For Assignment 3 Speculative Futures Essay I have decided to focus mainly on the use of adaptive learning technologies and AI learning education applications, and how the two could potentially be leveraged to create tailored learning that can meet the student at their current level of understanding to start, assess and analyze the results as the learner progresses, and possibly develop continuous content based on the analyzed data as the learner increases their knowledge base.

My interest in this idea stems from my son recently completed a 6-month program at Sylvan learning, a tutoring company that specializes in Math and Reading, that has built out programs that only allow the learner to proceed to the next level once they can show they have mastered the current through test results and activities built into the individual’s tablet. Their claim is that by allowing each learner to move at their own pace, and by providing extra activities and teaching on the areas the learner has not grasped, they ensure that knowledge is layered foundationally with no one moving to a new concept until they have mastered the old. What if that same concept of individualized foundational learning was applied to each student as they move through k-12 education, a true personalized lesson plan that covered all required topics but allowing each student to move at their own pace and providing focus on the areas less understood while allowing students to move quickly through the areas where they are proficient. Taking it a step further, could AI be used to create individualized content based on each student’s results vs. pre-programmed scenarios that may be less inclusive depending on learner’s needs?

I see many positive possibilities with this type of adaptive learning and AI use, such as tailored content & meeting the learner at their pace/level of need, and I also see the potential concerns and barriers, for example accessibility to the technology and lack of face-to-face interaction and engagement. The 2020 Educause Horizon Report (2020) make some interesting points about the high cost of both adaptive learning technologies and AI and suggests mid-range learning impact when these technologies are used on their own. I look forward to digging into the subject, evaluating if using the two technologies in tandem will increase their learning impact, and would very much appreciate any feedback regarding thoughts on how to approach the topic!

References

Brown, M., McCormack, M., Reeves, J., Brook, D. C., Grajek, S., Alexander, B., … & Weber, N. (2020). 2020 educause horizon report teaching and learning edition (pp. 2-58). Educause. 2020 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report™ | Teaching and Learning… – Google Scholar