Coworking: Jamie Sterling says AI and ML might aid children’s education

Coworking is a weekly segment where we spotlight Tech Brew readers who work with emerging technologies. Click here if you’d like a chance to be featured.

How would you describe your job to someone who doesn’t work in tech?

We come up with ideas that will impact the future of education, conduct experiments, and then bring to life what works to drive engagement and learning outcomes for K-12 students.

What’s the most compelling tech project you’ve worked on, and why?

The most recent project I worked on at Carnegie Learning, MATHstream, which was just released this year, brings together some amazing technologies in innovative new ways. We even won an EdTech Breakthrough Award for Adaptive Learning Solution of the Year. I’ve had the pleasure of working with some of the most talented rockstar math teachers (who are also social media influencers) to bring this amazing system that combines education and engagement to life.

What technologies are you most optimistic about? Least? And why?

I’m most optimistic about the ongoing growth of machine learning and artificial intelligence and its application in creating smarter and smarter recommendation engines that allow students to get the targeted help and/or acceleration that they deserve.

I’m least optimistic about virtual reality, particularly with younger children, due to the negative cognitive implications. I believe augmented reality may be a safer and smarter way to think about hands-on learning and bringing education simulations to life. I also recently learned that women are more likely to suffer from motion sickness in response to virtual-reality systems, so there is also an equity issue that needs further research before we lean into that technology.

What’s the best tech-related media you read/watch/listen to?

I just finished reading Life 3.0: Being Human in the Age of Artificial Intelligence by Max Tegmark, and I thought it was one of the most interesting reads due to its speculation of the many paths superintelligent AI could take in the future, everything from helping to conquering human beings, depending on how the goals of superintelligent systems might evolve. It was fascinating, albeit highly speculative.

What’s something about you we can’t guess from your LinkedIn profile?

I love to nurture things! I have three sons, four dogs, and more than a hundred species of plants in my house.

What do you think about when you’re not thinking about tech?

Honestly, the thing that’s taking up my headspace right now in the work that I have done in the last six-plus years at Carnegie Learning is the crisis facing K-12 education, especially around the teacher and staff shortages that districts everywhere are facing. I believe education is the cornerstone of a developed society, and I would like to see more investment made in our future teachers and future students. Outside of that, I’m usually thinking about something related to my kids, dogs, or plants. Otherwise, you’ll find me trying to calm my thoughts via yoga, meditation, or getting lost in another world through a good book.