#161 AI Is Going to Upend Public Education. Or Maybe Not
Aug 8, 2023
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Larry Cuban, historian, predicts that AI will join a long list of overhyped tech 'silver bullets' that have fallen short of the promised utopia. Cuban argues that tech boosters oversell because they don’t understand teaching's reliance on human connection. The podcast explores the limitations of AI language models, skepticism towards AI's impact in classrooms, the enduring tradition of hope and criticism in education, the potential impact of AI on writing assignments, and the cycle of over-promising in education technology.
AI technology cannot replace the complex social interactions and human touch that genuine personalized learning requires.
Techno-optimism tends to view technology as a silver bullet solution, disregarding the wider context and the real challenges faced by educators.
Deep dives
The cyclical nature of technological optimism in education
Technological optimism in education is not a new phenomenon. It has been occurring for over a century, with various technologies like film, instructional television, and overhead projectors being hailed as transformative tools. However, these technologies often fell short of their grand promises. The belief in technological innovation stems from a larger American tradition of investing hope in schools and seeking perfection in education through innovation. Despite the cyclical nature of technological optimism, the public's confidence in public schools remains fairly high, recognizing the complexity and challenges of teaching.
Challenges of personalization and individualized learning through AI
The dream of personalizing education and making it an individualized experience for each student has deep historical roots. However, achieving true personalization and individualization through AI technology is a complex task. Teaching is not solely about transmitting facts and data; it involves building trusting relationships and providing support. Personalized learning requires teachers who understand the unique needs and motivations of their students. AI tools like chatbots or language learning software may offer some benefits, but they cannot replace the complex social interactions and human touch that genuine personalized learning requires.
The limitations of education technology and the enduring role of teachers
The history of education technology is characterized by over-promising and under-delivering. Despite the rapid advancements in technology, schools have been slow to fully integrate innovations into classroom practice. This is due to the conservative nature of schools, which are rooted in passing along community values and knowledge. While schools are vulnerable to political pressures and have adopted innovations over time, the transformative potential of technology in schools is often tempered by the expectations and culture of education. The complex art of teaching, the social nature of education, and the intricate tasks teachers undertake cannot be easily replicated by technology.
The ideological underpinnings of techno-optimism in education
Techno-optimism in education is fueled by a set of deeply ingrained assumptions and ideologies. These assumptions include the belief that teachers are overpaid and not very competent, that education can be streamlined and individualized through technology, and that students perform better outside of traditional classroom settings. These assumptions often overlook the complexities of teaching, the costs associated with education, and the crucial role of social interactions in learning. Techno-optimism tends to view technology as a silver bullet solution, disregarding the wider context and the real challenges faced by educators.
AI is about to upend teaching and learning. So tell us the techno optimists who have made essentially the same claim about every technological innovation, dating back to the film strip. Our guest, historian Larry Cuban, predicts that AI will join a long list of tech ‘silver bullets’ that have been overhyped, only to fall short of the promised utopia. Cuban argues that tech boosters are prone to such overselling because they don’t understand the nature of teaching and its reliance on human connection.
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