Watson-Enabled Cognitive Assistants for Education Transformation

The recent emergence of highly interactive technologies is a historically important milestone. These technologies, along with advances in artificial intelligence, are ushering in the era of cognitive computing, where computers have attributes that allow them to learn and interact with humans in more natural ways. At the same time, advances in neuroscience promise a deeper understanding of key cognitive processes, including learning. At the intersection of cognitive neuroscience and cognitive computing lies the opportunity to completely transform approaches to learning, making it much more engaging and effective. In this talk, we will outline some of the work at this intersection, in particular a revised approach to intelligent tutoring using the Watson suite of technologies to provide natural-language interaction with learners. We will outline other cognitive assistants based on Watson and big data analytics that can provide career counseling and can help administrators identify at-risk students much earlier.

Outcomes: Drive greater research in universities in the field of cognitive neuroscience * Explore the impact of the cognitive loads presented by new technologies such as VR/AR and chat bots * Embrace IT that allows institutions to get a more holistic view of their learners * Use the resulting insights to drive efficiencies across the spectrum to retain more learners and improve their learning experience