As someone whose college papers always went through multiple drafts, I genuinely hope that the "joy" the author feels doesn't get in the way of teaching writing skills.
And, as someone who got paid minimum wage to proctor tests in college, I couldn't keep a straight face at this:
> The most cutting-edge educational technology of the future might very well be a stripped-down computer lab, located in a welcoming campus library, where students can complete assignments, by hand or on machines free of access to AI and the internet, in the presence of caring human proctors.
I think the author's leaning heavily on vibes to do the convincing here.
We had a math lab where you could go do your math homework and the majority of the student assistants were great. Same with the undergrad lab assistants in physics labs.
Writing labs exist. What’s the existence of tutoring and assistance have to do with anything?
The OP was saying that paid student proctors couldn’t possibly be caring. I pointed out that most of the student assistants in similar positions were in fact very caring.
I've done both – in my undergrad I staffed a drop-in help night for a required freshman comp class, and later on in grad school I made extra cash proctoring a "alternate testing center" for students needing retakes and ADA accommodations. I can see the comparison to drop-in homework help centers. But as a test proctor my job was to get out of the way of students as much as possible while keeping things quiet – I'm not sure it's worth idealizing as "caring".
I think the author’s description was closer to a homework help lab than to a traditional test proctoring center. I see no reason why you couldn’t aim for that.
> I think the author's leaning heavily on vibes to do the convincing here.
I have no idea what you're trying to express in your comment, so who's using vibes?*
Were you triggered by the word "caring?" A waiter usually cares that the people they're serving have an enjoyable meal. It doesn't mean that they love them, it means that they think the work of feeding people is purposeful and honest (and theirs.)
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[*] It's certainly not in the words; I don't know what made you angry about "joy," I don't know why you think the author does not teach writing skills in "communications," I don't know why the fact that you went through multiple drafts in writing school papers is relevant or different than anyone else's experience. Maybe that's over now. Maybe I actually don't care if you use AI for your second and further drafts, if I know you can write a first draft.
Why would you assume I was angry? (Where is your snark coming from?)
Drafting and redrafting a cumulative course paper, as well as iteratively honing a thesis, is a writing skill.
I would argue it as important than demonstrating recall and interconnection of the material. It is being lost if long-term work on papers is being replaced with 3-hour blue-book essays.
That is why I thought it was relevant. That's it.