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Well, it's still true that CD-ROMs [or rather, 'digital lessons'] actually don't take the place of a competent teacher. Some autodidacts can go very far with di

by vacri 10y ago

Well, it's still true that CD-ROMs [or rather, 'digital lessons'] actually don't take the place of a competent teacher. Some autodidacts can go very far with digital materials, but for Jane and John Q Public, teachers are better than digital lessons. They're just more expensive, is all. Plus, of course, there are particular topics that are much better suited for one style or the other, but in general, a competent meat teacher is better than a competent silicon one.

keithwhor 10y ago
"a competent meat teacher is better than a competent silicon one" ... for now, and even then I'm not so sure. Edit: And what about a competent teacher that records one lesson and broadcasts it to millions?
- meric 10y ago
  By better, he means better excluding quantity. For a particular individual, a competent meat teacher is more valuable than a competent silicon one.
- vacri 10y ago
  Teaching is a two-way communication - a good teacher can pick up on how well the student is doing, and raise or lower the pitch of the lesson to match, or observe simple (or complex) misconceptions early[1]. A digital broadcast can't do that. In theory, we can get AI that can dynamically adapt to their students, but we're a very long way from that. [1]A simple example - I self-taught myself guitar using online resources. I wasn't great, but I seemed to be doing what all the various resources were saying to do. Eventually I got tired of always being terrible, and shelled out for a teacher. In the first couple of weeks, he had fixed half-a-dozen tiny issues with my technique, which added up to make a terrible cacophony. I'd never be able to do that with the online resources. Another example, from when I was a practical class demonstrator for a biology-based class in the '90s. There was a hue and cry about how all lessons of the future would be digital and no more lab animals would have to die (toads, for us). I countered with "how are you going to have a video show you how it feels to tie a ligature too loose or too tight?". Likewise, David Attenborough's documentaries are sterling, but they're not as good as going to the place and experiencing it in person. Physical skills like the above are clear examples, but even for a standard lecture, human beats video-of-human - how many of us have been in a lecture when someone asks a 'stupid question' that clears up a misconception for everyone? Good digital lessons are great for scale, but a good meat-based teacher is better. Of course, bad versions of either can be downright destructive...
simula67 10y ago
There are also very small number of high quality teachers to go around. Being from India, I had pretty bad teachers in college. If it wasn't for MIT opencourseware, and other videos I found online, I wouldn't have learned anything at all.
mseebach 10y ago
> in general, a competent meat teacher is better than a competent silicon one That's true, but it's one that has to be observed modulo the availability of competent meat teachers (skilled in the relevant subject). These are in short supply, certainly in the developing world -- but even in the schools and universities of the developed world, the availability of teachers in any subject is generally limited to a few hours a day, and for enrolled students only. I think they should be seen a complementary, especially for younger students, but the availability of a competent silicon teacher in any of a wide range of subjects, for anyone, anytime, anywhere is huge.
alanwatts 10y ago
>teachers are better than digital lessons. What about a combination of the two[1]? I.e. recording digital lessons and then using a community question and answer forum to fill in the gaps. [1]https://laracasts.com https://laracasts.com

by vacri 10y ago

keithwhor 10y ago

"a competent meat teacher is better than a competent silicon one" ... for now, and even then I'm not so sure. Edit: And what about a competent teacher that records one lesson and broadcasts it to millions?

meric 10y ago
By better, he means better excluding quantity. For a particular individual, a competent meat teacher is more valuable than a competent silicon one.
vacri 10y ago
Teaching is a two-way communication - a good teacher can pick up on how well the student is doing, and raise or lower the pitch of the lesson to match, or observe simple (or complex) misconceptions early[1]. A digital broadcast can't do that. In theory, we can get AI that can dynamically adapt to their students, but we're a very long way from that. [1]A simple example - I self-taught myself guitar using online resources. I wasn't great, but I seemed to be doing what all the various resources were saying to do. Eventually I got tired of always being terrible, and shelled out for a teacher. In the first couple of weeks, he had fixed half-a-dozen tiny issues with my technique, which added up to make a terrible cacophony. I'd never be able to do that with the online resources. Another example, from when I was a practical class demonstrator for a biology-based class in the '90s. There was a hue and cry about how all lessons of the future would be digital and no more lab animals would have to die (toads, for us). I countered with "how are you going to have a video show you how it feels to tie a ligature too loose or too tight?". Likewise, David Attenborough's documentaries are sterling, but they're not as good as going to the place and experiencing it in person. Physical skills like the above are clear examples, but even for a standard lecture, human beats video-of-human - how many of us have been in a lecture when someone asks a 'stupid question' that clears up a misconception for everyone? Good digital lessons are great for scale, but a good meat-based teacher is better. Of course, bad versions of either can be downright destructive...

simula67 10y ago

There are also very small number of high quality teachers to go around. Being from India, I had pretty bad teachers in college. If it wasn't for MIT opencourseware, and other videos I found online, I wouldn't have learned anything at all.

mseebach 10y ago

> in general, a competent meat teacher is better than a competent silicon one That's true, but it's one that has to be observed modulo the availability of competent meat teachers (skilled in the relevant subject). These are in short supply, certainly in the developing world -- but even in the schools and universities of the developed world, the availability of teachers in any subject is generally limited to a few hours a day, and for enrolled students only. I think they should be seen a complementary, especially for younger students, but the availability of a competent silicon teacher in any of a wide range of subjects, for anyone, anytime, anywhere is huge.

alanwatts 10y ago

>teachers are better than digital lessons. What about a combination of the two[1]? I.e. recording digital lessons and then using a community question and answer forum to fill in the gaps. [1]https://laracasts.com https://laracasts.com