Some Easy ways to Evaluate Learning in AI Age

 We talk about AI as if it's a villain. But plagiarism has been around long before AI happened. So what does a professor do now, to make out what's original learning from a student in his class?

There are many ways, I would think.  Some of these could be

-a Viva or oral test instead of an assignment which if it is take home, will almost certainly involve the use of AI.

-argumentative questions which require some justification of a stand taken on a controversial subject/situation, even in a case study

-ask for original stuff that AI cannot produce. 

-ask students to write something in class- not just in an exam, but regularly. If the class is large, it could be a group assignment.

-assign an AI analysis exercise where they get info from AI and then critique it for what it leaves out, or what students can add to it. Can be done in class.

Innovation in pedagogy/evaluation is always possible, to check a student's learning. 

Research Shows- 5

My research into the academic work shows-

That teaching-learning is effective only when it has a marketing orientation- not that students are customers.

I mean methods followed need to be appropriate for the students on hand. Tough projects for school kids are essentially done by parents or others, for example.

In-class work is as important as home work.. maybe more, as it can be directly supervised. 

Collaboration needs to be taught through examples, like group assignments.

Evaluation should be multi-modal, with a viva of some sort, or presentations, included.

Feedback should be honest, and if possible, constructive. 

Clear goals written in a course outline help.

Many teachers fail on some of the above.

 

PJ Hunting

Good PJs are virulent. They spread like a virus, I mean. They keep circulating in the virtual world, through mail, facebook, whatsapp, and what-have-you. They are an easy way to make people happy, though some will pretend to throw rotten tomatoes or make faces using various apps/emoticons.

Therefore, the hunt for good PJs is a worthwhile hunt. I saw a couple of good ones, but they are about Alia Bhatt. Since I don't want to go after the poor girl, I'll give them short shrift and try out some harmless (to her at least), original  ones-

Does appearing for a viva make you 'vivacious'?

Eating something in Delhi automatically makes it Delhicious.

How do you know whether your mali (gardener) is malicious?

Does lack of harmony do more harm than lack of mon(e)y? Refer to Cacophonix.

What happens when Yingluck is out of luck? Bang, she loses the throne under her Thai.

An old one from the archives- Good breakfasts are born, not bre(a)d.

Now some riddles/questions, to break the monotony (Mona, tum Tony ke saath mat sona. varna Monatony ho jaegi, to quote an Ajit joke).

1. How would 'Bat'man face a googly? (I don't have the answer) 
2. Why do cricket commentators and players use the word 'absolutely' without any reason? 
3. Who is the 'ullu' (owl) common to all the Idea ads about Ullu banaoing? This is an easy (level 1) riddle.