Dive Brief:
- IBM’s question-answering computer, Watson, has been trained to help third-grade math teachers build personalized lesson plans using a free program called Teacher Advisor, which will eventually expand to additional grade levels and subject areas.
- The New York Times reports the IBM Foundation has loaded content information, teaching strategies and lesson plans into Teacher Advisor so when teachers ask questions about the Common Core State Standards, for example, the computer will recommend exercises to address each part of a certain standard and give students the prerequisite skills they need to maser it.
- Teachers who have used the program in a pilot phase say it has helped differentiate instruction for students of differing abilities and they trust it because the computer’s recommendations are based on information compiled by math experts.
Dive Insight:
Teacher Advisor could be a powerful asset for teachers, especially as they adjust to new standards or switch to new subjects or grade levels. Schools should not ask teachers to rely on the computer program to the exclusion of their colleagues, however. Teacher collaboration time is important. It gives teachers a chance to discuss individual students as well as lesson plans that may or may not have gone as planned. A computer can be a helpful first resource, but it should not be considered the only one.
Teacher Advisor does represent, however, the benefits technology can bring to personalization of learning. Educators have long been differentiating lesson plans and grouping students based on ability, but new device programs and software aimed at personalized learning have kicked down the door of possibilities. Watson’s latest endeavor could jumpstart efforts at schools nationwide, especially because Teacher Advisor is free.
