Why It's Time to Start Talking About Ethics in the EdTech Community

Contents:

• Why ethics is not an abstract issue, but an applied and pressing one
• About ethics in the context of forming values ​​during online learning
• About focusing on achieving educational results
• About the ethics of persistently bringing the user to the end of the training
• About the fact that learning is becoming tunnel-like
• About the ethics of teaching "machines"
• About what to do with all this

Why Ethics Isn't an Abstract Issue, but a Practical and Urgent One

We are engaged in education, which plays a key role in shaping values. Ethical issues in this area are of practical importance. They concern how we apply data in analytics, artificial intelligence, and modern technologies in training to change people's behavior. Education is a process of changing activity through experience, and the use of available technologies to influence human behavior is becoming critical. Businesses should carefully consider these aspects, including what values ​​​​we instill in students. This will help create a more ethical and conscious educational space.

Technology plays a key role in scaling up and reducing the cost of educational processes. Thanks to modern technology, more and more people have access to high-quality education. However, the belief that every technological improvement automatically makes the world a better place lost its power even before the advent of postmodernism. A more conscious approach to the introduction of new technologies in the educational sphere is necessary, considering their impact on the quality and accessibility of knowledge.

On Ethics in the Context of Values ​​​​Development during Online Learning

At first glance, it may seem that in EdTech we teach exclusively applied skills. However, certain values ​​​​are also formed during the learning process. It is important to consider this aspect when developing educational programs. The EdTech community should actively discuss and analyze the values ​​we instill and evaluate their ethics.

We must actively adapt educational products if we recognize that some of the values ​​being fostered are questionable. Online courses will attract millions of participants, and they will develop professional skills, but they will also develop other qualities. It is important to determine what these qualities will be, as they will have a significant impact on our society and interactions in the professional environment. We will live and work with people who have completed these courses, and their personal qualities will shape our environment. Therefore, the relevance and quality of educational content are more important than ever for shaping the future of society.

My hypothesis is that people who learn asynchronously and successfully complete, for example, 60 homework assignments for obtaining a profession, exhibit a high degree of diligence. This approach to learning contributes to the formation of a value for productive work and a positive attitude towards it. Although we often don't recognize this process, it certainly occurs and plays a significant role in the development of personal and professional skills.

Asynchronous online learning fosters independence and self-organization in students. This format of communication, which primarily occurs via chat, raises the question of autonomy. Is autonomy a positive or negative aspect of learning? Is there a risk of a decline in emotional intelligence and empathy? Does remote interaction lead to a loss of sensitivity, when words and actions that a person would hesitate to express in person become easier to express online? These issues require careful analysis, as they relate to both the personal growth of students and the overall effectiveness of distance learning.

Self-regulated learning is the process in which students take responsibility for their own learning by setting goals, choosing strategies, and evaluating their performance. This approach is becoming increasingly important for both EdTech and higher education institutions, as it fosters independent and motivated students.

In a rapidly changing world where access to information is virtually unlimited, the ability to self-regulate is critical. Learners with self-regulated learning skills can adapt to new environments, effectively manage their time and resources, and develop individual strategies to achieve their educational goals.

For EdTech, this means creating platforms and tools that support and develop self-regulation skills. Interactive technologies, adaptive courses, and data analytics can help learners better understand their preferences and progress and offer personalized learning paths.

It is important for universities to implement methods that promote self-regulated learning to prepare students for today's challenges. This includes creating curricula that emphasize critical thinking, project-based activities, and independent research. Thus, self-regulated learning not only enriches the educational process but also prepares students for successful professional life.

On Focus on Achieving Educational Outcomes

Many educational projects are aimed at helping students successfully complete their courses and increase retention rates. We provide educational services that we consider high-quality if a student achieves their goals, such as changing careers or acquiring the skills needed for career advancement and increased income. These results confirm the effectiveness of our approach and contribute to increased customer satisfaction.

By collecting and analyzing extensive user behavior data, we can identify triggers that indicate a decline in engagement. As technology advances, this opportunity becomes even more accessible. Early detection of such signals allows us to take measures to retain users and prevent them from abandoning the training.

In this situation, it is important to offer users materials and tasks that help maintain their attention and increase motivation. However, the question arises: who should decide on the need for such actions: the user themselves, the training provider, or artificial intelligence? Furthermore, it is worth considering that a person's interests and goals may change during the learning process. This emphasizes the importance of flexibility in the educational program and its adaptation to the individual needs of each user.

At the beginning of training, it is necessary to establish certain regulations that will concern not only the goals the user is trying to achieve but also our ability to support them on their chosen path. This will help create a more effective and focused learning environment.

The user should be able to choose a suitable mode at the start of training. For example, they can express a desire to be supported and motivated until completion of the course, even if they experience difficulties with motivation. On the other hand, they should have the option to disable all artificial algorithms and learn at their own pace, without outside interference. There may also be an option that combines both approaches, allowing the user to find a balance between support and independent learning. This flexible approach will help better meet the needs of different users and increase the effectiveness of learning.

On the Ethics of Persistently Following a User Through to Completion of Training

Sometimes a paradox arises: achieving a set goal can make a person unhappy. It is important to ask whether it is worth guiding a person toward this goal through an educational product. For example, the goal may be to increase income through training. However, a person has other needs besides financial well-being. It is possible to increase earnings but still become deeply unhappy in a new profession. Therefore, it is important to consider not only material aspects, but also the emotional state and life satisfaction. Educational programs should be focused not only on professional growth but also on the harmonious development of the individual.

Let's imagine that we are teaching someone to dig a well. While doing so, they find an ancient coin, which sparks their interest. As a result, they abandon the well-digging process and decide to devote themselves to studying archeology. From the perspective of achieving the original goal, this is an undesirable consequence, as we have not completed their training in well-digging skills. This example illustrates how unexpected discoveries can distract from the main task and interfere with the achievement of set goals.

As training designers, we faced certain challenges. In this concept, it is important to distract a person from material values ​​and focus on deeper aspects, such as personal growth and development. However, if we do not do this correctly, the person risks missing out on something significant—new knowledge and, perhaps, their true calling. We must strive to create educational programs that will help people understand the importance of self-knowledge and finding their place in the world.

Online learning courses provide many Opportunities for professional growth. Consider a real-life scenario: a user interested in a career as a methodologist encounters the concept of a product approach and metrics during a class. This discovery can change their career aspirations, and they decide to become a product specialist. This transition often occurs thanks to the flexibility of the online format, which allows them to explore various aspects of the profession, expanding their horizons and opportunities. Importantly, online learning not only provides knowledge but also fosters the development of new interests and career paths. Yes, of course, if a student expresses a desire to change a course, we provide them with such an opportunity. However, the question arises: will technology be able to distract them from their chosen path if it is steadily leading them toward a specific goal? I am thinking of a future similar to the one depicted in "Black Mirror," where algorithms govern user behavior, and there is no human intervention in this process that could allow for a change in course.

On Learning Becoming Tunneled

With the development of technology, learning is becoming more structured, as we do not provide users with the opportunity to choose alternative educational paths. This limits an individual approach and can reduce motivation. It is important to consider the diversity of learning styles and interests to create a more flexible and effective educational environment.

The product-based approach to developing educational products is becoming increasingly popular. User research helps to better understand their needs and preferences, which allows for the creation of more accurate and effective solutions. However, the product-based approach has its limitations that must be considered. It is important to remember that overreliance on research can lead to ignoring intuition and creativity. In addition, it is not always possible to obtain complete and objective data about users, which can affect the quality of the final product. A balance between research data and an intuitive understanding of audience needs is key to the successful creation of educational content.

One of the key product metrics is the time spent by users on the LMS platform. The longer a user stays on the platform, the higher their engagement. Imagine the entire system is configured to meet the user's interests. In this case, an analogy can be drawn to smart social media feeds, which are adapted to display content similar to what the user has already liked or that is of interest to people with similar preferences. This not only increases engagement time but also improves overall user satisfaction, which positively impacts their experience using the platform.

A similar situation can occur in education: if users are provided only with content that evokes positive emotions, they will avoid complex topics that require effort to understand. This may lead to them not encountering material that initially seems difficult or is off-putting. However, it is precisely such challenges that contribute to the development of critical thinking and a deep understanding of the subject. It's important to offer a variety of educational content to stimulate interest and deepen knowledge.

A person raised on exclusively positive affirmations develops a narrow perception of the world. Limiting interaction with only those aspects that appeal to them leads to tunnel vision. This one-sided approach to life seriously impacts the ability to interact with others. When such a person encounters real-world situations, such as in the workplace, where the opinions and perspectives of others can differ significantly, they are unprepared for the challenge. It is important to develop a diverse perspective and openness to different opinions to avoid difficulties in the future.

The development of values ​​is a key aspect in every person's life. It is the process that determines our beliefs, preferences, and behavior. Values ​​influence the choices we make and how we perceive the world around us. They are shaped by various factors, including culture, upbringing, and personal experiences. Understanding and developing our values ​​helps us make more conscious decisions and achieve harmony in life.

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One of the key problems in the education system is that many people do not pay enough attention to those aspects that they do not understand. This ignoring hinders the learning process and prevents deep assimilation of the material. It is important to develop critical thinking skills and ask questions to overcome barriers to understanding. Such approaches promote more effective learning and help students achieve better results. Active engagement in the learning process and the desire to understand complex topics are the keys to a successful education.

On the ethics of teaching "machines"

In the future, artificial intelligence may reach such a level of development that it will become difficult to distinguish between communication with a machine and a person. This raises questions about the positive and negative consequences. How will our interactions change if AI has complete knowledge of our work processes, learning methods, and the most effective strategies for achieving goals? A machine capable of offering us personalized content and experiences could significantly increase our productivity and facilitate the learning process. However, it's worth considering how this will impact our perception of information and autonomy.

If we don't recognize what's happening during the learning process, we lose our status as active participants and become passive objects being taught by the machine. This poses a significant risk to our education and development.

We should avoid striving for infinite efficiency, as this concept often conceals excuses for indifference and a lack of empathy. In its extreme form, efficiency can imply achieving goals at any cost. Instead of boasting about the successful implementation of algorithms, mechanisms, and chatbots that teach people, it's important to focus on the true value of interaction and support. Empathy and humanity must remain at the center of any efforts aimed at optimizing processes and technologies.

The implementation of artificial intelligence in educational processes is aimed at optimization and increased efficiency. However, it is important to remember that we are interacting with a machine, and its algorithms can make decisions that affect the learning process. This can lead to unexpected consequences that are worth discussing. It is necessary to carefully consider the role of artificial intelligence in education to ensure harmonious interaction between machines and humans and minimize potential risks.

What to do about all this

It is necessary to initiate a community discussion about how EdTech shapes modern graduates and what values ​​we infuse into practical educational programs. It is important to recognize that the quality of training specialists capable of working effectively in a rapidly changing labor market depends on these values. This discussion will help determine priorities and directions for the development of educational technologies, which in turn will enable the creation of more relevant and in-demand educational programs.

First, the community needs to agree on what is meant by quality education. This concept encompasses both the requirements for the learning process and its outcomes. Once we have a clear understanding of quality education, it will be important to discuss the ethical aspects of this model.

The first question concerns the inevitability of achieving an educational outcome. If we understand how a person acquires knowledge and are able to choose appropriate educational models that more effectively lead them to the desired result, can this be considered moral or immoral?

A person must make a decision about how to regulate their achievements when they begin to encounter difficulties or lose motivation. It is important to recognize that at such moments, they need to find ways to support themselves on the path to their goals. One approach is to determine in advance whether you are willing to accept the assistance of technology, for example, in the form of automated systems that can encourage you to continue learning. This decision must be conscious, allowing you to set boundaries and understand how technology can help you achieve your goals without violating personal principles and autonomy.

The second important question is the ethics of trusting artificial intelligence, which is essentially a machine, in the human learning process. What is the place of educational designers in this new model? It is important to consider how safe and effective the use of AI in educational processes is. Educational designers must adapt to the changes brought by technology and find a balance between automation and human interaction. The ethical aspects of using AI in education require careful analysis to ensure high-quality and responsible learning for all.

In EdTech, it's not just the teaching of practical skills that matters; the development of a value framework is also crucial. Defining this set of values ​​requires the agreement of all market participants. It's necessary to analyze what is considered acceptable and what is not to create a common understanding and standards in educational technology.

The ethicality of a set of values ​​directly influences the ethical use of technology. Consider a situation where a machine without any embedded values ​​is teaching practical skills. In this case, the machine can either independently develop its own set of values ​​or remain completely value-free. This raises important questions about how technologies lacking an ethical foundation can influence the development of skills and human behavior. It's important to consider that the lack of an ethical context can lead to unpredictable consequences, highlighting the need to integrate values ​​into educational technologies. Returning to the well and coin metaphor, it's worth noting that when the machine detects a person's interest in the coin, it takes it away and returns the shovel. This action makes sense: from the machine's perspective, the only value lies in teaching a basic skill—digging a hole. The machine doesn't take into account aspects such as curiosity, the desire to discover new things, or human emotions. These qualities remain beyond the scope of its programming, which highlights the difference between machine and human perception of values.