2 Comments

Interesting insights here. I took an online exam recently and they had a tortured process to ensure I was showing my work and not using external tools, like AI, to find the answers. Their solution was to have three online proctors for each test taker. I shared my screen and then used two cameras, my laptop camera and my phone camera, to show my face and the room. The room could have nothing, not even furniture. Because that is difficult to do, the test proctor recommends that the test is taken in the bathroom because the room was smaller and was easier for the proctors to see the room from edge to edge. Before AI, cheating would still take time and allow the three administrators to detect it because you had to look up the answer or do a Google search. With AI, they fear that I can cut and paste the question on the screen into a prompt and get an instant full and smart answer.

About incorporating technology into education, I remember having a heated debate with my third grade teacher, Mr. Henning, about using a calculator. They had recently become much cheaper so I argued we should be using them. We all had them at home and some rich kids had them on their wrists. My final point was that my dad carried one in his pocket protector everyday, so why shouldn't we use them? I lost that argument. But, in fourth grade, my teacher embraced these pocket wizards and I never did long division in my head again. Thank you Ms. Doxey! Our kids need to be trained to use AI, machine learning, coding, automation, systems thinking and kindness. Of course we need to learn skills, like writing, because that allows you to uses the technology. Those who are given many opportunities to learn with technology will succeed. Those who don't will be left behind. I hope we can accept and adapt so more people are included.

Expand full comment
author

That's fascinating and baroque! No furniture? Taking tests in the bathroom with multiple camera angles?

More broadly: it's fascinating how people react differently to new technologies (calculators, ChatGPT) with everything from fear to wild enthusiasm. I think it's definitely better to embrace the new tools as quickly as feasible, because that means your education more quickly reflects the real world.

Expand full comment