Skepticism
Skepticism:
Several interviewees called out that the K-12 system has long defied predictions, from the calculator to the internet, that it will be fundamentally transformed by technology. But the last decade of ed tech adoption has not translated into better learning outcomes. We also heard well-founded concerns that AI could ultimately increase, rather than reduce, inequities in learning opportunities for students of different backgrounds.
Kaya Henderson
Executive Vice President and Executive Director, Center for Rising Generations at the Aspen Institute
“I guess one of the things that really influences how I think about this is, every major technological innovation from the television to computers to whiteboards (remember those?) to whatever… were supposed to disrupt education and pretty much none of them have.”
Stephen Pinker
Professor of Psychology, Harvard University
“It’s very hard to predict because as with any new technology we don't really know how people will integrate it into their lives and work…so this is just a confession of massive uncertainty...and also the K through 12 [system] has been in many ways surprisingly resistant to changes that could have been argued for a century ago.”
David Coleman
CEO, College Board
“If we do not preserve the very notion of student intensive practice…and engagement, they will not learn things…we must make sure that AI does not shortcut learning. … if you don't do the work, your muscles and your brain does not grow.”
Aimée Eubanks Davis
Founder and CEO, Braven
“One of the biggest challenges I see for education is that we could actually end up with a less literate population, a population that is not thinking critically nearly as much if we aren't very, very thoughtful about how do we make sure that all students have access to actually the ability to learn how to read, write, and think for themselves.”
Daniel Willingham
Professor of Psychology, University of Virginia
“Those of us who've been in education for a while have no patience left for hearing those promises about tech solutions, and the disadvantages of the accessibility of AI have been immediate and obvious to everyone, and profound.”