This past week, we were visited (virtually via Zoom), by Kirsten Thompson, the Coordinator of ICT for Mountain View School Division. Kirsten highlighted the inequity of internet access in relation to remote learning within Manitoba. The discussion and interaction throughout the presentation was engaging and thought provoking as an aspiring teacher. In my previous blog post, I mentioned how the internet is taken for granted all over the world, but what if the internet where you live is extremely slow and lacking in reliability? I live in Boissevain, MB and our internet is reliable, fast and can perform at sufficient speeds. I never thought of others who live on farms, in remote communities and those who cannot afford reliable internet in my last post. When I sit here and think about internet inequity, I think of students who struggle with attending online class or participating in remote learning, which at this time is incredibly important in the face of a worldwide pandemic. In my own experience with remote learning, I've been fortunate enough to have access to reliable internet. I have had professors who do not have sufficient internet however, and have asked us to come to class with our cameras off so they can proceed with class. I couldn't imagine teaching students - in middle school or university - and not putting a name to their face. The inequity of internet access needs to be addressed and should not be an issue in the 21st century.
I want to switch gears and talk about how my current part-time job could be handled by a robot and the pros and cons of switching roles.
I reflected, not on whether technology could replace the role of a teacher, but on my current part-time employment as a salesperson at Pringles' Sports Excellence. My role at Pringles' is to assist customers, order new inventory, advertise on social media, and sharpen hockey skates - among a list of other duties. What I bring to the table in comparison to a robot is people skills like small talk, being welcoming, and being humorous whenever possible. A robot would have the ability to sharpen skates - as seen in this video - but would require human assistance to set-up and to press start. As for ordering new inventory, it takes reports on how certain items have sold versus how they have not and an eye for picking out items that are considered to be "in-style". Of course a robot could assist customers based off of an automated program, but the presence of having an in-person salesperson helping customers could never be matched. Robots can exist in our society and in some cases, it makes sense to have robots working throughout our various industries. In the retail world, people will continue to hold the role of sales because of their ability to be personable, humorous and likeable.
Hey Matt,
ReplyDeleteAwesome connection to your own job. I absolutely would need help in a sports store and a machine would be incredibly frustrating to deal with. A robot would not be able to be specific and tailor their suggestions to my exact needs. I need you guys! I think it's the same in class. Sure there are tons of things a machine can replace us for but being specific with students, personalizing curriculum, differentiating lessons? That requires a human touch.
As technology advances it wouldn't be so crazy to see robots handling various different jobs. I have a tough time they would be able to replace our jobs completely, as the creativity and importance of human discussion is irreplaceable. I definitely agree on using AI as assistants to humans, that would be very useful in a classroom full of 25 students.
ReplyDeleteHi Matt,
ReplyDeleteYou made a good point when talking about how some people struggle with having slower internet. I often forget to think about that and when I was teaching remotely I had some students who would never turn on their cameras. I would get frustrated but now I can see that maybe they needed to have it off in order for them to attend class and get the information I was teaching. You are also right, robots could never replace the great costumer service humans can provide! Great post Matt, can't wait to see what else you have to say!
Thank you for your review Matt. The reality is that many teachers, and students, have been unable to put a face to a name due to the challenges brought forth by the pandemic. I pleased to hear that the connectivity in your experiences has not brought forth issues for you. I appreciate your reflection on your personal niche.
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