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The extreme lengths the state will go thru to make sure everyone is attending school... what's wrong with online/virtual learning? Imagine if you could select f

The extreme lengths the state will go thru to make sure everyone is attending school... what's wrong with online/virtual learning? Imagine if you could select from the very best rather than being limited to your own school district.

paulcole 5y ago
> what's wrong with online/virtual learning This is a good question and one I don’t know the answer to. From the rest of your comment it seems like your answer might be “nothing.” Is that accurate or do you see issues with online/virtual learning?
space_fountain 5y ago
Online school has been horrible for many children’s educational outcomes this past year. Getting some of them to actually attend and pay attention has been impossible. Maybe in households with attentive available parents it would be fine, but as it is it’s helped to expand the education gap across the US
- musicale 5y ago
  > Getting some of them to actually attend and pay attention has been impossible. The solution then is obviously to lock students in a room that they can't escape! Might not help with the attention part though (based on my own observation and experience.) Kids are curious and natural learners - I think we have to ask ourselves: how can we nurture this instinct rather than killing it?
  - space_fountain 5y ago
    I mean school should absolutely be better, but 13 year olds aren’t exactly known for making informed choices about their future and we have been trying the online school thing and the results don’t look good. We need to be evidence based about this and not just base it on what feels right or we think would have helped us
musicale 5y ago
I think remote learning is great, and I've benefited greatly from MOOCs for example, as well as online course materials, textbooks, and videos. It's great for self-directed learning, and it can be very good if you can get personalized help and guidance from an instructor. However, Kindergartens, labs, and in-person campuses can be better for: - social interaction - learning from other students - personal attention from teachers - hands-on stuff: tools, toys, books, notebooks, art and craft supplies, lab equipment, etc. - engaging your non-visual senses - physical movement and exercise
jokethrowaway 5y ago
It has more to do with the way we measure academic success, politicians exercising their power, maintaining the status quo. Not much on the quality of education. I believe frontal lessons + tests to be a terrible way to learn for roughly half of the kids and they would definitely thrive with more self directed learning (think project based learning). There are other problems linked to not physical attending schools (eg. socialising with peers, having a routine based on locations and activities) but this robot doesn't solve that as well
- deevolution 5y ago
  Also a robot is going to be far more expensive than something like a VR classroom. VR classrooms solves the socializing aspect. Also another benefit to a VR classroom would be potentially less bullying based on gender/race/weight if you can select whatever avatar you want
tweetle_beetle 5y ago
This story is about a child with special needs being able to enjoy some level of parity with their classmates. One of the basic principles/aspirations of state education is that it offers the same experience to all students. Not all students have the same environment for learning at home. Additionally teaching requires some level of personal interaction. Students competing for places at the virtual school with the best reputation sounds pretty dystopian to me.

paulcole 5y ago

> what's wrong with online/virtual learning This is a good question and one I don’t know the answer to. From the rest of your comment it seems like your answer might be “nothing.” Is that accurate or do you see issues with online/virtual learning?

space_fountain 5y ago

Online school has been horrible for many children’s educational outcomes this past year. Getting some of them to actually attend and pay attention has been impossible. Maybe in households with attentive available parents it would be fine, but as it is it’s helped to expand the education gap across the US

musicale 5y ago
> Getting some of them to actually attend and pay attention has been impossible. The solution then is obviously to lock students in a room that they can't escape! Might not help with the attention part though (based on my own observation and experience.) Kids are curious and natural learners - I think we have to ask ourselves: how can we nurture this instinct rather than killing it?
- space_fountain 5y ago
  I mean school should absolutely be better, but 13 year olds aren’t exactly known for making informed choices about their future and we have been trying the online school thing and the results don’t look good. We need to be evidence based about this and not just base it on what feels right or we think would have helped us

musicale 5y ago

I think remote learning is great, and I've benefited greatly from MOOCs for example, as well as online course materials, textbooks, and videos. It's great for self-directed learning, and it can be very good if you can get personalized help and guidance from an instructor. However, Kindergartens, labs, and in-person campuses can be better for: - social interaction - learning from other students - personal attention from teachers - hands-on stuff: tools, toys, books, notebooks, art and craft supplies, lab equipment, etc. - engaging your non-visual senses - physical movement and exercise

jokethrowaway 5y ago

It has more to do with the way we measure academic success, politicians exercising their power, maintaining the status quo. Not much on the quality of education. I believe frontal lessons + tests to be a terrible way to learn for roughly half of the kids and they would definitely thrive with more self directed learning (think project based learning). There are other problems linked to not physical attending schools (eg. socialising with peers, having a routine based on locations and activities) but this robot doesn't solve that as well

deevolution 5y ago
Also a robot is going to be far more expensive than something like a VR classroom. VR classrooms solves the socializing aspect. Also another benefit to a VR classroom would be potentially less bullying based on gender/race/weight if you can select whatever avatar you want

tweetle_beetle 5y ago

This story is about a child with special needs being able to enjoy some level of parity with their classmates. One of the basic principles/aspirations of state education is that it offers the same experience to all students. Not all students have the same environment for learning at home. Additionally teaching requires some level of personal interaction. Students competing for places at the virtual school with the best reputation sounds pretty dystopian to me.