So on second listen, I was struck by two things. One, there was so much transparency in her introduction into the process and production of the podcast. Interesting tactic.

Two, the “all or none” approach seems pretty unrealistic. I think the likelihood is that the more straight-forward learning will be done with robots/AI/machine learning.  Things like specific lessons, or placement (which is already kind of robotic, in the sense that it’s a standardized test), and that could open up in more tutor-style relationships with educators in smaller classroom for in-person instruction.

In terms of defining a speculative future, I like the selection of a specific date. It has an emotional effect and puts you in a mindspace. But even so, I think the focus of the episode that robots simply replace teachers in 2099 is pretty narrow.

There’s a great (often untapped or poorly executed) power in design and technology to bring together, rather than separate. I wonder whether that was explored. The individual assignment or lesson is isolating to be sure (although perhaps not much more than the heads-down writing assignment or math quiz), but what about an interactive group game or augmented environment that required learning facilitated through a machine?

Another thought was around the risks with algorithms. I would be curious to know whether (as algorithms get more tested and smarter) those issues would happen less or more often than with people. Humans are notoriously susceptible to prejudice and perception—would a child with ADHD fare better with a robot, who doesn’t care about his behavioral issues, than a frustrated teacher who feels this child is stealing energy and focus from their classroom? Same goes for any other number of adaptive learning methods and learning disabilities. Is it a matter of an algorithm at all, or just the level of its intelligence and accuracy? As a near-term issue, the human is obviously superior, but if we’re talking 80 years out… something to think about?

One question about the assertion that teaching isn’t respected because it’s a female-dominated field. I imagine that’s not true at the university level, or at least didn’t used to be? Would be curious to know those demographics. On that note, I noticed the choice of robot teacher for the episode was the stereotypical robotic female voice, rather than a silent robot, a male robot, or a less overtly sexed robot. In this sense, it opens up a number of design question about the user’s knowledge of the bot as well as many of the bot’s characteristic change how you interact with it. For example, does having an asexual teacher do anything for students? How much of the teacher’s role is to model behaviors from an adult that isn’t a parent? Do students without a male or female role model benefit from having an instructor of that gender?

All food for thought.

This is an audio learning experience for my dad, to try and help him with his many computer problems.

Directions.
1. Take a pre-lesson evaluation here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5P5JKC6
2. Listen to the appropriate audio lesson below.
3. Take a post-lesson evaluation here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/56MVXC7

 

Installing Google Chrome

Keyboard Not Working

How To Install an External DVD Drive

Watching DVDs on the New Computer

Siri Keeps Interrupting Me

The Internet is not Working

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The directions for this assignment include the option for an audio-only learning experience. This intrigued me. It seems like video is the standard for teaching experiences right now. What can you teach someone using audio alone? I got a quick retort from my boyfriend to that question: “I know I can teach someone to install a printer on Windows XP using audio alone.” I’d totally forgotten about the hours of over-the-phone tech support that I’ve provided to my parents, and to my father especially.

That got me thinking about all of the things I’ve had to teach my dad how to do, and how tedious it often is. There are definitely some questions I’ve had to field again and again. It would be convenient, for me at least, if I had some kind of stock answer for “Why isn’t the internet working?” and “My keyboard stopped working.” That lead me to record some stock answers for these questions. Right now the recordings are just up on Soundcloud, but if the wifi is down that’s not going to be much good. Maybe some kind of Jess-tech support-hotline would be better.

This kind of project doesn’t seem to line up exactly with the pre and post lesson evaluation. Because it is essentially a how-to, rather than a concept lesson, you don’t need to know as much about their skills before the lesson. Their skill level is that they cannot solve the problem. However, post-lesson evaluation is pretty useful. I’ve included a question about if the problem is solved or not, and comment area for improving the lesson. I think the most important part, though, is the question that asks how confident the listener is that they could solve the problem themselves. Most of the issues I get from my parents are caused by a lack of confidence, than a lack of understanding. These audio walkthroughs will be most successful if they can make the listener more confident in their skills.