Influencing Change

Educators have a responsibility towards ensuring the education sector adheres to appropriate educational technology practices regardless of Amazon's Education Team's approach. Outcomes show that using a human name for a voice assistant in the classroom doesn't follow best practices in edtech. Using "Alexa" as the wake word in your classroom marginalizes a group of children regardless of if you have a student named Alexa.

• if you're using the wake word "Alexa" in your classroom, model best practices and change it to 'Amazon' or 'Computer'
• educate your students on why you're implementing this change 
• remind your students about their responsibility of being kind to others and respecting people's names

• change the wake word to 'Amazon' or 'Computer' {with the products that allow a wake word change}
• refrain from willful blindness and execute a mindset shift
• initiate and discuss this voice tech issue with your colleagues and industry leaders
• analyze and implement appropriate standards of practice in voice tech
• engage with Amazon leadership and ask them to accelerate customization or use a non-human name

You signed a contract with Amazon that restricts users from changing the wake word and requires them to use "Alexa" only. Data indicate complaints on these restrictions. How are you going to rectify this?

• request a removal of this stipulation in your contract by emphasizing the importance of ensuring all customers have a positive experience with your products
• AVS Program Requirements (amazon.com)

"Alexa" Service Requirements #16: "you will not use or allow the use of any wake word or other trigger word as part of accessing the "Alexa" Service in your AVS Products other than the wake or trigger words authorized by Amazon (currently "Alexa")"

• change the wake word to 'Amazon' or 'Computer' {with products that allow a wake word change}
• explain to your child(ren) why you're implementing this change in your home
• teach your child(ren) to refrain from teasing if they meet or know an Alexa (i.e., respecting names)
• put yourselves in their shoes by replacing "Alexa" with your child's name

Parents of Alexas aren't "snowflake parents" and believe their children must develop skills to handle adversity. However, the continual negotiations and triggering of devices results in having to speak out for appropriate voice tech practices.

• if you don't know an Alexa, consider supporting ethical voice tech behaviors by changing the wake word to Amazon or Computer since Amazon tracks wake word data usage
• many products (700 +) don't allow a wake word change; complain to Amazon