with a planned full rollout at St Andrew’s Junior College in July. The tool is also being used in partnership with the Malay/Muslim self-help organisation Mendaki to offer free academic support to A-level students, aiming to assist around 600 learners in subjects such as literature, history, chemistry, and economics.

The integration of AI into education reflects a growing shift toward leveraging technology to improve pedagogical practices. In addition to Ren, the Singaporean Ministry of Education has introduced other AI-powered tools, such as Markly, which aids in providing feedback, and Authoring Copilot, which assists in generating lesson plans and activities. These tools exemplify how AI can streamline administrative tasks, allowing educators to focus more on personalized instruction and student engagement.

However, the rise of AI in education is not without its challenges. As noted in a separate report, the misuse of AI has led to significant issues, including the proliferation of scams. One notable case involves a fabricated news story that falsely claimed to feature a former transport minister, S Iswaran, discussing a secret investment fund. The story, complete with manipulated images and misleading claims, was used to lure individuals into investing money. Such incidents highlight the dual-edged nature of AI, capable of both enhancing educational experiences and facilitating fraudulent activities.

In response to the increasing prevalence of scams, Singapore authorities have launched operations targeting individuals involved in fraudulent activities. Recently, a two-week police operation resulted in the investigation of 230 suspects, including a 16-year-old, accused of participating in scams that caused approximately $9 million in losses. These individuals are being probed for offenses ranging from cheating and money laundering to operating unlicensed payment services. The legal consequences for involvement in such activities range from substantial fines to mandatory caning, underscoring the severity with which such crimes are treated.

As the landscape of education continues to evolve with technological advancements, the balance between automation and human judgment remains critical. Developers like Wong emphasize that Ren is designed to learn from teacher inputs, adapting to their styles and preferences over time. This adaptive capability allows for a more tailored experience, ensuring that the AI's suggestions align with the expectations of educators. Furthermore, the system provides detailed analytics, helping teachers identify trends and areas requiring improvement, thus supporting continuous learning and growth.

The ongoing developments in AI within education underscore the potential for transformative change, yet they also necessitate vigilance against the misuse of such technologies. As the use of AI expands, so too does the responsibility to ensure its ethical application, safeguarding both educational integrity and societal trust.