I just attended the Texas Computer Education Association Conference in Austin, TX last week, having attended my first one ever last February. My feeling last year was that most of the presenters almost entirely dismissed concerns about the potential impact on cognitive development resulting from use of AI platforms in classrooms or on homework. This year was slightly encouraging, with a few presenters at least mentioning audience concerns they've encountered, such as "worries about the loss of critical thinking or productive struggle."
However, even the presenters who mentioned these audience concerns ultimately pushed past them, saying things like, "Well, the kids are going to use them either way, so we either teach them to use them ASAP, or they'll run off on their own and use them however they like." Many of them also shared some version of, "A majority of jobs in the next 10 years will require prompt writing skills. We're leaving students ill-prepared for careers if we don't use these platforms ASAP." I disliked this "full steam ahead" attitude, because it insists on suspending belief that technology has had no recent detrimental effect on human development.
I'm just not so sure that learning to write prompts at a young age is a necessary K-12 skill...maybe a 9 or 10-12 skill? I've had quite an easy time learning prompt writing as a fortyish-year-old family therapist.
I also question how a presenter can insist that school staff take an incredibly active role in shaping student use of technology when we have no idea what the medium to long-term impact will be...what are we shaping them toward?
We desperately need more information in this area, because some educators out there will be shaping our children's use of this technology, clear destination in mind or no.
Such a helpful reminder about the importance of mentoring kids with new technologies. I have a kid approaching tweendom and he was curious about AI as it related to some of the Superbowl commericals last night. Helpful ways to spark ongoing conversations.
I just attended the Texas Computer Education Association Conference in Austin, TX last week, having attended my first one ever last February. My feeling last year was that most of the presenters almost entirely dismissed concerns about the potential impact on cognitive development resulting from use of AI platforms in classrooms or on homework. This year was slightly encouraging, with a few presenters at least mentioning audience concerns they've encountered, such as "worries about the loss of critical thinking or productive struggle."
However, even the presenters who mentioned these audience concerns ultimately pushed past them, saying things like, "Well, the kids are going to use them either way, so we either teach them to use them ASAP, or they'll run off on their own and use them however they like." Many of them also shared some version of, "A majority of jobs in the next 10 years will require prompt writing skills. We're leaving students ill-prepared for careers if we don't use these platforms ASAP." I disliked this "full steam ahead" attitude, because it insists on suspending belief that technology has had no recent detrimental effect on human development.
I'm just not so sure that learning to write prompts at a young age is a necessary K-12 skill...maybe a 9 or 10-12 skill? I've had quite an easy time learning prompt writing as a fortyish-year-old family therapist.
I also question how a presenter can insist that school staff take an incredibly active role in shaping student use of technology when we have no idea what the medium to long-term impact will be...what are we shaping them toward?
We desperately need more information in this area, because some educators out there will be shaping our children's use of this technology, clear destination in mind or no.
Such a helpful reminder about the importance of mentoring kids with new technologies. I have a kid approaching tweendom and he was curious about AI as it related to some of the Superbowl commericals last night. Helpful ways to spark ongoing conversations.
Excellent read thanks Jacqueline!