Developments in AI, robotics and big data are changing the nature of
education. Yet the implications of these technologies for the teaching
profession are uncertain. While most educators remain convinced of the
need for human teachers, outside the profession there is growing
anticipation of a technological reinvention of the ways in which
teaching and learning take place.
Through an examination of technological developments such as autonomous
classroom robots, intelligent tutoring systems, learning analytics and
automated decision-making, Neil Selwyn highlights the need for nuanced
discussions around the capacity of AI to replicate the social, emotional
and cognitive qualities of human teachers. He pushes conversations about
AI and education into the realm of values, judgements and politics,
ultimately arguing that the integration of any technology into society
must be presented as a choice.
Should Robots Replace Teachers? is a must-read for anyone interested
in the future of education and work in our increasingly automated times.