Originally Posted by Val
Self-directed empowered deep learners building authentic meaningful cognitive skills on demand! Who could say no to that?
Indeed! smile

Unless of course the description is designed to get us to see one thing when we think we may actually be seeing another: dis-empowered, shallow skim-the-surface learners memorizing on demand and engaging in group-think rather than learning to appreciate resources which are outside of current mainstream thought.

Originally Posted by Val
(And yes, they collect data: it's not just a feature, it's a benefit.)
Possibly a good question to ask may be: A benefit to whom? Like peeling an onion, there may be layers of answers to this.

The sale of collected data is big business. Some may benefit financially.

Researchers may delve into collected data to examine trends, as well as specific performance by demographic, benefiting their institutions with grant funding and possible scoops on breaking news of patterns found in the data.

While there may be the potential to benefit some children depending upon the influence of research in bringing about certain changes in strategy, policy, or practice... there is also the potential to limit future opportunities for many children, by applying an ideology which seeks to "ration" opportunities (such as the opportunity for human interaction), creating equal outcomes for all.