CONNECTIONS
In week one we learned about cognitive science, learning theory, and teaching theory and how artificial intelligence is able to do these things now and what they may be able to do in the future. When we discussed artificial intelligence we went into the aspects of human learning that we all thought would be hard for AI’s to learn. The biggest thing that I believe would be hard for AI’s to have is emotions because we are all different and everyone shows emotions differently. For instance, something that might make me cry would not make someone else do the same. Even if scientists were to use brain emulation which was mentioned in the video, The Rise of Artificial Intelligence, Off Book, PBS Digital, I would think that it would be impossible to program AI’s to have the type of emotions that humans possess. The fact that a human brain can be scanned and uploaded to a computer is both mind blowing and scary at the same time, as I am sure some of you will agree. We know now that artificial intelligence can be taught and that they can learn new things, but to what they can learn I believe is limited.
When we talked about the aspects of human learning called andragogy and pedagogy I made the argument that either one would not differ for a child or adult. We learned that andragogy is a teaching theory and that pedagogy is a learning theory. Both of these theories are just that which means that everyone is going to have their own opinions. I made the argument that be if we learn by what is around us and our brain is constantly developing information then why should age matter? Those of you who do not have children, nieces or nephews may not see my point of view, but trust me when I tell you, kids are like sponges and they really do absorb what they are surrounded by and learn from it. “By 4, a child's brain is more than twice as active as an adult's. The brain continues to consume glucose at this feverish pitch through age 10 and then slows down until age 16, when it levels off at adult values,”(Nadia 1993). This information helps me now that I have a baby because I know the importance of teaching her things now and reading to her. I know children are capable of learning and that it is important for my daughter to be surrounded by positive things.
In week two we talked about logic, rules and concept. To me logic is knowing what the conclusion to an idea is or knowing the answer to a problem. For instance, if I know that processed food is no good for me, the logic thing to do would be to buy fresh food and or organic. If I was a smoker and new that I could not afford my bad habit anymore, the logically thing to do would be to quit. I mean these are just some examples that I came up with for you, but I am sure you all have your own logically answers as well. When it comes to rules I am a stickler! I follow rules to the max and if others have the same rules as me I expect them to follow them as well. Nothing makes my blood boil more than when there are set rules and certain people do not follow them and get away with it. Rules are something that everyone adheres to and follows. Granted there are some rules that get broken and there might even be some people who don’t like rules, but they do exist and I think they are very important to have, from a child to an adult. Concepts are, “abstract idea or mental image and not all concepts have words,”(Ash 2016). If I understand the concept of something I can do it. For instance, if someone were to play monopoly with me I understand that the concept is to have the most property and money so I can play the game because I understand what the objective is. I have used logic, rules, and concept in both my job and schooling now as well as in the past. I am sure everyone would agree that all three have been part of their lives both present and future as well. When it comes to the concept of problem solving, this is something we are all faced with as well. In general, we all have bumps in the road that we have to deal with in life because no one’s live is perfect and when we are faced with those bumps, or problems, it is up to us to solve them. “Most decisions that an individual makes everyday are related to certain problems needed to be solved no matter how trivial or critical they are,” (Wang 2010 Para 1).
For the third week we all had to take a quiz to see what types of learners we are. It was interesting to see that I fall right in the middle for everything. I think it is good to have that balance but I also think that if you are more on one side than another, then it is something that can be learned. I felt that the results I had did min fact reflect my learning style. I like to have hands on when learning new things or starting a new job. I can be told what it is I need to do, but I need to just go ahead and do it to really get the concept. We are all capable of learning new things and if that is the case I do believe that it is possible to train my brain to be more of one of the other styles of learning, like the video, Brain Circuits: Harvard Medical School Researchers Crawl a Neural Network says, “How the mind works is one of the greatest mysteries of nature,”(Harvard Medical School 2011). I am able to use this information in my current position as an admissions counselor because I know now that I might speak with someone who is more visual than verbal or vice versa. I am sure this information helps all of us in different ways and in different aspects of our life.