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AI chatbots are pretty good at making up standardized test questions.

And that was one of the first things that folks at ETS, one of the oldest and largest players in standardized testing, used the latest generative AI technology to help them do. 

But these days, officials at the testing organization are thinking differently about what AI might do. At least that’s what I learned from Kara McWilliams, vice president of product innovation and development at ETS, when I sat down with her this summer.

Now, she says, she’s focused more on using AI for what she called “experiential tasks,” where an AI chatbot can generate feedback and questions for test-takers on the fly. 

One example is a new AI tool from ETS called Authentic Interview Prep, which uses AI to help people hone their job interview skills.

“A lot of people get nervous when they do interviews,” McWilliams says. “And so what we're trying to do is create experiences that allow people to understand how to have interviews more meaningfully. And AI does things like give me feedback on the tone of my voice or the rate of my speech or my eye contact with you.”

Could this be the beginning of the end of the kind of standardized tests that have been part of education for generations? 

But some experts worry that these new AI models are built on training data that is skewed toward privileged students, which could lead to bias if not implemented carefully.

I dug into the future of testing for an article for EdSurge this week.

— Jeff Young, reporter and editorial director at EdSurge

👂EAR TO THE GROUND

DOUBLE THE FUN: About a fifth of students who take community college courses are still in high school. Experts say dual enrollment has grown so popular because it’s good for all parties involved: students, colleges and K-12 schools. What challenges remain for this kind of program to “live up to its potential as a lever of access and equity to college and careers,” as one expert put it?

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Join Grammarly on September 10 for “The AI Dilemma: Balancing Innovation with Academic Integrity.” Learn how educators can get direct visibility into the tools, sources, and strategies students use to write. We will also explore how to use this information to guide students toward responsible and impactful use of AI. Register today.

🎧 ON THE PODCAST

TALK TO THE BOT: Two instructors made AI chatbot versions of themselves to help teach their classes, and they say class discussion improved as a result. But some teaching experts worry about the long-term implications of bringing in robot teaching assistants.

📈 STAT-O-MATIC

40 percent

That’s the percent of graduate students who do not complete their program within six years of starting, according to a new study, which focused on data from Texas that the researchers say is representative of national trends. While much attention has been paid to low graduation rates for undergraduates, little research has been done on the issue at the graduate level. 

📣 SPOKEN WORD

“The attendance-taking requirement for distance education reflects an unjustified bias against distance education. No similar attendance-taking requirement has been proposed for on-campus programs at non-attendance-taking institutions.” 

— Walter G. Bumphus, president and CEO of the American Association of Community Colleges, in an official comment on a controversial proposed rule by the U.S. Department of Education that would require colleges to periodically monitor attendance of online students. Federal officials say the rule would provide better data on when students drop classes, but Bumphus and other opponents of the rule say it would be time-consuming to comply with.

💼 BYTE-SIZE BRIEFS

Faculty members are burned out — and technology is partly to blame. (Inside Higher Ed)

MIT blames Supreme Court decision for decreased diversity in incoming class. (Higher Ed Dive)

An $800 million mistake: the triple failure of 2U, edX, and Axim Collaborative. (Class Central)

💾 FROM THE ARCHIVES

CAN AI CHATBOTS BE GOOD TUTORS?: Companies and technologists are rushing to apply the latest AI chatbots to fulfill the long-held dream of building a personalized digital tutor. But at least one longtime AI developer argues that it isn’t possible, and that the best use of AI is to assist human tutors and teachers, not replace them.

📆 GOINGS ON

The EdSurge Higher Ed newsletter now publishes every other week. We’ll be back in your inbox on September 13.

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Events

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2024 ASCD Leadership Summit | October 18 - 20 | Nashville, TN

Three Days of Transformative Leadership Growth! Discover innovative leadership approaches, collaborate with other district leaders, and get strategic insights to improve your school's practices. REGISTER NOW

NEXT: Bridging Pedagogy and Innovation: AI and Beyond | November 1 | Akron, OH

We will explore the intersection of pedagogy and innovation in "The AI Classroom," and discover how embracing AI can empower educators to create dynamic, inclusive, and forward-thinking learning environments.

The 2024 Global Learning for an Open World Conference (GLOW) | November 20 -  21 | Online

The GLOW Conference is a top virtual event promoting sustainable development, global competencies, cross-border collaboration, global citizenship, and equitable access to quality education through innovative methods.