With the internet and AI is self education becoming more viable and should we consider hybrid learning?

[mids2019]

With the internet and AI is self education becoming more viable and should we consider hybrid models of learning?

Some of the resources for education in general are fantastic including BBC bitesize and a whole range of you tube videos often linked to syllabises. As we have generation fully immersed in technology is it time to give deeper thought into how we can integrate on line resource with traditional school based learning?

Would for instance having shorter days with an expectation of using on line resources perhaps help with financial strains in schools and free up much needed teacher time? Should we be less cautious about home learning when we know supportive resources are ever increasing?

On a parallel point should we use AI for home work marking and maybe to some extent accept AI as new revolution and accept children will use it and so think of new modes of assessment and indeed consider some of the mechanisms of teaching!

Teaching is based on relationship. It is key to development.

Good for DD!!!! 😍

Children need to be taught to think critically for themselves, weigh up evidence and debate ideas in many subjects. Learn to filter information and read around a subject and come to their own conclusions. AI teaches none of these fundamental skills and I worry that with little evidence something is being introduced into schools which is actually detrimental to learning.

She and her friends are very anti-AI, I hope its part of a broader opposition to AI in the youth but fear its only some teens

I've seen a large backlash from under 30s. No one is trying to applaud the ending of humanity through AI unless they are woefully uninformed about the overall intent.

It warms my heart to see this generation fighting for itself.

Wonderful!

I think in my experience the range of online tools is something that can contribute to (though not replace) teacher - pupil learning. There has been an element of online learning supplementing my own daughter's learning successfully when there has been an area which has not been covered thoroughly in class which I found valuable. Though not physically present I do think some online courses are really quite good in terms of delivery.

I have heard anecdotal reports with a lot of focus home schooling can now be more of a success than may be 20 years ago and I think this is partly (or mainly ) down to the internet.

at my local school there has been a bit of defeatism about AI with the school unwilling to call out use of AI without conclusive proof of has been used. I don't know the answer to this long term but there is a resignation any work not done in school is going to be at least somehow influenced by AI so it is very hard to judge the pupils true ability.

www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zgy39j6

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Case-against-Education-System-Waste/dp/0691196451/ref=asc_df_0691196451?mcid=7431d33620d933c9b788b68fef8dfa4d&th=1&psc=1&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=697250157571&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=14571221141902178754&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9180840&hvtargid=pla-800390485809&psc=1&hvocijid=14571221141902178754-0691196451-&hvexpln=0&gad_source=1

If this is a topic that interest you i'd recommend this book. It's not about AI, but it looks at the economic, socialogical and societal debate around formal vs informal education, which now that 'everything' is availble online, mostly for free it's an interesting debate.

That's all fine and good but anything on a national level should be evidence based, not because it's convenient or solves teacher shortages. I find it strange this has not been questioned or studies having been done to show it is actually more effective than in person teaching.

So in the meantime what do you do about teacher shortages and budget cuts? Just let the kids in the system at the moment suffer?

No sale OP. We won't accept it no matter the "benefits".

The costs are too great.

This generation of children have already withstood a lot through COVID and it wasn't good for their education. A lot of parents stepped up and are genuinely wondering what the future looks like for them. Sure if there's evidence for AI plenty of us are willing to embrace it but let's not take more from this generation who don't currently have a voice. Education should be properly funded.

Most of this misses the point of AI as a resource.

Additionally, nobody wants shorter school days.

Some universities are already going more towards exams and away from coursework.

The passion, skill and interpersonal relationship value of a real life teacher is irreplaceable.

I think there's a place for AI taught lessons within schools. This would enable teachers to get on with other work whilst still being the classroom to supervise, help with any tech issues, explain things a different way if a child is stuck, etc.

However, I think as soon as you're sending kids home to do lessons, you're widening gaps between kids with quiet, safe homes, access to the right technology, and parents who make them do the work and those that have none of those things.

Yes, we donated laptops to my dds secondary school during the pandemic .
We have many laptops at home and it had never occurred to me that some students would not have their own laptop

Of we ditch the idea of shorter school days do we still have to admit internet resources will still have an increasing role in education? At university level you already have lectures recorded and accessible via you tube (some great Stanford ones) so will this idea filter through into say 6th form where self study is more of an expectation?

I personally feel people were a bit late to the party with AI and its use in an educational setting was not fully discussed before it's mass use which is a shame. The words genie and bottle spring to mind.

I agree more use of invigilated exams will occur in future to the detriment to those students who excel at course work but I don't know if there is an alternative? It's a big step to accuse someone who is cheating with AI if there is no cool proof means to determine its use (and this is going to get worse).

One of my recent research jaunts has been to test out how accurate various LLMs are in my academic science-based subject area. The AI models have a 100% failure rate.

So, no thanks.

People learn better in real life social interactions. There is lots of scientific data on this. They also learn social skills from hanging out with kids their own age. And schools enable that - not much can replicate it in another way.

That's really strange. We've just been to a lecture at Ri www.rigb.org/whats-on/discoveries-without-understanding-trusting-ai-research and they said nothing of this kind.

So online resources have been used for years in secondary. Much of what's mentioned is not AI.

Universities take use of AI and training staff and students how it should be used very seriously. Students are usually well aware of what it's not to be used for.