I read a previous post of yours a week ago which made me mildly curious, but this was awesome (we don’t use that term much in the UK, so I mean it very positively). I’ve written over 20 revision guides and this has made me rethink. I’d love to show you one to get some feedback, but either way, this post will continue to help me. Thanks!
Very "colourful" and useful post MP. It's also interesting to think about these issues in the context of generative AI, which I've started to imagine as "quasi-textbooks on demand."
Forgetting the quality of the explanations, right now generative AI requires a great deal of active engagement from the learner. I've used AI to help explain concepts in papers or articles, and it's not bad, but you have to prompt them for everything. It's the "on demand" part that is tricky, because I think most readers won't do a great deal of "demanding" when they're reading -- after all, it creates additional reading.
I like the idea that generative AI could eventually be fed a block of text and easily and cheaply produce (and evaluate) basic comprehension questions. I think that's possible and the tech will get there soon.
I'm most excited about the possibility of AI as a practice space for conversations and debates. I really want to be able to practice conversational languages I'm trying to learn with an AI -- that sounds like a blast, frankly.
When you described the astronomy text it brought back a bit of PTSD. Why? Well as you may remember Ethan struggled with math in high school. The district's response was to put him in lower level math classes where he was given text books riddled with side bars and colorful illustrations and tons of text. For him given his dyslexia and processing it was too much. And he continued to struggle with Algebra until he landed at Middlesex Community College where there was an MIT alum, who I suspect was on the spectrum, who had poured his soul into making material for a hybrid online-unperson class. I knew as soon as I saw the worksheets he had made that his class was going to work for Ethan. The material was simple and straight forward. It shared elements of Saxon Math. Despite having a fever of over 100 Ethan got an A on the final and for the first time after trying for 4 years he passed Algebra. Just my thought. I loved Saxon Math and used it with Isaac. My attitude was the textbook should teach the basics and then the teacher (which was me when I homeschooled Isaac that year) could show the fun after the basics were mastered.
I read a previous post of yours a week ago which made me mildly curious, but this was awesome (we don’t use that term much in the UK, so I mean it very positively). I’ve written over 20 revision guides and this has made me rethink. I’d love to show you one to get some feedback, but either way, this post will continue to help me. Thanks!
Good thought provoking post. Just bought your book and looking forward to diving into it over break.
Very "colourful" and useful post MP. It's also interesting to think about these issues in the context of generative AI, which I've started to imagine as "quasi-textbooks on demand."
Forgetting the quality of the explanations, right now generative AI requires a great deal of active engagement from the learner. I've used AI to help explain concepts in papers or articles, and it's not bad, but you have to prompt them for everything. It's the "on demand" part that is tricky, because I think most readers won't do a great deal of "demanding" when they're reading -- after all, it creates additional reading.
I like the idea that generative AI could eventually be fed a block of text and easily and cheaply produce (and evaluate) basic comprehension questions. I think that's possible and the tech will get there soon.
I'm most excited about the possibility of AI as a practice space for conversations and debates. I really want to be able to practice conversational languages I'm trying to learn with an AI -- that sounds like a blast, frankly.
When you described the astronomy text it brought back a bit of PTSD. Why? Well as you may remember Ethan struggled with math in high school. The district's response was to put him in lower level math classes where he was given text books riddled with side bars and colorful illustrations and tons of text. For him given his dyslexia and processing it was too much. And he continued to struggle with Algebra until he landed at Middlesex Community College where there was an MIT alum, who I suspect was on the spectrum, who had poured his soul into making material for a hybrid online-unperson class. I knew as soon as I saw the worksheets he had made that his class was going to work for Ethan. The material was simple and straight forward. It shared elements of Saxon Math. Despite having a fever of over 100 Ethan got an A on the final and for the first time after trying for 4 years he passed Algebra. Just my thought. I loved Saxon Math and used it with Isaac. My attitude was the textbook should teach the basics and then the teacher (which was me when I homeschooled Isaac that year) could show the fun after the basics were mastered.