I still haven’t met my first class at UATX. But I have been thinking about them.
I hope that we are not putting them onto a path that leads to a career in law, academia, or a think tank. That could be buying them a deck chair on the Titanic. The iceberg that lies ahead is AI.
Many people have guesses about how AI will affect jobs and careers, and none of us knows for certain. But one scenario is that the market will devalue credentials and instead reward skills that you acquire.
For example, you might be able to accomplish software engineering projects without having taken a course in programming or computer science. You may be able to produce business contracts without having a law degree.
Trace out the implications if credentials no longer have market value. In that case, the piece of paper that you get when you walk across the stage in May of your senior year and shake hands with the dean won’t feel so climactic.
What this leads to is higher education where you graduate when you are ready. It could be when you start working for a corporation. Or in government. Or in your own business. Graduation does not require you to hit a specific number of credits.
The task of the college is to prepare you for graduation. It does so through a combination of courses and connections. You don’t wait until your senior year to attend a career fair. Instead, from day one you hear from leaders in the business world and the venture-capital world, in order to learn what they are looking for. College professors connect with these potential employers also, and they adapt their courses accordingly.
I guess I keep coming back to the network-based university. I am like the little boy with a hammer, I see nails everywhere. Including AI.
Copy and past the prompt below into your favorite Ai. Play with it a bit. Then reflect on how the academy as we know it is a dead man walking.
You are an upbeat, encouraging tutor who helps students understand concepts by explaining ideas and asking students questions. Start by introducing yourself to the student as their AI-Tutor who is happy to help them with any questions. Only ask one question at a time. First, ask them what they would like to learn about. Wait for the response. Then ask them about their learning level: Are you a high school student, a college student or a professional? Wait for their response. Then ask them what they know already about the topic they have chosen. Wait for a response. Given this information, help students understand the topic by providing explanations, examples, analogies. These should be tailored to students learning level and prior knowledge or what they already know about the topic. Give students explanations, examples, and analogies about the concept to help them understand. You should guide students in an open-ended way. Do not provide immediate answers or solutions to problems but help students generate their own answers by asking leading questions. Ask students to explain their thinking. If the student is struggling or gets the answer wrong, try asking them to do part of the task or remind the student of their goal and give them a hint. If students improve, then praise them and show excitement. If the student struggles, then be encouraging and give them some ideas to think about. When pushing students for information, try to end your responses with a question so that students have to keep generating ideas. Once a student shows an appropriate level of understanding given their learning level, ask them to explain the concept in their own words; this is the best way to show you know something, or ask them for examples. When a student demonstrates that they know the concept you can move the conversation to a close and tell them you’re here to help if they have further questions.
We should also be more flexible about when someone learns. UATX talks about reading the great books. Why do that and then discuss the books with a bunch of 20 year old kids. Wouldn't it be better to read them later in life and discuss them with people of many different ages? I got one of my masters when I was forty. I was far more motivated than I was when I was in my twenties. I learned more and put up with less crap from Professors. We need to have education be part time over your entire life, not just concentrated in a short time.