What is changing in education? (universities, school, computers, GPA)

[R3ALTAWK718]

What is changing in education? How are school systems being reformed?

Today's children are very different from those before the advent of the internet. Today's children need stimulation through audio, visual, and actual physical experience. The children of today also need more exposure to current issues in our fast paced globalized world. Also taking into effect a changing country where tomorrow is not guaranteed.

When I was in school it felt like a warehouse with a timeline, and the product was often delivered incomplete.

Has anything changed?

[man of mucus]

No

[lkb0714]

Originally Posted by R3ALTAWK718

What is changing in education? How are school systems being reformed?

Today's children are very different from those before the advent of the internet. Today's children need stimulation through audio, visual, and actual physical experience. The children of today also need more exposure to current issues in our fast paced globalized world. Also taking into effect a changing country where tomorrow is not guaranteed.

When I was in school it felt like a warehouse with a timeline, and the product was often delivered incomplete.

Has anything changed?

Children are no different, and they do not need additional stimulation as they are constantly being bombarded with that else where. What is different is the world, not the kids.

What they do need are different skills as they relate to technology. Things like being able to judge and determine if an internet source is credible or not (a skill many adults lack).

I am not sure why they need more exposure to "current issues" than students in prior years but as I am a science teacher I will leave that to a history or social studies teacher to speak to.

Finally, again not sure what you mean by "tomorrow is not guaranteed"; especially as it hasn't been "guaranteed" ever. I think children of the Cold War era of bomb drills under their desks were wary of "tomorrow" than children today.

[killer2021]

public education is rather stagnant, VERY SLOW adoption of new technology.

The trend in education is this: customized online education. I am not talking about those online scam diploma mill universities. I am talking about private companies that are developing learning management systems. Some of these systems are pretty darn advanced. I've seen some that use adaptive algorithms, basically the courses customizes itself to the student. If the student is performing bad on a test, the algorithm will detect this and provide extra help specific to the student's weaknesses. Literally, the software allows you to learn from your mistakes.

The software replaces the teacher entirely. The teacher gets replaced by video lectures, computerized self-grading tests with adaptive feedback and dynamically generated customized textbooks. The entire course is self-paced. If you are smart and learn fast, then the course gets faster so you learn more stuff. If you need extra help then the software provides it for you, automatically. This method of learning is alot more efficient, cheaper and beneficial to the student. The important aspect is that every student will learn the same skills, unlike traditional schooling where students often get passed along without fully grasping the skills and knowledge needed to be successful in the future. I am sure in 10 years, the cost of obtaining a college level education (NOTE: I said college level EDUCATION, not college DIPLOMA.) will be very affordable, such that every person can easily obtain it. Likewise, these types of courses will be easily available to everyone in the entire world who has internet access. They'll be translated into virtually any language.

Its definitely an interesting dynamic occurring in the education world. The private sector will easily beat the public sector, by far. What I've seen is very impressive.

Here is a company that is using the basic technology except they are going after public sector schools:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LldxxVRj4FU

The real breakthrough comes when you sell your courses directly to students and self-learners. Right now everyone in public education is focused on teaching students the knowledge to pass the state tests. This method sounds like a good idea but it isn't. What it does is force the teacher to teach to the test, rather than provide the maximum knowledge potential to the students. In the future you aren't going to be concerned about what the student's GPA is. It won't be relevant. You are going to be concerned about what knowledge they know. For example:

1. How many languages do you speak?
2. Do you understand differential calculus? Can you apply that knowledge to real world applications?
3. Do you understand how the human brain works?
4. How many programming languages can you write in?
5. Do you understand how to apply statistical models to real world data?

etc etc etc.

School should place emphasis on the above type of questions. Teaching students the KNOWLEDGE and SKILLS that make intelligent people.

[Ivorytickler]

Originally Posted by killer2021

public education is rather stagnant, VERY SLOW adoption of new technology.

The trend in education is this: customized online education. I am not talking about those online scam diploma mill universities. I am talking about private companies that are developing learning management systems. Some of these systems are pretty darn advanced. I've seen some that use adaptive algorithms, basically the courses customizes itself to the student. If the student is performing bad on a test, the algorithm will detect this and provide extra help specific to the student's weaknesses. Literally, the software allows you to learn from your mistakes.

The software replaces the teacher entirely. The teacher gets replaced by video lectures, computerized self-grading tests with adaptive feedback and dynamically generated customized textbooks. The entire course is self-paced. If you are smart and learn fast, then the course gets faster so you learn more stuff. If you need extra help then the software provides it for you, automatically. This method of learning is alot more efficient, cheaper and beneficial to the student. The important aspect is that every student will learn the same skills, unlike traditional schooling where students often get passed along without fully grasping the skills and knowledge needed to be successful in the future. I am sure in 10 years, the cost of obtaining a college level education (NOTE: I said college level EDUCATION, not college DIPLOMA.) will be very affordable, such that every person can easily obtain it. Likewise, these types of courses will be easily available to everyone in the entire world who has internet access. They'll be translated into virtually any language.

Its definitely an interesting dynamic occurring in the education world. The private sector will easily beat the public sector, by far. What I've seen is very impressive.

Here is a company that is using the basic technology except they are going after public sector schools:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LldxxVRj4FU

The real breakthrough comes when you sell your courses directly to students and self-learners. Right now everyone in public education is focused on teaching students the knowledge to pass the state tests. This method sounds like a good idea but it isn't. What it does is force the teacher to teach to the test, rather than provide the maximum knowledge potential to the students. In the future you aren't going to be concerned about what the student's GPA is. It won't be relevant. You are going to be concerned about what knowledge they know. For example:

1. How many languages do you speak?
2. Do you understand differential calculus? Can you apply that knowledge to real world applications?
3. Do you understand how the human brain works?
4. How many programming languages can you write in?
5. Do you understand how to apply statistical models to real world data?

etc etc etc.

School should place emphasis on the above type of questions. Teaching students the KNOWLEDGE and SKILLS that make intelligent people.

You know, this all sounds good but how do you think it will work? Will students be motivated to learn on their own at their own pace?

I have an acquaintance who is working at a school that is trying on line learning. She says it's a major headache getting kids to stay on track. They've had to set minimum goals for how much material must be covered by a certain time because kids choose to take the slowest pace or goof off. Her job is now policing them on line. Making sure they're not on facebook instead of the program they're supposed to be on.

I think programs like this should be available for those who want to pace faster or just get a certain class over with, I'm not sure it's going to work for the average student. (I'm not sure what we're doing is working for them either ). I just don't see most students as motivated to learn on their own and I think something is lost when you remove dialog with teachers and fellow students. Some of the best discussions in my class happen when some my students ask off the wall questions.

I can see this as supplemental learning but I don't see it ever replacing the teacher, completely. That will work for a hand full of students but I don't think it will for most. I think you'll see what the teacher I was tallking about is seeing. Kids dragging their feet, taking the slowest path and trying to things they find more interesting than learning. However, I do see districts trying it enmasse because it's cheaper. You don't need teachers. You just need baby sitters and they don't cost nearly as much as a teacher. I also see them going back to having teachers within a few years of starting this because I think they will find that human interaction is a necessary component of education.

[Milleka]

The problem IS the technology. Most kids want immediate gratification with little effort. If information doesn't come at them in 15 second sound bites, they don't want to make the effort to get it. I cannot imagine how plugging these kids in to even more would be beneficial in any way. Between TV, internet, cell phones, and Ipods, some of these kids spend 24 hrs a day with some sort of machine in their ear. My 6th grade son came home the other day and told me they are now doing "Ipod Math" at school. When does it stop? Kids' brains need a break from all that crap. IMHO.

[HappyTexan]

Technology is useful AFTER you've learned the concepts with your brain and hands.
Hand a kid a calculator and they see no need to memorize their times tables or build up their mental ability to do simple arithmetic.
Have a kid write papers using a word processor with spell check and they see no need to learn spelling or the rules of spelling.

Create a generation of those dependent on technology will not lead to innovation of new technology.

[Ivorytickler]

Originally Posted by Milleka

The problem IS the technology. Most kids want immediate gratification with little effort. If information doesn't come at them in 15 second sound bites, they don't want to make the effort to get it. I cannot imagine how plugging these kids in to even more would be beneficial in any way. Between TV, internet, cell phones, and Ipods, some of these kids spend 24 hrs a day with some sort of machine in their ear. My 6th grade son came home the other day and told me they are now doing "Ipod Math" at school. When does it stop? Kids' brains need a break from all that crap. IMHO.

I have to agree with you. This is why, initially, on line learning will seem attractive but I think it won't work unless it's faster and easier and has built in rewards and then what kinds of workers will these kids become? I'm not sure this is the solution. It will likely be a flash in the pan like so many things that were touted as the great solution to education.

The only experience I've heard of with this it the acquaintance who is doing on line science courses for her school and it's turning into a nightmare because the kdis would rather play games, text and email than work with the program. Kids aren't moving at a faster pace. They're moving at a slower pace. Unfortunately, the year still only has 180 days.

Now I do think technology has it's uses. For example, I'm buying myself a Christmas present. A headset with a microphone. I can record my voice over my smart board presentations, export it as a WMV file and put it on line for kids who are absent who who just need to see the lecture again. I haven't done it yet but I know it can be done so I'm going to do it. My plan is to record my two best classes (the ones who ask good questions) and then put that presentation up on my Moodle page.

[Ivorytickler]

Originally Posted by HappyTexan

Technology is useful AFTER you've learned the concepts with your brain and hands.
Hand a kid a calculator and they see no need to memorize their times tables or build up their mental ability to do simple arithmetic.
Have a kid write papers using a word processor with spell check and they see no need to learn spelling or the rules of spelling.

Create a generation of those dependent on technology will not lead to innovation of new technology.

You are correct. We are creating a generation of technology users so the few who can do will be in very high demand. I plan on making sure my kids can DO as well as use.

[killer2021]

You know, this all sounds good but how do you think it will work? Will students be motivated to learn on their own at their own pace?

Well if they aren't motivated to learn then they won't learn, regardless of the situation. Doesn't matter if its online school or classroom based school. I would say you need strong parent involvement for the student to be successful at any learning situation. Especially if they are younger.

I can see this as supplemental learning but I don't see it ever replacing the teacher, completely.

Depends on the subject. Most subjects I would say could be taught through self education - math, chemistry, English etc is all pretty basic topics and could be automated through LMS based technology. Higher level learning involving research would benefit from peer based learning. Oh and teachers will always be around, however they will take on different roles, they will act as a tutor rather than doing lecture based teaching.

The problem IS the technology. Most kids want immediate gratification with little effort. If information doesn't come at them in 15 second sound bites, they don't want to make the effort to get it. I cannot imagine how plugging these kids in to even more would be beneficial in any way. Between TV, internet, cell phones, and Ipods, some of these kids spend 24 hrs a day with some sort of machine in their ear. My 6th grade son came home the other day and told me they are now doing "Ipod Math" at school. When does it stop? Kids' brains need a break from all that crap. IMHO.

The usefulness of the technology depends on how you use it. The internet can be used for pleasure but it can also be used for education. Just because the internet is useful for pleasure doesn't discount the potential it has for education. If the student spends all his time on facebook, youtube, whatever rather than learning then its his/her own loss. This is another area where I suggest parenting skills come into play. LMS based learning incorporate parental involvement. If junior is slacking off then mom and dad are clearly going to know based on the reports they'll be getting in their email box

Oh and I am not talking about generic technology. I talking about technology that is specifically designed for education and facilitating learning. There is a difference ya know!

Oh and many agree with my point of view. Companies are developing ultra low cost laptops and tablet computers. The idea being that these devices could be deployed to nations which lack public education. The kids will teach themselves through the laptop or tablet computer. The same thing is going to be applied to developed countries. The students who can adequately self teach themselves are the ones who will move to the top. If you need a teacher to teach you everything you will be at a great disadvantage.