Saturday, March 28, 2020

Using Artificial Intelligence in Educational Processes

Using Artificial Intelligence in Educational Processes Thoughts concerning education, entertainment and communication has been changing during many years. Approximately 30 years ago, students just listened music on their cassette players to have some rest from studying. These days, modern students prefer communicating via their messenger apps, making video calls, sharing moment photos, using their innovate smart devices. That means that we live in a world, where everything can change in a minute. There are many technologies, which contribute greatly to people`s life by facilitating it. The same is about education. There are some significant breakthroughs, which tend to improve the whole system, make it more comfortable and flexible. It is not actually a secret that all students who attend schools or collages are different, with own specific abilities, skills and preferences. No wonder that even the most expensive private educational establishments cannot provide students with personal lectures and in-depth explanation of this or that issue. The chatbots, instead, can provide all students with one-on-one lectures service, what means a personal approach to everybody. Taking this point into account, these chatbots are considered to be the most comfortable, suitable and affordable options in this situation. It is said, the most important aim of any chatbot is to follow a student through the whole curriculum. These bots are involved in communication with each student, determining their troubling subjects and topics. Then, this information is used to prepare a special learning program, which is 100% personalized and is focused on those things students fall behind. Also, chatbots should guide students and check their improvements from the very beginning till the end of the lessons. The most actual question that arises from the chatbots instruction is whether they will replace teachers at work or not? The answer is no, of course. Chatbots are not created to take somebody`s job. Just on the contrary, they will take great efforts on repetitive tasks, what will only make teachers` job more meaningful. We know that teacher`s responsibilities are all about providing them with required knowledge. In this case, chatbots will do that instead of teachers, while they will have more opportunities to keep in touch with students on some friendlier terms and develop their mentorship. It will be very beneficial for those with some learning disabilities. So, how artificial intelligence will influence education?The majority of scientists claim that the construction of chatbots will only make the learning process more efficient and productive. There also exist some other bots, simpler ones, which are used in many schools and colleges. Such programs have one or even several functionalities, which handle target problems. Here are some facts about Artificial Intelligence and chatbots and ways how they can improve the education: Essay scoring: in the future, chatbots will facilitate teachers` job greatly by scoring the overall band for the whole essay, taking into account all specifications and peculiarities.Spaced Interval Learning: this learning concept is about repeating the old material all the time for better memorizing.Feedbacks from students: these days, students` assessments are important for teachers. So, by using new technologies, students will just have to fill in the order form online with the help of chatbots. Undoubtedly, no child should be left behind. These new technologies are implemented for people`s benefit only. The smart chatbot is a useful tool, which will surely help some students to reveal and develop themselves.

Saturday, March 7, 2020

South Africas National Holidays

South Africa's National Holidays When Apartheid ended and the African National Congress under Nelson Mandela came into power in South Africa in 1994, the national holidays were changed to days that would be meaningful to all South Africans. March 21: Human Rights Day On this day in 1960, the police killed 69 people at Sharpeville who were participating in a protest against the pass laws- laws which demanded and blacks always carry passes. Many protesters were shot in the back. The carnage made world headlines. Four days later the government banned black political organizations, many leaders were arrested or went into exile. During the Apartheid era, there were human rights abuses by all sides; the remembrance of Human Rights Day is but one step to ensure that the people of South Africa are aware of their human rights and to ensure that such abuses never again occur. April 27: Freedom Day This was the day in 1994 when the first democratic election was held in South Africa, i.e. an election when all adults could vote irrespective of their race, as well as the day in 1997 when the new constitution took effect. May 1: Workers Day Many countries around the world commemorate the contribution made by workers to society on May Day (America doesnt celebrate this holiday because of its communist origins). It has traditionally been a day to protest for better wages and working conditions. Given the role that trade unions played in the fight for freedom, it is unsurprising that South Africa commemorates this day. June 16: Youth Day On June 1976 students in Soweto rioted in protest against the introduction of Afrikaans as the language of instruction of half their school curriculum, sparking eight months of violent uprisings across the country. Youth Day is a national holiday in honor of all the young people who lost their lives in the struggle against Apartheid and Bantu Education. July 18: Mandela Day On 3 June 2009 in his State of the Nation address President Jacob Zuma announced the annual celebration of South Africas most famous son- Nelson Mandela. Mandela Dayƃ‚  will be celebrated on the 18th of July each year. It will give people in South Africa and all over the world the opportunity to do something good to help others. Madiba was politically active for 67 years, and on Mandela Day people all over the world, in the workplace, at home and in schools, will be called upon to spend at least 67 minutes of their time doing something useful within their communities, especially among the less fortunate. Let us wholeheartedly support Mandela Day and encourage the world to join us in this wonderful campaign. Despite his reference to wholehearted support, Mandela Day failed to become a national holiday; but Nelson Mandela International Day was established by the United Nations in November of 2009. Aug. 9: National Womens Day On this day in 1956, some 20,000 women marched to the Union government Buildings in Pretoria to protest against a law requiring black women to carry passes. This day is celebrated as a reminder of the contribution made by women to society, the achievements that have been made for womens rights, and to acknowledge the difficulties and prejudices many women still face. Sept. 24: Heritage Day Nelson Mandela used the phrase rainbow nation to describe South Africas diverse cultures, customs, traditions, histories, and languages. This day is a celebration of that diversity. Dec. 16: Day of Reconciliation Afrikaners traditionally celebrated 16 December as the Day of the Vow, remembering the day in 1838 when a group of Voortrekkers defeated a Zulu army at the Battle of Blood River, while ANC activists commemorated it as the day in 1961 when the ANC started to arm its soldiers to overthrow Apartheid. In the new South Africas its a day of reconciliation, a day to focus on overcoming the conflicts of the past and building a new nation.