Combining AI and neuroscience to transform lifelong learning | Develop - TrainingZone

Photo: Dr Boris Altemeyer

Learning is a natural human function. It’s how we progress, grow and develop, especially in our early years. However, in our culture we have tended to see the end of university as the end of our formal education. Discover here how AI and machine learning can nurture lifelong learning and help us transition into more fulfilling and meaningful jobs, according to Dr Boris Altemeyer, Business Psychologist and Chief Scientific Officer at predictive people analytics company Cognisess.

Photo: Just_Super/iStock

When in a job, we transition into learning that’s beneficial to the organisations we work for and relevant to our existing skills and experience – and that is often legislation and process driven, rather than inspired and inspiring.

This misses out on an enormous opportunity, as learning throughout our lives is a real gift and allows us to give meaning to our daily activities and progression through life. Lifelong learning is more accessible now than ever before. It’s coming up to 50 years since the founding of the Open University, which was one of the first establishments to break down the barriers of formal education.

And with access to a whole world of learning through Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCS) and online platforms such as TedTalks, we have finally started to master the art of ‘in the moment’ learning, with content that is delivered in an engaging way available on mobile devices 24/7...

Learning in older age

From a cognitive perspective, people are able to learn throughout their whole lives. During my own PhD research, we compared cognitive abilities across two specific age groups. Students who were aged between 18 and 27 years old and older people between 60 and 86 years of age.

We conducted various different experiments looking at Motor Orientation, Rapid Visual Processing, Spatial Working Memory, Crystallized Intelligence, Memory, and many others.

There were some differences in specific tests, such as reaction times. But the differences that we hypothesized between the two age groups, due mainly to the cognitive decline in the older age group, were not supported by the results.

If retirees keep mentally active and physically healthy there is barely any difference.
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Source: TrainingZone