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I'd be sad if in ten years time children aren't being taught via software that's pushing them exactly as much as they can be pushed, and adaptive to the way the

I'd be sad if in ten years time children aren't being taught via software that's pushing them exactly as much as they can be pushed, and adaptive to the way the child enjoys learning and modes of explanation that have proven effective for the child in the past. There's (I believe) plenty of value in exposing children to other children for socialization, but I'm not sure this needs to be at the same time as they're learning, rather than via play and activities designed to promote interaction, rather than learning per-se.

sethammons 8y ago
About 10 years ago, I started to design a learning system like this. It was before I had heard of Khan Academy. The idea is like that, but on steroids. Imagine a wiki where every lesson is available as a lecture and in writing (and where possible, an interactive lab, either in app or in real life). Every topic forms a graph that is explorable via links to get proper scaffolding. See or hear a word or topic you don't remember or understand? Click and follow the rabbit hole. The system would provide different styles of lecture and reading that align with a given student's preference. Educators could upload new content and students could rate that content as to help the best content raise to the top for other students to explore. To advance up the tree of a subject, a student would have to pass quizzes and the system would identify the holes in the student's understanding and provide content to fill the hole. Such a system could effectively flip teaching where teachers facilitate and help with questions while the software ensures the "best in class" content is provided and assessed. I still think about building that from time to time, but life and work don't leave me with the time to start building that. 10 years ago, I got a little ways into the engine for it for an algebra course and that was it.
joaomacp 8y ago
Of course software can play a bigger role, but don't underestimate the importance of contact with human teachers and colleagues of high expertise, as well as feeling valued by other humans instead of making a virtual skill-level go up
stevesimmons 8y ago
There are some pretty effective adaptive learning systems for elementary schools. Here is one I am familiar with, from The Netherlands, in 2800 schools, around 25% of the total: * https://nl.snappet.org/ https://nl.snappet.org/ (Apologies that it is only in Dutch). The adaptive software pushes each child optimally for their individual learning rate. Their teachers can monitor their progress at a very granular level and give individual attention in a targeted way. The overall progress of the class can be compared with all other classes across the country.

sethammons 8y ago

About 10 years ago, I started to design a learning system like this. It was before I had heard of Khan Academy. The idea is like that, but on steroids. Imagine a wiki where every lesson is available as a lecture and in writing (and where possible, an interactive lab, either in app or in real life). Every topic forms a graph that is explorable via links to get proper scaffolding. See or hear a word or topic you don't remember or understand? Click and follow the rabbit hole. The system would provide different styles of lecture and reading that align with a given student's preference. Educators could upload new content and students could rate that content as to help the best content raise to the top for other students to explore. To advance up the tree of a subject, a student would have to pass quizzes and the system would identify the holes in the student's understanding and provide content to fill the hole. Such a system could effectively flip teaching where teachers facilitate and help with questions while the software ensures the "best in class" content is provided and assessed. I still think about building that from time to time, but life and work don't leave me with the time to start building that. 10 years ago, I got a little ways into the engine for it for an algebra course and that was it.

joaomacp 8y ago

Of course software can play a bigger role, but don't underestimate the importance of contact with human teachers and colleagues of high expertise, as well as feeling valued by other humans instead of making a virtual skill-level go up

stevesimmons 8y ago

There are some pretty effective adaptive learning systems for elementary schools. Here is one I am familiar with, from The Netherlands, in 2800 schools, around 25% of the total: * https://nl.snappet.org/ https://nl.snappet.org/ (Apologies that it is only in Dutch). The adaptive software pushes each child optimally for their individual learning rate. Their teachers can monitor their progress at a very granular level and give individual attention in a targeted way. The overall progress of the class can be compared with all other classes across the country.