Bethany Taylor Current Issues Artificial Intelligence In todays job market, several occupations face the possibility of being

replaced by a machine or computer. Several robots have replaced automated jobs seen on the assembly line. These so-called robots serve extremely useful functions, generally performing their specialized tasks with efficiency superior to that of a human being. They can be very precise, do not make mistakes (barring a malfunction), can keep at the job twenty-four hours a day, demand neither wages nor benefit packages, and never go out on strike (Tiene & Ingram, 2001, p. 29). Therefore, the teaching occupation is not immune from facing the same possibility of being replaced from a computer or robot to some extent. In 2010, artificial intelligence (AI) took a large step forward when an I.B.M. computer, Watson, defeated two other contestants on Jeopardy. For the last three years, I.B.M. scientists have been developing what they expect will be the worlds most advanced question answering machine, able to understand a question posed in everyday human elocution natural language, as computer scientists call it and respond with a precise, factual answer. In other words, it must do more than what search engines like Google and Bing do, which is merely point to a document where you might find the answer. It has to pluck out the correct answer itself (Thompson, 2010). Watson means gains in artificial intelligence for several reasons. According to Tiene and Ingram in 2001, one of the main setbacks in artificial intelligence was the ability of computers to understand words with different meanings and understanding words in the proper syntax of a sentence. Very sophisticated programming would be necessary. In fact, this area may be where computers and their programmers face their ultimate limits. One must wonder whether AI programs will ever be as

sophisticated as human beings in understanding natural language (pg. 33). Even though AI programs are not perfect with understanding natural language, Watson is able to understand natural language, can also use puzzling clues and trivia, search its database of results, and pick the direct answer to the question as opposed to a search engine that can guide a user to specific answers. What is perhaps more remarkable than Watsons triumph on Jeopardy is the availability of artificial intelligence to the common person. Wolfram Alpha and Apples Siri have made AI a commonplace utility. Wolfram Alpha is A question-answering engine that can do mathematical calculations about the real world. Ask it to compare the populations of New York City and Cincinnati, for example, and it will not only give you their populations 8.4 million versus 333,336 it will also create a bar graph comparing them visually and calculate their ratio (25.09 to 1) and the percentage relationship between them (New York is 2,409 percent larger) (Thompson, 2010). The possibility of the Wolfram technology is only possible because the Wolfram team has spent hours programming databases and entering populations of cities, tagging New York and Cincinnati so that they can be compared. Therefore, this technology has its limitations because as city populations change, so will the Wolfram database. Both Watson and Wolfram have their limitations. Wolfram cannot answer a wide range of trivia questions like Watson can, but then again, it was not designed to perform that task. Watson is only able to answer questions that have an objective fact and not questions that require a judgment call. Neither Watson nor Wolfram Alpha, in other words, comes close to replicating human wisdom (Thompson, 2010).

One of the best strides in AI that possesses human qualities has been Apples Siri which is built into certain models of the iPhone and iPad. Siri often displays this kind of attitude, especially when asked a question that pokes fun at its artificial intelligence. But the answer is not some snarky programmers' joke. It's a crucial part of why Siri works so well. The popularity of Siri shows that a digital assistant needs more than just intelligence to succeed; it also needs tact, charm, and surprisingly, wit (Knight, 2012). However, Siri is not a perfect AI technology and still has some bugs that need to be worked out in order to work effectively. Given these recent advancements in AI technology, it does not seem far-fetched that AI will have a place in education at some point in the future. However, I do not see how AI can ever replace a teacher. Every school year brings more hats to be worn by a regular K-12 educator. For several students, teachers assume the roles of parent, nurse, counselor, and coach. Significant strides in AI technology would need to be made in order to fill all those roles. However, using computer assisted instruction (ICAI) in addition to a regular classroom teacher would be most effective in the public school environment. Teachers in classrooms are torn in several directions and, many times, it seems as though there is not enough one teacher can do in order to reach the needs of all students due to their knowledge level and learning style. Therefore, using ICAI in the classroom could provide a teacher with multiple helpers while teachers can focus or meet with a few students to work on instructional goals. ICAI uses diagnostic tools to gauge a students skill level in addition to a learning style inventory which are both used to determine a proper path of instruction for that particular student. This technology provides instant differentiation to teachers in the classroom. If students are unable to grasp a concept, the program will require the student to review the material. On the other hand, if a student already knew a topic, the program will move the student on to more advanced concepts. This program will also use examples that are catered to the individual students interest which will increase student

engagement. To some extent, these programs already exist. Aleks, for example, delivers a diagnostic test to students in a particular subject area, and then provides instruction and review to those students who need help on a certain topic. Those students who have already learned a concept are moved on to other concepts. This program is lacking from ICAI because it does not take into account a students learning style or specific interests. If a program such as this did take those aspects into consideration, I believe it could be far more successful in keeping students engaged in their learning. However, there are limitations to using this technology within the classroom. One of the main factors would be the cost associated with the infrastructure needed to facilitate ICAI. Several computers or tablets would need to be purchased for theoretically every student. Also, more than likely, the ICAI program subscription would be an additional cost for every student enrolled. Another disadvantage of this program would be the missing human interaction that exists between teachers and students in the classroom. Students learn more than just core subject areas from their teachers. They also learn how to interact with people and how to be successful in school and in life. Many students admire a specific teacher for these reasons. I doubt students in the future will admire their ICAI in the same manner. Computers are more effective than humans in education in the differentiation that they are able to provide. Even though teachers differentiate their instruction, it seems as though teachers are always working to provide more differentiation to their students in meeting their specific knowledge level and learning style. ICAI and other similar programs provide this differentiation to students and can save teachers hours of work in pre-testing their students, grading, and then providing remediation to those who did not understand. However, experienced teachers know the way in which many students at that age level learn and can provide tricks for learning a specific concept that a computer might not provide. When a student is still unable to understand a concept, even after multiple times of explaining, teachers are able to think of different avenues or methods in which to ensure that student understands the

material. I am sure that many computers only know one method of teaching a concept. Therefore, I think using ICAI in conjunction with a regular classroom teacher can be a powerful combination. It is a concern to see how much computers have influenced the way in which we live now. It seems as though the generation that is in K-12 school now is an entirely different set of students than when I was in school, and that is largely due to the infiltration of technology into many aspects of our everyday lives. I do believe that, in a way, the use of computers has made human being less intelligent as they begin to rely on technology and not think for themselves. Therefore, the use of machines should be limited in education due to various factors involved in teaching and the sensitivity of modeling the minds of children. The lack of a human being will have a direct impact on those students development and intelligence in much the same way that computers have already had an impact on students intelligence and social development. Significant strides have been made over the last decade in artificial intelligence, and to some extent, artificial intelligence is already present in the classroom in some of the available computerized programs. However, this technology cannot ever replace all the facets of the job that a teacher performs. Teachers deal with so many gray areas, such as discipline, on a daily basis that it would be difficult for a computer to ever fully replace a teacher.

Works Cited
Knight, W. (2012). Social Intelligence. Technology Review, 80-82. Thompson, C. (2010, June 16). What is I.B.M's Watson? The New York Times. Tiene, D., & Ingram, A. (2001). Exploring Current Issues in Educational Technology. Dubuque, IA: McGraw-Hill.