From Algorithm Worship to the Art of Human Learning: Insights from 50-year journey of AI in Education

Current discourse surrounding Artificial Intelligence (AI) oscillates between hope and apprehension, painting a future where AI reshapes every facet of human life, including Education. This paper delves into the complexities of AI's role in Education, addressing the mixed messages that have both enthused and alarmed educators, policymakers, and the public. It explores the promises that AI holds for enhancing learning through personalisation at scale, against the backdrop of concerns about ethical implications, the devaluation of non-STEM subjects, and the potential transformative impact on our neurocognitive and socio-emotional functioning. Drawing on recent research and global discourse, the paper seeks to unpack the reasons behind the vagueness of current discussions on AI in Education (AIED) and the implications of this ambiguity for future educational practices and policies. By highlighting insights from educational research and synthesising evidence-based best practices in AIED, the aim is to provide a clearer understanding of how AI technologies can be aligned with the fundamental principles of learning and teaching, and explore what concrete actions may need to be prioritised now to truly enhance learning experiences and outcomes for all in the future.Comment: 12 pages; opinion piec

Building trust: How farmers manage social interactions in their home communities

Large-scale livestock production has become controversial because of the perceived threats it poses to socially important values like environmental integrity, quality of life/community well-being, and animal welfare. All of these things are subject to control by the managers of livestock production operations, whom others depend on to act with fiduciary responsibility. In many cases, the public has become skeptical as to the rigor with which this responsibility is carried out. This study asks the question, how do large-scale hog farmers\u27 perceptions of public concerns about such potential risks affect their social interactions with their neighbors and other community members? To answer this question, this thesis will examine the following points, using data from qualitative interviews with hog farmers from Iowa: 1) What are the concerns about large-scale pork production, and how do farmers perceive those concerns? 2) How do farmers\u27 relationships with agricultural institutions affect their perceptions of public concerns about large-scale livestock production, as well as their risk management decisions? 3) What do farmers do to build trust among their neighbors and to foster reciprocal relationships? Drawing on social exchange theory and concepts of risk and recreancy, I argue that farmers\u27 relationships with agricultural institutions encourage them to adopt a technical approach to risk management. However, farmers recognize that this approach is inadequate for building trust among their neighbors--a necessary component of relationships that may be affected by the implementation of a controversial innovation like large-scale hog production. Subsequently, they try to compensate for this shortcoming by attempting to build trust through civic engagement and interaction with their neighbors. They do so to help demonstrate that they share similar values with their neighbors, and thus that they can be trusted to appropriately manage their hog production operations, too

A standardized and safe method of sterile field maintenance during intra-operative horizontal plane fluoroscopy

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Intra-operative fluoroscopy for orthopaedic procedures frequently involves imaging in the horizontal plane, which requires the lower portion of the C-arm (x-ray tube) to be rotated from an unsterile zone (beneath the table) into the sterile field. To protect the integrity of the sterile field the C-arm must be draped repeatedly throughout the surgical case. The current, un-standardized, practice employs draping procedures which violate the Association of peri-Operative Registered Nurses (AORN) Standards and Recommended Practices, waste time and material, and pose an increased risk for surgical site infection.</p> <p>Presentation of the hypothesis</p> <p>Use of a novel sterile C-arm drape (C-armor) that maintains the integrity of the sterile field, will improve operating room efficiency and reduce surgical site infection risk factors. This reduction in risk factors may potentially reduce surgical site infections in orthopaedic surgical cases requiring repeated horizontal x-ray imaging.</p> <p>Testing the Hypothesis</p> <p>Savings in time and material and the reduction in surgical site infection risk factors afforded by using C-armor are intuitive to those skilled in the practice of orthopaedic surgery. Testing for a reduction in the number of microorganisms introduced to the surgical site by improved C-arm draping would be challenging due to the multiple confounding factors during a surgical operation. Determination of an absolute reduction in surgical site infections may be possible, but will require accounting for many confounding variables and a large study sample in order to achieve statistical significance.</p> <p>Implications of the Hypothesis</p> <p>Improved intraoperative workflow, healthcare savings and a reduction in surgical site infection risk factors will be achieved by utilizing a standardized and safe method of sterile field maintenance during intra-operative horizontal plane fluoroscopy.</p

Planning-based Social Partners for Children with Autism

This paper describes the design and implementation of a planning-based socially intelligent agent built to help young children with Autism Spectrum Conditions acquire social communication skills. We explain how planning technology allowed us to satisfy agent’s design requirements that we identified through our consultations with children and carers and through a review of best practices for autism intervention.We discuss the design principles implemented, the engineering challenges faced and the lessons learned from building our pedagogical agent. We conclude by presenting substantial experimental results concerning the agent’s efficacy

Using k-anonymization for registry data: pitfalls and alternatives

We describe an applied study of ICT students' employment in Estonia based on data from two national registries. The study offered an opportunity to compare results from both k-anonymised data as well as those from the novel Sharemind platform for privacy-preserving statistical computing, which offers a way to use confidential data for research without loss of information. Comparison of results using k-anonymized and lossless data indicate substantial differences in estimates of students' employment rates. The results illustrate, on the basis of a real-world study, how the effects of k-anonymization can lead to considerable bias in estimates. While privacy-preserving computing does entail inconveniences because original microdata is not revealed to the statistician, this can be offset by greater confidence in the results

Studies on the embryology, ecology and evolution of sea turtles in the Eastern Mediterranean

1-) The temperature of sea turtle nests in the Eastern Mediterranean was between 24 and 35 "C and rose by up to 10 "C during incubation. 2-) The mean incubation temperature can be used for estimating the incubation period but provides a poor prediction of sex ratio. 3-) The mean temperature during the middle third of the incubation period was closely correlated with the percent sex ratio. 4-) There was a female dominated sex ratio among the 22 nests and only one loggerhead turtle nest showed less than a 50 % female sex ratio. 5-) There was a consistent temperature difference within the nest with top eggs warmer, bottom eggs cooler and middle ones intermediate. Therefore the majority of hatchlings 11'0111 [he top level in nests were females and those from the bottom level were predominantly males. 6-) Temperature differences within the nest also influenced the rate of development; the greater the difference in temperature between top and bottom the longer the time required to complete hatching of all embryos of the nest. The hatching intervals of green turtle nests were shorter than those at loggerhead turtle nests. Temperature variation between top and bottom of nests was low within green turtle nests. In general, a 1 "C temperature difference within the clutch caused a 4 day range in both hatching and emergence of hatchlings. 7-) Since the temperature within the nest and between the nests was so variable, sand air or sea water temperatures gave a poor prediction of the temperature of a nest and therefore the sex ratio. 8-) Although the predation pattern of sea turtle nests varied in relation to nest age, this predation can be reduced by screening the nest with mesh grids.9-) lnundation was one of the main abiotic factors lowering the hatching success on the beaches. Hatching success can be increased by relocating the nests to a safer area on the night of laying 10-) The mean grain sizes of sand ranged from 0.49 to 2.20 phi(<!»on 10 beaches but hatching success was not related to mean grain size of sand on the beaches. 11-) Simple embryonic staging of Mediterranean sea turtles was developed after measuring Cl set of selected morphological characteristics. The frequency of gross abnormalities among the samples was also calculated. Most common abnormalities were supernumerary and subnumerary scutes, albinos, head and jaw abnormalities and twinning l2-) The heavy metal concentrations III the tissues (yolk, liver and eggshell) of loggerhead turtle eggs and hatchlings were analysed. The concentrations of mercury, cadmium, lead, iron and copper were highest in the liver, while zinc concentrations were highest in the yolk. The concentrations of metals were similar on different beaches, except for lead concentrations in the eggshells, which varied between sites. 13 -) The genetic structure of loggerhead turtle samples from Cyprus exhibited haplotype B and green turtle samples haplotype XIII. No additional haplotypes were found. The presence of only single haplotypes suggests little variation in genetics within the Mediterranean and that these population were recently established by a small number of immigrants from the Atlantic

Sex ratio estimations of Chelonia mydas hatchlings at Samandağ Beach, Turkey

Samandağ Beach, an important nesting location for endangered green turtles (Chelonia mydas), is located at the most eastern part of the Mediterranean in Turkey. Hatchling sex ratio can be one of the key factors for green turtle protection, which is under the threat of global climate change. In this study, sex ratios of hatchlings were estimated by histological examination of dead hatchlings (n = 190) and by nest temperatures (n = 14) at Samandağ Beach between the 2003 and 2007 nesting seasons. The histological examination of dead C. mydas hatchlings and temperature-recorded nests indicated a female-biased sex ratio on Samandağ Beach. By histological examination, top and bottom levels of nests were recorded as 94% and 64% of females. Sex ratios during the middle third of the incubation period ranged from 39% to 97% for females with a mean of 74%. Distance from the sea was correlated with the middle third of incubation temperature (r = –0.604, P = 0.022) and female ratio (r = –0.573, P = 0.032). While nest temperatures and nest parameters such as hatching success, clutch size, nest distance from the sea and from vegetation, nest depth, and the day of emergence were not found significantly different among years (P > 0.05), incubation duration was found significantly different among years (P < 0.05). The results showed a female-dominated sex ratio by both histology and nest temperature. The knowledge of hatchling sex ratios provides information on demographic parameters, and coupled with appropriate conservation measures this can make important contributions to studies of climate change effects on green sea turtle populations. © TÜBİTAK

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