Dear Dr Raj Reddy

 Dear Dr Raj Reddy

[ rr@cmu.edu  /  rrOs@andrew.cmu.edu  ]. Professor at Carnegie Mellon University

 

Context :

For this Turing award winner , AI shows great promise and peril  ..  TOI  .. 10 Jan 2025

Extract :

Ø  One of the most compelling opportunities he described was its potential to eradicate illiteracy . “ In India, a significant percent of the population cannot read or write. Imagine giving each person, an intelligent assistant, like a ChatGPT or Google Gemini. “ he said. These systems, he explained, could engage individuals in their native languages, enabling learning without additional teachers- a concept he referred to as “ Just-in-Time learnings “

Ø  AI’s potential in personalized education, Reddy said, is another promising area. Referring to Benjamin Bloom’s famous “ two sigma problem “, which demonstrated the efficacy of one-on-one tutoring, he posited that AI tutors could replicate this model for millions. “ Slow learners could progress at their own pace, while fast learners could accelerate. This could democratize education in ways we have only dreamed of “ , he said

Ø  He encouraged adapting education systems to prepare students for a future where AI might be woven into everyday life. “ Electronic Calculators used to be forbidden “, he recalled. “ But eventually, we said, “ what’s the harm in letting people do arithmetic more easily ? “. Now with GPT and other AI , you don’t want to ban it. You want to learn how to use it “

Ø  “ AI is primarily to be seen as enhancing the mental capabilities of the human race. We shouldn’t  fear if we can do tasks ten or a hundred times faster ; it’s an expansion of our abilities. By harnessing these intelligent system’s potential wisely, we can tackle illiteracy, break language barriers, and avoid crises like extended lockdowns ( during pandemics ). The real challenge is ensuring everyone benefits equally and establishing ethical standards for all misuse “

 

2 SIGMA PROBLEM 

The “ 2 Sigma Problem “ refers to an educational challenge identified by Benjamin Bloom in 1984, highlighting the significant learning  gains achieved through personalized tutoring.

Bloom found that students who received one-on-one tutoring performed two standard deviations ( 2 sigma ) better than those in traditional class-room settings, meaning they outperformed 98 % of their peers.

 

However, providing such personalized instruction at scale, is impractical due to resource constraints.

The challenge lies in finding  SCALABLE METHODS  that replicate the effectiveness of INDIVIDUALIZED TUTORING, such as ADAPTIVE LEARNING TECHNOLOGIES , peer tutoring, or INNOVATIVE TEACHING STRATEGIES, to bridge the gap and achieve similar “ Learning Outcomes “ for all students

 

 

Dear Dr Reddy :

My hearty Congratulations on your brilliant suggestions in the vital area of Education   

You have hit the nail on the head – “ PERSONALIZED  AI TUTORING “  nail , on the head of head of “ TRADITIONAL  CLASSROOM  TEACHING “