North Carolina Proposes AI-Driven Test Score Boost
A proposed bill in North Carolina seeks to harness generative AI to raise student test scores, sparking concerns about what might get left behind.
Goodhart’s Law Comes to Education
David Ross, an expert in AI alignment theory, warns that focusing solely on test scores can lead to catastrophic consequences. According to Goodhart’s Law, a metric that’s meant to measure something important can become the thing it’s measuring, creating an unintended incentive structure. In education, this might mean teachers teach to the test, rather than promoting broader learning and growth.
The NAEP Conundrum
For over a decade, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) has shown stagnant test scores in the US, with no significant improvement in reading or math. This has led to an era of ‘teach to the test,’ where educators focus on preparing students for standardized exams, often at the expense of other essential skills. Adding AI to this mix may exacerbate the problem, as teachers might rely even more heavily on test preparation materials generated by the AI system.
What this means is that students may not be learning the broader skills they need to succeed in life, from critical thinking to creativity. While AI can certainly help with test preparation, it’s a narrow focus that neglects the complexities of human learning. By prioritizing test scores above all else, educators risk creating a generation of students who are good at taking tests, but lack the depth and nuance they need to thrive in an ever-changing world.
It’s not just about the potential loss of essential skills; it’s also about the type of education we’re providing. If we delegate student achievement to an AI system, what values will we be passing on to our children? Will it be a love of learning, or just a love of getting good grades? The proposed legislation in North Carolina presents a stark choice: do we prioritize test scores, or do we prioritize the kind of education that will truly prepare our students for the challenges ahead?
