Following instructions is generally in our best interest, but it reduces us to the status of a mere executor. Paradoxically, good instructions foster our autonomy, and this suits us just fine as long as we're moving towards a goal.
Following instructions for assembling a piece of furniture or using an appliance goes without saying. Following the dosage of a drug or the proportions of a cake recipe is only common sense, but following the advice of a stranger already requires more discernment, and when it comes to following the instructions of an A.I., it's best to be open to surprises. An A.I. has little judgment and no practical experience.
The source of the instructions establishes their credibility, and the instructor's intentions must be obvious to elicit adherence. Our interest in following instructions must be demonstrated quickly, and we consent to that extent. Sometimes our dealings with institutions skip this stage of informed consent: we fit into the boxes; we're dealing with a machine. Education as an institution sometimes takes on this machine-like character: be there, take the course, pass your exams. Following tried-and-tested instructions offers guarantees, but it remains to be seen whether the goal and the means are still appropriate.
Instructions are the DNA of an organization, and being part of it means respecting them; the first challenge for institutions is to obtain the consent of their members.
In a changing world, instructions have been developed for a waning reality, prompting the abandonment of some in favor of new paths, ways of doing things, methods and attitudes for which tried-and-tested manuals do not yet exist. With the arrival of artificial intelligence, what are the new instructions for education?
This dossier explores the question.
Denys Lamontagne - [email protected]
Illustration: Shutterstock - 2585199707
