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> Active teaching doesn't scale. This is so very true. > For most students in most subjects, learning requires active teaching. I strongly disagree with this

> Active teaching doesn't scale. This is so very true. > For most students in most subjects, learning requires active teaching. I strongly disagree with this. I was homeschooled through high school and taught myself for most subjects during high school - my parents gave me textbooks and teacher's manuals, said "ask us when you get stuck," and I went to town. That's largely how I approached college, too - attended lectures, did the assignments and read the textbooks. That was a big mistake on my part - I could have gotten so much more out of my education if I'd really developed relationships with my college professors and worked with them more. Nonetheless, I did manage to learn most of what was in my CS program that way. I'm no genius, and I really think anyone with a normal brain can do what I did (given the time and resources to focus on study). Is self-teaching plus active teaching better than self-teaching plus lectures? Absolutely. You'll spend far less time struggling and being stuck, and your teacher will be able to communicate new ideas directly to you so much better than they can to a whole crowd. Nonetheless, I think for most subjects it just isn't actually necessary. It's a luxury, lovely when you can get it, but not required for learning.

throwawaygh 6y ago
I also taught myself to program in 3rd grade and read the classics on my own as a child. But also, I've taught thousands of students. Your claim might be true in some abstract sense. I could believe that if we give all students personal tutors from a young age then most any student can learn how to learn on their own by age 10 or 15 or so. Having educated and involved parents certainly made that possible for me and I'm nothing special. But conservatively 90% of students don't arrive at college ready for that level of self-directed learning. Consider e.g. that about half of college students are first generation college students.
bo1024 6y ago
It sounds like your homeschool environment prepared you very well for that style of learning in college. > I'm no genius, and I really think anyone with a normal brain can do what I did I'm a big believer that almost anyone is smart enough to learn almost anything if they are motivated and have the time and energy. There are two problems. One is that people don't necessarily know how to learn (and we may not be good at teaching them this). The other is that schools have to meet students where they are -- not just in terms of smarts about the subject, but in terms of motivation and commitment level.

throwawaygh 6y ago

I also taught myself to program in 3rd grade and read the classics on my own as a child. But also, I've taught thousands of students. Your claim might be true in some abstract sense. I could believe that if we give all students personal tutors from a young age then most any student can learn how to learn on their own by age 10 or 15 or so. Having educated and involved parents certainly made that possible for me and I'm nothing special. But conservatively 90% of students don't arrive at college ready for that level of self-directed learning. Consider e.g. that about half of college students are first generation college students.

bo1024 6y ago

It sounds like your homeschool environment prepared you very well for that style of learning in college. > I'm no genius, and I really think anyone with a normal brain can do what I did I'm a big believer that almost anyone is smart enough to learn almost anything if they are motivated and have the time and energy. There are two problems. One is that people don't necessarily know how to learn (and we may not be good at teaching them this). The other is that schools have to meet students where they are -- not just in terms of smarts about the subject, but in terms of motivation and commitment level.