This weekend a new "computational knowledge engine" named Wolfram|Alpha by its creator, Stephen Wolfram, went live on the Internet. The site aims to "make all systematic knowledge immediately computable by anyone." Type in a mathematical equation and it solves it for you. Type in two companies and it offers market comparisons. Input "weather Charlotte NC July 28, 1987" and it tells you that the average temperature in Charlotte on July 28, 1987, was 81 degrees and 70% average humidity. An introductory video showing how it works is available here.
The implications for this technology are tremendous, not only in its potential ability to facilitate learning, but also its potential to facilitate student cheating. The availability of a resource, though, doesn't necessarily mean that it will be used inappropriately. Faculty awareness of this new tool can serve as a prompt to clearly communicate expectations to students regarding appropriate resources for assistance. Instructors who find ways to embrace this technology in their courses, rather than shun its use, may find that student learning is increased. But just as some students will copy passages from online journal articles and not cite them appropriately, a few students will also likely use Wolfram|Alpha to quickly solve a homework problem that is imminently due.
Take Wolfram|Alpha for a spin and tell us what you think.
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