Valuing the Human Relationship in the Learning Process

Last week I had the pleasure of adjudicating a Year 7 debate as part of the House Debating which commenced recently. The standard of the girls’ debating was outstanding, especially since this was, for some of them, their first serious competitive debate. It was an impressive demonstration of the intelligence and wit of our young girls, and a reflection of the efforts of the teachers who prepared them for the challenges in this demanding enterprise. Public speaking and public argument is one of the hallmarks of a civilised society and has been for thousands of years. Maybe this is all about to change.

Dr Alan Finkel AO, Australia’s Chief Scientist, speaking at the 2018 Samuel Alexander Lecture, presented a thought-provoking speech about artificial intelligence (AI). He started with the contention that giving a speech, presenting an argument through language, with logic and persuasion, is the very pinnacle of human intelligence. The company IBM, is famous around the world for its technology and especially the groundbreaking moment when one of their computers ‘Deep Blue’, beat chess grand master Gary Kasparov in 2004. Until that moment, it was thought impossible that a machine could win a game of chess against the best human minds in the world. Since then, technological advancements have raced along at blinding speed.

We have seen in recent times the introduction of AI in the form of ‘Google Home’, and Amazon’s ‘Alexa’. These extraordinary devices which appear to think, are pushing boundaries like never before. The controversial ‘Aristotle’ by Mattel was pulled from release due to privacy concerns. IBM’s latest foray into the world of AI is ‘Project Debater’, which is actually able to engage in a formal debate with people, and win!

In education, a Chinese company has developed an ‘Intelligent Classroom Behaviour Management System’ which uses facial recognition technology to scan a classroom every 30 seconds, to identify levels of engagement, being on task and working diligently. A brave new world indeed.

At St Catherine’s, technology is seen as a valuable tool to assist in the teaching and learning process. It is not a substitute for teaching and thinking. Technology such as Project Debater raises some interesting issues to consider, but at the heart of a school is the relationship between teacher and student which is vital and something technology should and must not replace.

Dr Finkel sums it up beautifully,

“When you look back to your school days, you remember not a technology, but a teacher. A human. A person who held your attention not with a screen, but with the thrill of discovering that yes, I can learn. Yes, I can get better if I practise. Yes I have a brain and I’m going to use it. You fell in love with learning because a teacher believed you could.”

At St Catherine’s we value the human relationship in the learning process. Watching our Year 7 girls struggle with the demands of engaging in a public debate, is exactly the rigorous endeavour which will help them grow and become intelligent and resilient individuals.