Friday News Roundup

Today is the 25^th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. My, what a different world we live in today.

Here’s your Friday News Roundup:

Global Test Scores Hit New Lows – Just as AI Takes Hold in Schools (The 74)

Low reading and math scores aren’t just an American problem.

The 74 reported this week that,

“Students around the world continue to fall further and further behind in the core subjects of reading and math, according to the release of scores from a widely cited standardized test…. Meanwhile, their use of artificial intelligence tools for academic reasons has climbed precipitously.

“The ongoing slide in all but a few countries – exceptions include perennial overachievers like Singapore, Taiwan, and Japan, but also the European states of England and Estonia – indicated that the U.S. is subject to the same educational trends influencing the rest of the world. Clearly, it is not alone in suffering through a ‘learning recession’ that began over a decade ago. Likewise, survey response included with the PISA report show that students overseas are just as willing as their American counterparts to rely on AI chatbots: Far fewer than half of respondents across 82 participating jurisdictions said they used AI ‘never or almost never’ for purposes related to schoolwork.”

Two takeaways here: First, there is a new type of learning that has made its appearance around the world, one that prioritizes human ability to use technology to assist in their learning. This will become more and more prevalent over time. Second, this new type of learning will require a new system of learning, one that emphasizes the importance of a personalized learning plan for every individual learner.

AI Is Working Its Way Into Everything. Can School Districts Really Ban It? (EducationWeek)

No need to summarize this article.

The answer is and will continue to be – No, school districts will not be able to ban it moving forward.

These Parents Want to Opt Their Kids Out of Ed Tech. Can They Win in Court? (Education Week)

So if school districts won’t be able to ban AI, can parents stop AI by taking it to the courthouse?

According to EducationWeek this week,

“The tech backlash in schools has entered the courthouse.”

“Seven Pennsylvania families have sued their Philadelphia-area school district seeking to be able to opt their children out of required use of school computers, such as take-home Google Chromebooks and Apple iPads.”

“In addition to arguing the internet-connected devices expose their children to distractions and dangerous content, they say that officials in the 8,600-student Lower Merion school district declined to honor an opt-out policy and ‘contrived’ to withdraw it.”

The group of parents are trying out a parental rights claim that’s typically applied to disputes over curriculum materials and gender disclosure. This time, though, it’s being applied to educational technology.

ABPTL will be away until Monday, September 21^st. Til then. SVB