Don't Go Chasing Waterfalls
Thoughts about AI in Education Inspired by a Family Vacation
I was at Niagara Falls on vacation last week. If you’ve never been, it’s a pretty awe-inspiring sight. Some people might decry it as a tourist trap, but my take is that it’s a tourist trap for a reason—it’s worth seeing in person!
The water thunders constantly over the drop of 167 feet—about the height of a 15 story building. More than 700,000 gallons of water flow over the falls every second. My science teacher brain understands how rivers and waterfalls work, but there was still a part of me that said, “Look at all that water being wasted!” :-) The truth is, none of it is “wasted,” and the massive movement of the raging water goes to good use generating hydroelectric power that energizes much of southern Ontario and New York state.
But I couldn’t help but think of all the people in history who thought it was a good idea to go over these falls in a barrel (yes, that really happened) or walk across the falls on a tightrope (yes, that really happened too, as early as the 1850s, and even up to recent history.) The danger is real, but it’s quite a spectacle!
But this has me thinking about educational technology too—probably no surprise to you all. I’m teaching a course called “Emerging Technologies” right now for Master of Education students, and we’re focusing on AI in education at the moment. And we’re looking to understand both the potential and the pitfalls of embracing new technologies, and trying to find ways to capitalize on the benefits while avoiding the dangers that can be hard to see from the beginning.
Maybe you know the 90s R&B song “Waterfalls” by TLC? The lyrics of the chorus go like this:
Don't go chasing waterfalls
Please stick to the rivers and the lakes that you're used to
I know that you're gonna have it your way or nothing at all
But I think you're moving too fast
That last bit about “moving too fast” is where my brain is right now after spending time at Niagara Falls this week—I wonder if some of us are moving too fast when it comes to AI in education?
Or maybe, are we headed over the falls in a barrel?
I’m no luddite, but I am a technophilic EdTech skeptic. As much as I love technology, my studies of the history of technology in education make me a little skeptical of the headlong rush to embrace emerging technologies too quickly. There is always something we give up as we innovate and enfold new technologies into our lives. And rushing into things uncritically can lead to the law of unintended consequences rearing it’s ugly head. I think there are some who are so quick to want to be “first” in this AI world that they aren’t considering the real potential for destructive downsides to the headlong acceptance of every new innovation?
Maybe there is wisdom in watching the waterfall of AI from behind the railing, rather than hopping into the barrel for a jarring, jostling, and potentially-lethal trip over the edge? And if we are going to take the plunge, maybe a little planning ahead could help us navigate the adventure with a little more careful strategizing?
I certainly think there is a lot of potential for AI in education today, and I hope that teachers and students alike will learn, investigate, create, and develop capacities to use AI. But how we do this matters. Let’s be a little thoughtful, a little reflective, a little mission-minded as we explore how AI is changing the landscape of teaching and learning.
Dave’s Faves
Here are three things I’m absolutely loving right now that I hope you might love too…
Dave’s Fave #1: Being whimsical in Dordt promotional materials
I had a request from the summer interns in the marketing department: “Dr. Mulder, would you be in a TikTok video giving us a tour of your office?” Who am I to say no…
You can see the video on TikTok or on YouTube, if you’re interested. :-)
Dave’s Fave #2: Materialists
I love watching films, but I don’t get to the cinema too regularly anymore—I stream most of the things I watch these days. But my wife and I recently went out to a movie while on a date, and we picked Materialists. I loved this film!
Lucy (Dakota Johnson) is a modern day matchmaker in New York City, and views her work as arranging important business transactions; she sees making matches that end in marriage as “closing the deal” in a way that mutually satisfies both parties. Along the way, she falls for a wealthy, handsome client (Pedro Pascal), and ends up in a relationship with him. But along the way, she re-encounters her ex-boyfriend, a poor, struggling actor (Chris Evans) and remembers the way their relationship brought her a lot of joy…even though there were a lot of tensions as they fought over money. Throughout the rest of the film we see Lucy’s personal reactions unfolding as she responds to these two very different men with very different things they bring to a relationship. And conflicting worldviews of what makes a “successful” relationship are on full-display in a way that shows the vulnerability of dating in your thirties in the contemporary age.
The film is visually striking, with lots of long scenes where the camera doesn’t cut, so you see the talent of these actors to carry on what feels like a very real conversation between their characters. Likewise, the music and sound effects are very subtle—the filmmakers were able to center the conversations between the characters as the key aspect to moving the story forward. This is a super-talented cast, and they conveyed the story with conviction—I really wasn’t sure how the film would wrap up until the last five minutes, which is a delight in an age of predictable, formulaic films. Materialists might not be for everyone (it’s a relationship film, with all the “relationship” stuff you might expect—though nothing explicit) and it’s definitely not a RomCom, but it will almost certainly encourage you to think about relationships and the things you prioritize. Two thumbs up from Dr. Dave!
Dave’s Fave #3: “Music I Listened to in College”
My taste in music has grown ever more eclectic as I get older, but here’s a throwback playlist for you—mostly 90s rock and alternative—imaginatively named “Music I Listened to in College.” (Because, you know, it was the mid-90s.) It’s funny…most of the songs on here have a specific memory attached to them for me. Do you have music like that? Drop a comment to share a song with a memory!
The Last Word!
The last word today is a picture, since a picture is worth a thousand words, as the old saying goes. I hope this brings you a smile today—and is an encouragement to be a little whimsical and joy-bringing yourself!
Ants Marching became my jam in like 2021, so I was a little late to the party
Amen, well stayed!