‘CARING DOESN’T SCALE’: That’s the title of a blog post that inspired David Wiley to share his concerns over how edtech businesses typically emphasize scale—usually depicted in big, abstract numbers—over human relationships. “Why are we so excited,” asks the co-founder and Chief Academic Officer of Lumen Learning, “by the prospect of care, encouragement, and support giving way to a ‘Next’ button that algorithmically chooses what a student should see next?” His question and appeals to charting “a better, more generous path forward” echo worries shared in higher-ed circles over the tensions and opportunities between technology and humanity.
