We frequently hear critics argue that U.S. students can’t write well and that there is a “literacy crisis” in the U.S. What is the origin of these discourses? What do they have to do with immigration, national security, and economics? How does the notion that Americans can’t write drive the national push to test writing? Here we explore the history of writing and testing in the U.S., the “science” and technology of testing approaches, and how the rhetoric of assessment impacts the lives of Americans today.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Watson: IBM's Super Duper Jeopardy-Playing Computer

I had been seeing a few IBM commercials lately for their newest super computer, "Watson". Watson was designed to play against real people on Jeopardy! using advanced technology that allows it to interpret the complex word play and abstract questions that Jeopardy is known for.

It made me think about how technology will affect future generations of students and teachers. A few decades into the future, if student's laptops have the capability to do what Watson does, how can teachers assign homework (as we know it today) and expect their students to do the work themselves. Simply type in the question and it will give you the answer. What about when this technology is incorporated into mobile phones. How will teachers test their students knowing that any one of them could be checking their "Iphone 3,000" to get the right answer.

Also, with Watson's ability to interpret and find the actual meaning behind a question or sentence, how long will it be before all students essays are graded by computers?

I'm sure there will be an infinite amount of ramifications other than the above.

I know this might seem like science fiction but with the exponential growth of technology, I would say it is only a matter of time.

Check out this video of Watson: http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/13/ibms-watson-supercomputer-destroys-all-humans-in-jeopardy-pract/
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2 comments:

Eddie said...

My favorite part of Watson's debut was when he repeated an incorrect answer that Ken Jennings had given. Since Watson can't hear (it relies on electrical signals), it didn't know that Jennings had already guessed the answer that it reported. In typical fashion, Alex Trebek dryly replied "Ken already tried that, Watson." Not so fast, evil cyber-intelligence unit.

February 17, 2011 at 9:32 PM
Kyle said...

I was thinking that when I watched this too. I think it would be a travesty if computers were used to grade papers and other writing assignments. Computers cannot understand style and might not pick up on word play or figures of speech. As for the difficulty of testing students hiding "iPhone 3000's" in their pockets I think it will be all the more important to ensure that the students do not bring technology into the classroom with them, just as schools try to enforce today.

March 2, 2011 at 11:42 PM

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