A few days ago, I posted about Alan Singer’s revelation that ETS plans to use computer-generated avatars on their teacher certification examinations. My post was titled “Teachers: Can You Teach an Avatar?”
One of our brilliant readers said more specifics were needed. He/she wondered if it was possible to teach an avatar certain very important skills:
Need more specifics.
Could we teach an avatar to . . .
play the trumpet?
paint in watercolor?
read a map?
write a poem?
complete a geometric proof?
conduct an experiment?
follow a volleyball rotation?
understand democracy?
love reading?
balance a chemical equation?
use a microscope?
collect weather data?
take theatre direction?
work cooperatively in a group?
construct a line graph?
follow a recipe?
play chess?
plant a garden?
clean up after themselves?
be nice to others?
wait their turn?
ask good questions?
build a robot or birdhouse?
sew a stuffed animal?
find their niche in life?
become better people?
speak another language?
use conversion formulas?
research a technical topic?
see the beauty in mathematics?
believe in themselves?
describe the causes of the Civil War?
understand supply and demand?
personal responsibility?
Well ETS . .. ?
Diane Ravitch's blog 
MA is considering using these scenarios as part of teacher tests–the MTEL. DESE has asked for volunteers to help develop these.
On Mon, Sep 12, 2016 at 1:01 PM, Diane Ravitchs blog wrote:
> dianeravitch posted: “A few days ago, I posted about Alan Singer’s > revelation that ETS plans to use computer-generated avatars on their > teacher certification examinations. My post was titled “Teachers: Can You > Teach an Avatar?” One of our brilliant readers said more speci” >
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If you’re using fake students you’re not teaching. Also, if you’re using fake teachers, same thing. I’m going to get a bit salacious here to make a strong point in case any tech heads are reading: If you’re using a fake partner you’re not having sex. Those are the birds and the bees, and real humans appreciate the flowers and the trees. (By the way, appreciate the bees; do not eat them.)
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LCT, teaching like performing requires interaction. Can an actor act without an audience?
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Why bother acting out a play if the audience only wants to pass a standardized test about the plot, theme, and characters? They could just read the Cliff’s Notes about the script. Who needs meaningful interaction? Who needs meaning?
Boiling down human complexity to computer algorithms is totally awesome!!!!!!!
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