We signed up last year to have an RS-Ed booth in the Start-up section of GESS Dubai24. With our bunting flying and our slideshow on repeat, we spent three days, 12-14 November, at the Education Trade fair. Whilst, in all honesty, it wasn’t a forum for anything ‘personalised’, we definitely benefitted from our exposure to the latest offerings of Educational suppliers and would like to share our main takeaways:
Robotics– was everywhere. We had a particularly creepy robot, that resembled a headless dog, wandering around near us for the three days, doing rather unimpressive tricks and generally reminding us of the dangers of drones and future robotic soldiers, the Terminator, Bladerunner etc.
Artificial Intelligence– In the same vein, many exhibitors were showcasing the power of AI in education. Mainly for teachers, but also for students. We were very interested to talk to the Turnitin exhibitors, who were rolling out their latest addition since May ’24, that can detect AI-generated content in student work. As the US college application essay is clearly threatened by the rise of ChatGPT, this development was of particular interest to us. That said, we have in fact been bowled over by the authenticity and personal nature of our students’ college essays thus far this application season. Some of their school counsellors have used AI to generate feedback to their essays, but the students themselves have not been tempted to use it.
STEM- Generally the emphasis throughout the vast exhibition hall was on Science and Technology with STEM subjects very much in evidence and little, if anything, related to the humanities,the arts or literature.
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Mental Health- Given the amount of recent research emphasising the importance of social contact and human interaction it was perhaps not surprising that along with AI, Robotics, Science and Technology, Mental Health was the area most strongly in evidence. We were particularly struck by the amount of learning ‘toys’ being developed for primary aged students. Focusing on STEM and approved by early childhood educators and psychologists, these toys approach learning and development by integrating science, technology, engineering and mathematics, while claiming to also ensure children’s well-being.
Absence of Books- None of the large bookshops in Dubai were represented in the exhibition. For someone whose main introduction to the world of school educators grew out of volunteering to read in my children’s infant school library, the lack of books to browse and touch seemed a sad omission and very much in lockstep with the march toward wherever technology is headed.
Platforms and Lack of Platforms– Many visitors to our stall asked us what our ‘platform’ was, to which we replied feebly that we don’t offer a platform. Although there are several platforms that cater to university applications for high school students, they are better suited for large high schools where a personalised service is not available. Platforms and algorithms allow for equal access to university support for all students, who without them might fall through the cracks of trying to secure time with a counsellor. At RS-Ed we and our clients thrive on the personal, one-to-one connections we make with students and families.
In a way, GESS Dubai 24 showcased the antithesis of RS-Ed. We provide a personalised service that differs from student to student, depending on their needs. We offer a departure from the college counselling platforms of Bridge U, UniFrog and the like. We don’t doubt their efficacy and their soundness, but believe that the advice of experienced counsellors can offer guidance, reassurance and support to students and their families during a stressful and anxiety-ridden process, beyond what any machine can do.
Perhaps GESS Dubai 2050 will have turned full circle and be all about increasing human interaction and connection in a world that is currently being increasingly automated, ‘algorithmised’ and depersonalised.
