SAIL: Profiles Webinar, Creativity, Mental Health
GRAILE is hosting a seminar on Learner Profiles . Registration is free. Developing profiles of learners is foundational to adaptive and personalized learning. Building profiles, however, is a challenge given the complexity of human learning and knowledge development, including different ways of knowing, different paths through curriculum, learning that happens that isn't explicitly noted, etc. AI holds promise in making profile development easier. While the tools and methods are not "there" yet, AI and learner profiles are on the horizon.
Creativity
AI and creativity are experiencing an interesting interplay. Creativity is often seen as the upper echelon of human performance. That's changing as AI is advancing on almost all fronts of human cognition. Consider this list of creative AI tools.
This last week has generated questions around human creativity in areas that should capture the attention of educators (and people who design education systems). Consider this author getting published after using GPT-3 to write a book. Or AI generated art winning a state art fair. I continue to be stunned at how fast AI is encroaching in the domains of human cognition and creativity and how unresponsive our existing schools and universities are to this rather momentous advancement.
A few links of interest.
Mental health
One of the anticipated impacts of AI (and robotics) will be in areas where a need exists and current approaches aren't meeting the demand. Robots in the fast food sector, to address employee shortages, is one example. Another area that has caught attention of many sectors of society is around mental health. Crowdsourced/social media is one approach to mental health that is causing concerns. Mental health is an area of tremendous concern on campuses. Is AI a partial solution? Currently, data capture around mental health is an area of concern and the interventions can be intrusive and violate individuals' privacy. As noted in the article: "I wonder if we're going to have to build new systems that are really just built for health; that's not going to be a social platform, an advertising platform, or a shopping platform"
Bias & Legal
Legal systems are slowly responding to AI advances. NYC employers are scrambling to review their AI decision systems for bias: "The law, which requires employers to conduct an independent audit of the automated tools they use, marks the first time employers in the US will face heightened legal requirements if they wish to use those any automated decision-making tools."
Legal systems are lagging technological capability. The privacy and ethics implications are staggering.
AI & Communication (but with animals)
We hardly know the longer term impact of AI on human interaction and communication. Might as well explore communicating with the animal kingdom while we're waiting.