Education by algorithm

Education by algorithms refers to automated solutions that algorithmic agents or social bots^[1] offer to education, to assist with mundane educational tasks.^[2] These are often instrumentalist “educational reforms” or “curriculum transformations”, which have been implemented by policy makers and are supported by proprietary education technologies.^[3]. New educational policies, mandated by transnational governance forums^[4] (like the OECD), have manufactured a connection between economies and education.^[5]

Governments, schools and universities are expected to introduce or prepare students for an “unknown future”, to “future proof” them against an identified issue or to mitigate a national crisis. Technologies are seen as a catalyst to effect these changes. However, these policies mask a deeper problem, which include the assetisation of education^[6] and the use of technologies as a means for surveillance and control.^[7]

The traces that students and leave, through cookies, logins learning activities, assignments and tests, are collected, facetted, and shared with commercial organizations by these agents, to both predict future behavior and shape it.^[8] Techo solutionist thinking has lead to managers adopting educational policies and reforms, and looking towards technologies to act as disrupters, liberators or agents to improve efficiency.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many more students had to modify their learning and working circumstances to protect themselves. Big tech assisted, and teaching infrastructure was privatized thus unbundling education provision further. Surveillance became rationalized in education.^[9] The overall result is that teachers work is increasingly driven by learning experience platforms and students are extended through interleaving, behavior modification nudges and rewards and scheduled assessments. This data collection which may be construed as surveillance.,^[10] or perceived as evidence of a Fourth Industrial Revolution