Week 14
5 May : Futures of Reading (and of Writing and Teaching)
Subject: As we have seen this semester, not only we are able to “speed read” using algorithms–counting many thousands of features in written language–but algorithms are also able to generate writing and to “read” us.
Format: This week will be entirely asynchronous. We will have a couple fora open for discussing the readings. There will be expanded virtual office hours.
To read:
“How Amazon Tracked my Last Two Years of Reading”
“The Machines Are Learning, So Are the Students”
“Why We Don’t Read – Revisited” (also in Drive)
“World Reading Habits”
“The Bestseller-ometer, or, How Text Mining Might Change Publishing” (in Drive)
“Ten Roles for AI in Education”
“What’s the Future of AI in Education? 17 Experts Share Their Insights”
To watch:
A Trump Speech Written by AI (New Yorker)
This Short Film is Written Entirely by AI (McConnell)
AI and the Future of Education Systems (Schindlholzer)
Optional Class suggested outline:
– Review of what we did this term
– Distant Horizons (Underwood)’s 4 points: the risk of forgetting pleasure; the risk of preoccupation with technology; the missing curricular foundation; an addiction to distant reading
– Breakout rooms (groups of 3 or 4) – 15 mins
– Questions: (1) Pick a hands on exercise today and discuss how it relates to the future of reading (writing, teaching, learning). (2) List 3 of your favorite points in the readings/videos. What do you think about them? (3) Choose your favorite role for AI and education (from Ten Roles or Future of AI). Why is it your favorite? Have you noticed it happening this semester?
– Share back
– End
Quick writing: In forum #1, check in with a very few brief thoughts about any of the readings and what you think the future of reading might be like. If you were going to write a screenplay, novel or some form of speculative fiction about university students in 2030, what kinds of “assisted reading” would you feature those students doing? Feel free to include a diagram or hand-drawn sketch.
In forum #2, check in with a very few brief thoughts about any of the readings and what you think the future of teaching might be like. What would teachers be like? Where would they be located? What kinds of interactions would you be allowed to have with them? What kinds of work would you be asked to do as a student? How might teachers be evaluating your work? Did the disruptive moment of COVID this semester provide you with any insight into these?
Blog 5: Write a note to a family member in non-technical language about what you learned in this course. What did you learn? Why was it difficult? Use some of the material from this week’s “futures of reading” conversation in your letter, but be sure to translate it for a very general audience. Feel free to include visuals, even a scanned or photographed hand-drawn image (due: 14 May)