Ed3 Weekly Issue #95: What Do the Students Say?
Time to listen to a student's perspective on AI
Hello Ed3 Community!
With educational buzzwords and tech trends constantly flying around us, are we forgetting the most important voices in the room: the students themselves? Our featured article this week is a chance to listen to a student perspective on how technology impacts their learning experience.
Rote memorization and standardized tests are now being challenged by a generation of students comfortable navigating the digital world. In this issue we highlight how these methods, easily exploited by artificial intelligence (AI), fail to equip students with the critical thinking and problem-solving skills crucial in the AI age.
This echoes the concerns raised in the "AI-Powered Analysis" article, which explores the challenges of integrating AI effectively in training design. The article underscores the need to address pain points faced by instructional designers and managers, ensuring its integration doesn't simply layer over outdated learning systems.
We’ll also explore the crucial role of digital balance. Before imposing restrictions on students' screen time, "Teaching Digital Balance" encourages us to reflect on our own digital habits. Children learn by imitating adults, so setting a healthy example and intentionally integrating technology are key. This resonates with the student voice, highlighting the need for an education system that fosters critical thinking, not just passive consumption.
See the summaries below to learn more about each resource as well as an additional ariflce on A Beginner’s Guide to the ERC-404 Token Standard.
I hope these resources are a reminder that technology can be a powerful tool, but only if we use it to transform, not simply add layers to, existing systems. Our focus should be on creating a learning environment that empowers students to think critically, solve problems, and thrive in the face of constant change.
📰 Featured Articles:
🤖 AI-Powered Analysis: This article is about a free AI & Training Design Masterclass to explore how AI impacts training design, delivery, and evaluation. It identifies pain points and questions across different roles: instructional designers struggle with AI integration and content relevance, and management faces challenges with strategy and ROI.
🪙 A Beginner’s Guide to the ERC-404 Token Standard: A new ERC token standard, ERC-404, is gaining traction. It combines ERC-20 and ERC-721 features, allowing fractionalized NFTs and native monetization options. While not official yet, ERC-404 tokens like Pandora are already listed on exchanges and show promising potential.
🤳 Teaching Digital Balance: It Starts With Us, Not Them: This article urges adults to examine their digital habits before restricting children's screen time, highlighting how children learn by replicating adult behavior and suggesting AI requires intentional integration rather than unchecked consumption.
🧑🎓 STUDENT VOICE: Teachers assign us work that relies on rote memorization, then tell us not to use artificial intelligence: A high school student argues that standardized tests and rote memorization prevalent in current education are ineffective and easy for AI to exploit. They propose project-based learning that encourages critical thinking and problem-solving skills, which are crucial in the AI age and cannot be replaced by AI.
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Student Challenges Rote Learning, Calls for AI-Proof Education Reform
Image generated by Adobe Firefly
In this article, a high school student challenges the traditional education system, highlighting their susceptibility to AI exploitation. He argues that these methods stifle critical thinking and problem-solving skills, essential in the AI-driven future where jobs requiring those skills are less replaceable. The author proposes a shift towards project-based learning, emphasizing collaboration, real-world problem-solving, and scientific research application.
The article represents the important student voice in the debate on the role of AI in education, with some educators suggesting tools to detect AI usage. In contrast, others advocate for a systemic reform toward fostering critical thinking and creativity. The core tension lies in balancing equipping students with foundational knowledge and nurturing the higher-order cognitive skills crucial in an AI-infused world.
I hope that viewpoints like this can prompt educators, policymakers, and stakeholders to critically examine the current education system and envision a future where learning empowers students to thrive in the face of technological advancements.
Thank you for stopping by for another issue of my web3🤝education newsletter. If you’re on LinkedIn you can check out a version of this newsletter on my LinkedIn page and give me a follow. You can also link to all my work by checking out my website or give me a follow on the X platform.