Kids needs more than an ",expert" AI tutor.They also need motivation, focused encouragement,possibly mentoring for some tasks or even correction or disciplining and not just some sycophantic AI tutor.
This is a small example of what you might see times a thousand if we took the roughly 900 billion dollars spent on public K-12 education and put it in the hands of consumers (parents) and let them shop for the best schools for their kids.
I have been through this before, nearly forty years ago. Was using organization acquisition manager for two, later four, large-scale computer-based military training systems. At that time there were no other similar efforts to learn from. Many problems in development, installation, and testing of the systems. Instructors were worried about their jobs, but later found the systems let them get more out of every training hour. The instructors provided the 'war stories' that tied all the theoretical work together. AI will do a lot but there will always be a place for the instructor; never put all your eggs in one basket.
I like the idea of using AI to accelerate learning, as there's more to absorb now than at any time. So, I'm with you on new tech for schooling. I am skeptical of the current tool suite, however. My scatterings off AI (ChatGPT and various other LLMs) have been less than useful in improving my work and my learning. I don't think we're there yet - particularly in math and empirical science. There was a recent editorial that indicated at the college level, the AI tools were actually helping students avoid the work they precisely needed to do in order to think and write properly. This is a pitfall that needs to be managed at other levels as well. And the training sets for LLM's include all manner of "below average" inputs and it generates mediocre results because of that. So, what we select as training materials for educational AI's need some careful thought and curation.
Just made a Synthesis account and sat with my kid with it. It was an excellent bonding moment, so I'm indebted to youf or the good laugh we had together. But we were laughing at the AI, not with it — bonkers-level dumb animations layered over hilariously stupid lessons that seemed designed for a five year old, not the 11 year old we'd just told it my kid was.
The concept is okay(ish, I guess) but _man_ the execution is bad...
So many look at AI as "taking my job". In some cases it will but right now it is going to change jobs. I think the change bothers people more so than being let go.
Teachers today and the school day have not changed since WW1. Everything is built around a schedule that mirrors a mid 20th century factory. The day is built on a lesson plan approved by management which revolves around a lecture, reinforcement, class skills then homework for tomorrow. The bell rings and it's off to the next repeat, just in a different subject. With everything revolving around the school getting a district eide passing grade on some obscure state mandated standardized test.
Question is will this prepare students for the next 25 years. Reality check: that will be the middle of the 21st century.
unfortunately, I needed it 40 years ago, lol. i love history but hated history class, history books back then were nothing short of hideous .... ah to be young again ..
In some ways, the descriptions remind me of some things I saw in the 70s. I thought they were great ideas then, but the tech to implement wasn’t there. Second time’s the charm?
Kids needs more than an ",expert" AI tutor.They also need motivation, focused encouragement,possibly mentoring for some tasks or even correction or disciplining and not just some sycophantic AI tutor.
Hi Tom, completely agree! I write about humanizing the future of learning. I’d love your insights :)
https://substack.com/@devikatoprani/note/p-177581013
This is a small example of what you might see times a thousand if we took the roughly 900 billion dollars spent on public K-12 education and put it in the hands of consumers (parents) and let them shop for the best schools for their kids.
I have been through this before, nearly forty years ago. Was using organization acquisition manager for two, later four, large-scale computer-based military training systems. At that time there were no other similar efforts to learn from. Many problems in development, installation, and testing of the systems. Instructors were worried about their jobs, but later found the systems let them get more out of every training hour. The instructors provided the 'war stories' that tied all the theoretical work together. AI will do a lot but there will always be a place for the instructor; never put all your eggs in one basket.
I like the idea of using AI to accelerate learning, as there's more to absorb now than at any time. So, I'm with you on new tech for schooling. I am skeptical of the current tool suite, however. My scatterings off AI (ChatGPT and various other LLMs) have been less than useful in improving my work and my learning. I don't think we're there yet - particularly in math and empirical science. There was a recent editorial that indicated at the college level, the AI tools were actually helping students avoid the work they precisely needed to do in order to think and write properly. This is a pitfall that needs to be managed at other levels as well. And the training sets for LLM's include all manner of "below average" inputs and it generates mediocre results because of that. So, what we select as training materials for educational AI's need some careful thought and curation.
Great introductory review of currently available AI teaching resources.
Very, very, very interesting. Thanks
Just made a Synthesis account and sat with my kid with it. It was an excellent bonding moment, so I'm indebted to youf or the good laugh we had together. But we were laughing at the AI, not with it — bonkers-level dumb animations layered over hilariously stupid lessons that seemed designed for a five year old, not the 11 year old we'd just told it my kid was.
The concept is okay(ish, I guess) but _man_ the execution is bad...
So many look at AI as "taking my job". In some cases it will but right now it is going to change jobs. I think the change bothers people more so than being let go.
Teachers today and the school day have not changed since WW1. Everything is built around a schedule that mirrors a mid 20th century factory. The day is built on a lesson plan approved by management which revolves around a lecture, reinforcement, class skills then homework for tomorrow. The bell rings and it's off to the next repeat, just in a different subject. With everything revolving around the school getting a district eide passing grade on some obscure state mandated standardized test.
Question is will this prepare students for the next 25 years. Reality check: that will be the middle of the 21st century.
Another great read and educational article.
unfortunately, I needed it 40 years ago, lol. i love history but hated history class, history books back then were nothing short of hideous .... ah to be young again ..
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Great article, Thank you.
This is great if used properly.
AI is here, Apply it to improving our world. Thanks Stephen for this reminder regarding our kids and grandkids.
Great article. So good that I am sending it to my grandkids parents!
nice!
I am passing this on, as I do each Sunday, to my children for our grands. Thank you.
In some ways, the descriptions remind me of some things I saw in the 70s. I thought they were great ideas then, but the tech to implement wasn’t there. Second time’s the charm?