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Use Teachers Wisdom And Not AI For Grading Students



An interesting question was posed on twitter yesterday “Is teacher vs. algorithm the next culture war?”. Of course, this was a reaction to the enormous stooshie that is happening with the awarding of exam grades. In Scotland, the outrage was so much that the Government had to step in or step back depending on how you want to spin it and junk AI results and go back to the teacher recommendations.


I am not about to wade into the arguments about the pro and cons of using AI-algorithms to decide outcomes. This twitter thread will give a good overview of the grading scandal. Our whole world is now dominated by a computer using algorithms to remember that particular pale ale you like to drink on Friday night while listening to obscure French stoner rock bands from the late 1960s. For the most part, the addition of having AI in our lives has been a welcome one, for me, mostly discovering bands on YouTube. I have, however, yet to succumb to the temptation of using any of the digital assistants. I am aware that my data is being harvested, stored in some vast database by some Evil Tech Media Gaint no matter how much I try to avoid it. I can at least limit their harvesting to clicking things on the Internet and the fact that I was in the pub on Friday. Also, I enjoy arguing with my wife about whether or not a certain actor was in that rubbish TV show, without some digital voice telling me I am very much mistaken.


I think, though, that we are relying too much on AI-algorithms for things that do require a more nuanced perspective. There was a quote I remember from Msc Multimedia course days about being able to teach intelligence but not wisdom. Intelligent people can design and programme what looks like brilliant AI. It is never going to be wise, though. Programming wisdom is a whole level of complexity that is still in the realms of sci-fi fantasy.


The upside to the algorithm grading scandal was it revealed the uncomfortable biases in our education system. Pooer areas with large classes had more of their grades reduced. In contrast, private schools were mostly unaffected. I would like to think that this was not a deliberate ploy, more an oversight in its application. Twitter is a swirl of conspiracies, some are entirely plausible, and then you have to remember its Twitter.


I know nothing about today’s schools. My only reference point to this was my experience when I was at school in the 1980s. I failed every exam bar one. I had a terrible attitude at school and paid the price. Most of my teachers went out on a limb with me and let me progress on my chosen courses. I remember going to the teachers I got on with and begging to get on their courses. I am not sure how they managed to swing the appeals. However, they did, and I am forever grateful. If I had been reliant on some algorithm, I would have been a goner that is for sure.


My suggestion is that we should always let teachers be the primary arbitrators on grading. Let’s leave the AI to figuring out our favourite IPA’s and random stoner rock band.

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