Teachers to be replaced by apps

[noblegiraffe]

Your school can't get a Spanish teacher to teach A-level? No worries, how about a 1 hour weekly webinar and 4 hours of working on an app?

Soon to be extended to maths, physics and any other subject the government can't be bothered to find a solution to the shortage of (like decent pay and conditions). Oh, and you'll be paying Pearson for it.

www.tes.com/news/school-news/breaking-news/exclusive-schools-consider-virtual-a-levels-dont-need-classroom

How good are the computers going to be at:

You’re not as focused as you usually are, is everything OK?
OK, I know we’ve got to get on with Macbeth but first - how good was Bake Off last night?
Miss - you’ll never guess what Trump just tweeted!
Miss - you know that last lesson we watched that Zephaniah interview? Look what I found on YouTube about it!
Right, it’s last period and I know we’re supposed to be reading Chapter 7 but I found this fascinating article on the MeToo movement which I think we need to read and discuss.

noblegiraffe just because one package is shit it doesn't mean computer ai and learning isn't without great potential.

I have no doubt they are pushing shit systems at the moment.

Imagine an entire school when the internet crashed

The example in the op is exactly how my ds is studying for his further maths A level as his school don't offer it.

We did a virtual A level as part of my 6th form, over 10 years ago. It can work. It's not true "teaching" but a box ticking excercise (but then teachers have to tech that way so often these days!)

TheDrsDocMartens
Imagine an entire school when the internet crashed

I don't have to imagine. :)

liloland

I suspect that the choice to study his A level is his.

Suga Mitra is a great self-publicist whose claims don't always match up with reality. donaldclarkplanb.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/sugata-mitra-slum-chic-7-reasons-for.html

Mymaths is a bad package for marking but it illustrates some of the problems. Having to enter your final answer in a particular format onto a computer compared to pages of written working on out on paper.

What about the increasingly large body of work on the idea that pupils retain information better when writing than when using a computer.?

I think AI giving feedback is probably a way off. We still working on trying to get it to hold a conversation properly aren’t we?

Having to enter your final answer in a particular format onto a computer compared to pages of written working on out on paper
Ok I am not a teacher but have seen enough GCSE marking guides to know that to get the mark you have to give your answer in exactly the correct format/word/phrase etc

pupils retain information better when writing than when using a computer No reason why the course couldn't include using a stylus or writing and scanning answers. Computers long ago learnt how to read handwriting.

know that to get the mark you have to give your answer in exactly the correct format/word/phrase etc

This, especially for maths, is total nonsense. Method marks can be gained in lots of ways.

Julie8008

You may get a mark for the correct format/word/phrase etc but the majority of the marks are for showing knowledge and working out.

No reason why the course couldn't include using a stylus or writing and scanning answers. Computers long ago learnt how to read handwriting.

Over many years of teaching I can assure you that most pupils look for the quick way of doing things, the amount of documents (word, ppt, publisher or other open source software) that contain copy and paste answers is ridiculous.

Computers long ago learnt how to read handwriting.

Ha ha ha! Computers definitely cannot read all types of handwriting yet-I can just imagine scanning in a lot of my current students’ horrific handwriting.

“Computer Says No”

Method marks can be gained in lots of ways
I know that but technologically there is no reason google cant produce a program that gives marks for 'working out'.

Over many years of teaching I can assure you that most pupils look for the quick way of doing things Agree and such a course might not be for those children, however its quite easy for programs to detect cut and paste / plagiarism.

Computers definitely cannot read all types of handwriting If a computer cant read it then what will an examiner do? what happened to learning hand writing at primary school has that disappeared?

however its quite easy for programs to detect cut and paste / plagiarism.

Only when it has been input in to the program by humans

If a computer cant read it then what will an examiner do?

Either read it (it can be done) or not award marks.

what happened to learning hand writing at primary school has that disappeared?

It hasn't been really taught at primary for a long time.

It certainly wouldn’t work for my subject (History) or any other humanity.

Marking and feedback is most definitely not based on the use of particular terms or phrases. 2 different A* pupils could produce very different responses. How would a computer judge the use of historical skills or essay writing ability?

The discussions, debates, playing devil’s advocate and myriad other methods of considering interpretations and supported conclusions would be virtually impossible through an app never mind ensuring students understand some very complex material.

AI has its place but working with human beings in all their variables is not it.

At a gut level, I think it's an awful idea.

But then... I self-taught A2 Critical Thinking because my school made everyone do it or General Studies at AS but didn't teach either to A2. I wasn't prepared to carry on one of my other 4 subjects to A2 (teacher hated me - it was mutal, in fact - and I was finding the subject really difficult), and another one I loved but was never going to get the grades I needed for uni, so I taught myself A2 Critical Thinking from the textbook, and occationally met up with the teacher who taught it at AS to check in. And I got an A.

But it definitely wouldn't work for everyone, and not below A Level, I don't think.

A few teachers I had could have been adequately replaced by webinars. Quite frankly, unless parents start actually paying to educate their children, the government could never afford to entice enough intelligent and dedicated people into the profession to make a difference. It's a fairly thankless task.

If a computer cant read it then what will an examiner do? what happened to learning hand writing at primary school has that disappeared?

It’s the obsession with learning cursive writing at Primary that can cause this, in my experience. And to answer your point in what an Examiner would do? As an Examiner myself, you would take more time than a computer would, to try and read it. ‘Benefit of Doubt’ can then be utilised-as far as I know, that can’t be programmed by a neural network or genetic algorithm accurately yet.

You seem very intent on going down the full tech route despite plenty of cons. Personally, I like to instill a bit of humanity into my classrooms and try not to produce a bunch of robotic zombies with qualifications.

And I say that as a Computer Science teacher, with a degree in a Computer Science with Artifical Intelligence from Sussex.
(I realise that sounds obnoxious but did want to point out I’m definitely not a Luddite!)

While the consequences of allowing a neural network to apply ‘benefit of the doubt’ might be hilarious, I’m not sure it’s the sort of thing you’d want allocating you marks or giving you feedback.

I feel like the potential for mischief when a bunch of 16 year olds try to push the boundaries of the AI tech is probably huge.

RafaIsTheKingOfClay

I feel like the potential for mischief when a bunch of 16 year olds try to push the boundaries of the AI tech is probably huge.

But the AI will just teach. It will be the poor sod in the classroom (whether they call them TAs or teachers) that have to do the crowd control.

As a parent of primary school children I hate to hear this, my DC used mymaths in yr3 and I hated it, they have now started with abacus any thoughts on this? It's so scary I don't know how to help them, my DC have amazing teachers I don't see how this can all be replicated online.

You seem very intent on going down the full tech route despite plenty of cons Not at all, just exploring the idea as this is what the thread is about.

It’s the obsession with learning cursive writing at Primary that can cause this, in my experience I wonder how long it will be before secondary schools start to switch from text books to typing everything anyway. Like universities do.

As an Examiner myself, you would take more time than a computer would, to try and read it I was reading over exam season that examiners would getting paid less for even more work. Do they really spend much more time deciphering bad hand writing? Of course in these cases a computer could easily refer any incomprehensible texts to a human.

I like to instill a bit of humanity into my classrooms and try not to produce a bunch of robotic zombies with qualifications I agree but imagine the benefits if it could work! Every pupil working at their own pace, at their own level on a course no one else is doing. Surly if done well it could be the opposite of 30 zombies all studying the exact same thing as exactly the same pace and exactly the same level?

Not at all, just exploring the idea as this is what the thread is about. You don’t seem to be taking in what every teacher is saying, just firing back, so will do the same.

I wonder how long it will be before secondary schools start to switch from text books to typing everything anyway. Like universities do.

Most schools don’t use text books now and haven’t for a long time due to funding but I’m not sure why using a text book means you have to hand write and not type anyway. As a few teachers upthread stated that typing actually doesn’t retain information as well as writing it down. I actually don’t set any homework that can be typed-I prefer it handwritten and have seen an increase in my GCSE and A Level results (hope for the same with the new 9-1) In direct contrast, our MFL dept has turned to platforms like Doddle, Duolearn and Memrise and has seen a vast drop in results (I find it frustrating to watch!) They are literally just a body in the room, watching their pupils on their accounts and the kids hate it (but hey, means no planning or marking so win win for teacher, but not so for pupil) We are getting a new Head of MFL next Term. Wonder if that is connected!?

I was reading over exam season that examiners would getting paid less for even more work. Do they really spend much more time deciphering bad hand writing? Of course in these cases a computer could easily refer any incomprehensible texts to a human. Yes, we do get about 50p per question but we do have integrity and at least try! Believe you me when I tell you just how universally bad a lot of handwriting is and that would be many many referrals-probably would negate any benefits including cost. In addition, unless the pupil has Dyspraxia or other relevant SEND, it worries me that some find a cop out route to not work on basic legible handwriting and instead permanently type.

I agree but imagine the benefits if it could work! Every pupil working at their own pace, at their own level on a course no one else is doing. Surly if done well it could be the opposite of 30 zombies all studying the exact same thing as exactly the same pace and exactly the level.

Couldn’t think of anything worse and would greatly fear for my own children’s future if that was the case. You seem to imagine this working with already self motivated kids who don’t like to converse, hear each other’s thoughts and opinions, hate variety, want to get RSI, don’t want to think for themselves, are mildly addicted to positive notifications/next level type progress/feedback and want to stare at a screen 24/7.

I promise you, the more I teach away from the computer, the better the outcomes overall for my students. There’s more to life than Google.