Bridging AI and Human Connection in Education with Libby Hills and Owen Henkel of Ed-Technical Podcast
Nov 4, 2024
auto_awesome
Libby Hills, a leader at Jacobs Foundation in EdTech, and Owen Henkel, an AI researcher at Oxford, discuss the evolving role of AI in education. They highlight the limitations of AI in understanding student learning and showcase the hybrid models merging AI with human interaction, like the Rori math tutoring chatbot. The conversation touches on effective tutoring strategies and UK government initiatives supporting AI integration. They emphasize the importance of maintaining human connections to motivate students amidst the rise of AI technologies.
While LLMs are proficient in language tasks, they struggle with understanding student comprehension, necessitating a blend of AI and human interaction for effective tutoring.
Hybrid tutoring models combining AI with human support are being developed to enhance learning outcomes while preserving essential interpersonal relationships between educators and students.
Deep dives
Limitations of Language Models in Understanding Student Needs
Large language models (LLMs) excel in handling language tasks but fall short in modeling student understanding and engagement. They lack the capability to assess a student's comprehension or misconceptions, which is essential for effective tutoring. For educational applications, a more sophisticated approach is necessary, one that combines LLMs with a robust understanding of student knowledge and emotional states. This deficiency in LLMs prompts further exploration into developing additional models that could better support personalized learning.
High-Dosage Tutoring and Evidence-Based Practices
High-dosage tutoring has gained attention as an effective method for addressing learning loss, especially post-COVID. Key factors contributing to its success include targeted difficulty levels, timely assessments, immediate feedback, and strong interpersonal relationships between tutors and students. The challenge now lies in making such tutoring models cost-effective and scalable for broader implementation. Technologies that enhance tutoring can support these goals by optimizing costs and enabling tutors to focus on providing personalized support.
Potential of Hybrid Tutoring Models
Hybrid tutoring models that incorporate both AI and human tutors are emerging as promising solutions in education. For instance, organizations like Carnegie Mellon are developing systems where students utilize AI tutors while benefiting from human support when needed. This arrangement helps maintain the interpersonal relationships that are vital for student motivation while also leveraging the scalability and efficiency of AI. Such innovations could potentially enhance learning outcomes without sacrificing personal connections in the tutoring process.
Ethical Considerations and Future Opportunities in AI Education
As the educational landscape shifts toward increasing reliance on AI, ethical considerations surrounding data collection and privacy come to the forefront. Technology should not only replicate human tutoring methods but also explore new opportunities for engaging students in unique ways. Future developments in AI could harness computer vision and voice recognition to provide insights into students' emotional and cognitive states. This exploration must be balanced with ethical concerns, ensuring that data utilization respects students' privacy while enhancing educational outcomes.
Libby Hills co-leads the Jacobs Foundation’s global EdTech investment portfolio, focusing on the intersection of technology, research, and education. With over 15 years in education, including roles in teaching, tech leadership, and charity boards, she also co-hosts the Ed-Technicalpodcast. Libby holds degrees in Education and Social Business from Oxford and LSE.
Owen Henkel is an AI in Education researcher at the University of Oxford, specializing in natural language processing for foundational literacy and numeracy. He leads the R&D team for Rori, a chatbot for personalized math tutoring on low-cost mobile phones, and co-hosts Ed-Technicalwith Libby. Owen has a dual MBA/MA from the University of Michigan and is completing his Ph.D. at Oxford.
💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode:
The future of AI-powered tutoring and its potential impact.
Key components that make tutoring effective.
Jacobs Foundation’s approach to cost-effective hybrid AI-human models.
Current limitations of AI in understanding student learning.
New UK government initiatives supporting AI in education.
✨ Episode Highlights:
[00:00:22] Generative AI’s limitations in understanding student learning. [00:00:57] Carnegie Mellon’s AI-human hybrid tutoring model. [00:04:37] Four pillars of effective high-dosage tutoring. [00:08:17] History and evolution of intelligent tutoring systems (ITS). [00:11:26]Rori, a math tutoring chatbot for underserved regions. [00:17:18] Hybrid models reducing tutoring costs and training needs. [00:24:42] AI modeling new thinking processes for students. [00:26:35] UK government-backed AI content hubs and resources. [00:31:32] Raising minimum quality standards in education with AI.
This season of Edtech Insiders is once again brought to you by Tuck Advisors, the M&A firm for EdTech companies. Run by serial entrepreneurs with over 25 years of experience founding, investing in, and selling companies, Tuck believes you deserve M&A advisors who work as hard as you do.
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode