4 ms·

Isn't this a good thing for us? Teacher is still a pretty low tech job even though technology could do a lot in the classroom. So wouldn't a lack of teachers

by SamAtt 16y ago

Isn't this a good thing for us? Teacher is still a pretty low tech job even though technology could do a lot in the classroom. So wouldn't a lack of teachers force school districts to look towards technological solutions? There was an article just today about teaching methods that don't require teachers in the classroom at all: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1521077 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1521077 I'm not saying we go to that extreme but there's a lot that can be done in education and technology and a teacher shortage is exactly the type of thing that would jump start that development.

idoh 16y ago
I think tech in the classroom is highly overrated, in that the funding in schools is so short that even basic things are lacking. Let's start with paper in classroom for tests and water & coffee in the breakroom.
- tomjen3 16y ago
  Ha, you are lucky. Danish schools have maps so old the Soviet Union is still on them (they are still in process of facing them out). 3 Years ago my school still had a couple of 386s for the kids to play on (they did also have a few more modern computers, but still)
  - bitwize 16y ago
    Oregon Trail still works on them, so who cares? :)
- ams6110 16y ago
  Abosolutely. If kids cannot read, write, analyze problems, do basic math.... computers are a waste of money and a distraction from more fundamental concerns.
fiblye 16y ago
A major problem is testing new teaching methods in classrooms is risky and oftentimes extremely expensive, and much more so if the method doesn't quite worked out as planned. Instead of taking such a risk, school districts would more than likely pick up inexperienced teachers and have them do nothing but follow textbooks to the word, which is pretty much what's been happening the past few years. Not having teachers at all simply doesn't work since many schools do more babysitting than teaching (or at least that was my experience with high school). For teacher-less teaching to work, you'd have to assume at least 9/10 students are self-motivated and are willing to do work without someone breathing down their back and, really, it's not going to happen.
- pbhjpbhj 16y ago
  >For teacher-less teaching to work, you'd have to assume at least 9/10 students are self-motivated and are willing to do work without someone breathing down their back and, really, it's not going to happen. Do you have any thoughts about why 90% of kids (by your statement, if I read it right) aren't able to motivate themselves to even behave in class never mind push themselves? To my mind this is a shortfall of the welfare system. I'd have no problem with cutting child focussed family allowances if a child is constantly absent, bullies, is persistently disruptive or is violent or abusive in school (without a doctors note pre-warning teachers of a mental condition, say). This needs a correspondingly strict youth offending policy and willingness to allow prisons to get very full in the short term in case there is a corresponding upturn in crime rates as unruly elements of society adjust to having less money because of their unsocial actions. I'd also cut compulsory education back to about 14years and offer more practical courses in place.
CWuestefeld 16y ago
You might think so, but it seems (at least in my experience) to turn out that in education and other governmental organizations, funds tend to get routed toward personnel expenses and away from capital expenditures. This is why so many governmental offices are have ugly painted cinderblock walls and uncomfortable chairs, while the workers are accruing big pensions and taking enforced coffee breaks. (Sorry if that seems a little bitter. I'm reporting what I think I'm observing) So I think that the power structure in the system will prevent an improvement in efficiency like what you describe.

by SamAtt 16y ago

idoh 16y ago

I think tech in the classroom is highly overrated, in that the funding in schools is so short that even basic things are lacking. Let's start with paper in classroom for tests and water & coffee in the breakroom.

tomjen3 16y ago
Ha, you are lucky. Danish schools have maps so old the Soviet Union is still on them (they are still in process of facing them out). 3 Years ago my school still had a couple of 386s for the kids to play on (they did also have a few more modern computers, but still)
- bitwize 16y ago
  Oregon Trail still works on them, so who cares? :)
ams6110 16y ago
Abosolutely. If kids cannot read, write, analyze problems, do basic math.... computers are a waste of money and a distraction from more fundamental concerns.

fiblye 16y ago

A major problem is testing new teaching methods in classrooms is risky and oftentimes extremely expensive, and much more so if the method doesn't quite worked out as planned. Instead of taking such a risk, school districts would more than likely pick up inexperienced teachers and have them do nothing but follow textbooks to the word, which is pretty much what's been happening the past few years. Not having teachers at all simply doesn't work since many schools do more babysitting than teaching (or at least that was my experience with high school). For teacher-less teaching to work, you'd have to assume at least 9/10 students are self-motivated and are willing to do work without someone breathing down their back and, really, it's not going to happen.

pbhjpbhj 16y ago
>For teacher-less teaching to work, you'd have to assume at least 9/10 students are self-motivated and are willing to do work without someone breathing down their back and, really, it's not going to happen. Do you have any thoughts about why 90% of kids (by your statement, if I read it right) aren't able to motivate themselves to even behave in class never mind push themselves? To my mind this is a shortfall of the welfare system. I'd have no problem with cutting child focussed family allowances if a child is constantly absent, bullies, is persistently disruptive or is violent or abusive in school (without a doctors note pre-warning teachers of a mental condition, say). This needs a correspondingly strict youth offending policy and willingness to allow prisons to get very full in the short term in case there is a corresponding upturn in crime rates as unruly elements of society adjust to having less money because of their unsocial actions. I'd also cut compulsory education back to about 14years and offer more practical courses in place.

CWuestefeld 16y ago

You might think so, but it seems (at least in my experience) to turn out that in education and other governmental organizations, funds tend to get routed toward personnel expenses and away from capital expenditures. This is why so many governmental offices are have ugly painted cinderblock walls and uncomfortable chairs, while the workers are accruing big pensions and taking enforced coffee breaks. (Sorry if that seems a little bitter. I'm reporting what I think I'm observing) So I think that the power structure in the system will prevent an improvement in efficiency like what you describe.