Sean McDermott, Author at Indigo Schools

Machine Learning – the benefits

9 minutes of reading

We’ve written about the emerging power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its implication for learning and the future before, and often its potential challenges and pitfalls. However, like any human endeavour, AI has the potential to do enormous good, and today we’re looking at some of the benefits it’s starting to bring. With these benefits come new opportunities and new questions, and we’re keeping a firm eye on learning for the future as we share the examples of how AI can be a powerful force for good.

Technology and automation – all just hype?

8 minutes of reading

This week’s focus is squarely on technology and automation, what the research indicates what’s happening right now, and suggests what might happen in the future.

AI and creativity – info. for educators

7 minutes of reading

This week we’re looking at Artificial Intelligence (AI) again. We are starting with some new ways in which AI is being applied, and looking at how humans are starting to interact with AI before moving into the education and learning spheres.

Challenges and opportunities in education

6 minutes of reading

This week we are taking a look at some articles we’ve come across recently in the world of education and schools. It’s a general look at what’s happening out there, and provides some interesting perspectives on how various emerging challenges and opportunities either affect or are being addressed within schools and education systems.

Exponential technology crash course

6 minutes of reading

AI is already everywhere, and we’ve written about it before. AI decides what we see on Youtube, Netflix and social media. Amazon’s supply chain can’t run without it, and we need to get used to the fact that it’s here to stay. But, as with any emerging digital technology, AI presents enormous opportunities to benefit us, and potential problems as well. Today we’re looking at what some of the challenges might be, along with what young people need to be aware of and talking about, if they’re not already.

21st Century Skills for Students

5 minutes of reading

Anyone who works in education, learning or an industry or any kind is hearing about the need for people to develop ’21st Century Skills’. These skills are now becoming essential for human development and success in life and work, and are being coupled with new technical skills from exponential industries.

Automation and Work – trends to watch

9 minutes of reading

Let’s look at what’s happening with the automation of work, become informed, start a conversation about what skills and competencies might be needed, what this means for our students, teachers, schools, learning systems, communities and societies.

Healthcare and Future Opportunities

6 minutes of reading

In this article we look at samples of work and trends happening in healthcare and wellbeing with an eye on future learning and opportunities for students. Everything healthcare and wellbeing-related that we are seeing in the research is usually focused around one or both of two mains goals:

Changing Work – are students ready?

9 minutes of reading

The nature of almost all forms of work is changing rapidly, and new skills are required. Routine manual and cognitive tasks such as factory work and analysis are being replaced or augmented by robots and machine learning. Agriculture is becoming automated. So what is happening in the world of work, and how can we prepare for what’s coming?

Schools Must Change – here’s why

7 minutes of reading

When reading through articles that examine human technologies, innovation and the future, it’s always interesting how few attempt to seriously tackle education and learning.