20 replies to this topic

[Reno]

I really enjoyed this article.

Professor Sugata Mitra has been experimenting with placing computers near kids randomly to see if he can help them academically.

http://www.cnn.com/2...dex.html?hpt=C2

Edited by Reno, 26 September 2010 - 10:41 PM.

[niner]

Professor Sugata Mitra has been experimenting with placing computers near kids randomly to see if he can help them academically.

Curious methodology. How many of them steal the computers and sell them on ebay? If they were my kids, they would quickly be watching video game walkthroughs on youtube. Either way, I don't think it would help them academically. Help them pay for books and supplies, maybe.

With the right software, computers can be hugely educational, and could certainly replace teachers in some circumstances, but not others. IMHO...

[Reno]

If you haven't already I would suggest you read the article and watch the video.

Edited by Reno, 27 September 2010 - 12:56 AM.

[BritLee]

I do not think that any thing can take a place of a teacher because any technology or book do come for help but the one how make that thing understand to us is teacher if the teacher do not make us understand what should we do then.

Edited by maxwatt, 01 October 2010 - 02:08 PM.
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[e Volution]

Bill Gates thinks so!

[Marios Kyriazis]

Computers will eventually take the place of human teachers, as is now happening with the case of doctors. How many people try to diagnose and treat their condition via the internet? By the same token, how many are trying to learn from the internet? Of course teachers will continue to be indispensible but for how long...

[churchill]

There was a study done recently which found that it was better to be in a lecture, rather than watch the lecture by video conference. Of course if Video conference is all you have then its better than nothing.

Set up in the correct way I think that computers can teach pretty well (e.g. Rosetta stone for language).

[Ghostrider]

How are computers any better for teaching than books? I would love it if computers could help me understand a part of a math proof in a text book. But there's the problem, in order to further explain something, it's necessary to understand it.

[e Volution]

How are computers any better for teaching than books? I would love it if computers could help me understand a part of a math proof in a text book. But there's the problem, in order to further explain something, it's necessary to understand it.

This is false, and I believe preliminary semi-successful Turing Test AIs are proving this currently. Deep Blue didn't "understand" chess...

[Ghostrider]

How are computers any better for teaching than books? I would love it if computers could help me understand a part of a math proof in a text book. But there's the problem, in order to further explain something, it's necessary to understand it.

This is false, and I believe preliminary semi-successful Turing Test AIs are proving this currently. Deep Blue didn't "understand" chess...

To teach is to convey understanding. So one either does not understand something, but just memorized someone else's understanding. Or one understands something and can therefore explain.

[niner]

How are computers any better for teaching than books? I would love it if computers could help me understand a part of a math proof in a text book. But there's the problem, in order to further explain something, it's necessary to understand it.

This is false, and I believe preliminary semi-successful Turing Test AIs are proving this currently. Deep Blue didn't "understand" chess...

To teach is to convey understanding. So one either does not understand something, but just memorized someone else's understanding. Or one understands something and can therefore explain.

Sometimes teaching is only conveying data. When the data is in place, the understanding comes. Computers can constantly check to see if you understand the lesson, and can have a "conversation" with you. Computers can alter their approach if you aren't getting it. Books can not do things like this.

[churchill]

How are computers any better for teaching than books? I would love it if computers could help me understand a part of a math proof in a text book. But there's the problem, in order to further explain something, it's necessary to understand it.

Computers are better than books because they are interactive, they can store much more information and allow you to drill down to the level you want quickly. They can automatically adjust to your level. They can provide testing with immediate feedback. They can provide multiple descriptions of the same problem, so if one explanation does not make sense another can be tried

Yes computers are not better than a great teacher, but lets face it (at least from my personal experience) mediocrity is the norm for teachers.

[Ghostrider]

How are computers any better for teaching than books? I would love it if computers could help me understand a part of a math proof in a text book. But there's the problem, in order to further explain something, it's necessary to understand it.

Computers are better than books because they are interactive, they can store much more information and allow you to drill down to the level you want quickly. They can automatically adjust to your level. They can provide testing with immediate feedback. They can provide multiple descriptions of the same problem, so if one explanation does not make sense another can be tried

Yes computers are not better than a great teacher, but lets face it (at least from my personal experience) mediocrity is the norm for teachers.

I agree with that...I wish math text books were computerized so that if I don't understand a symbol or operation, I can click on it to get the information that I need. In fact...surprised computer don't do all math today -- proofs, equation solving, etc.

[ChromodynamicGirl]

I really enjoyed this article.

Professor Sugata Mitra has been experimenting with placing computers near kids randomly to see if he can help them academically.

http://www.cnn.com/2...dex.html?hpt=C2

Most 'teachers' are nothing but unionized bureaucrats. They positively make people stupider and less curious. Sitting at home watching cartoons would be better than government schools.

Edited by ChromodynamicGirl, 15 October 2010 - 02:36 AM.

[churchill]

I really enjoyed this article.

Professor Sugata Mitra has been experimenting with placing computers near kids randomly to see if he can help them academically.

http://www.cnn.com/2...dex.html?hpt=C2

Most 'teachers' are nothing but unionized bureaucrats. They positively make people stupider and less curious. Sitting at home watching cartoons would be better than government schools.

In principle unions are a good thing, but when they stop progress and stop the ability for poor workers from being fired and good workers from being rewarded then they morph into a massive burden on society.

[ChromodynamicGirl]

In principle unions are a good thing,

No, they're not. They're organized anti-competition leagues. Cartelization schemes.
William H. Hutt is quite good on the inanity of the economic theories behind unionism.
http://mises.org/res...keThreat-System
http://mises.org/res...tive-Bargaining

Edited by ChromodynamicGirl, 15 October 2010 - 10:07 AM.

[Reno]

Most 'teachers' are nothing but unionized bureaucrats. They positively make people stupider and less curious. Sitting at home watching cartoons would be better than government schools.

Last time I checked I wasn't in a union.... I can't say I've made my students watch a cartoon in class either. I guess I must be in the pedagogical minority.

Edited by Reno, 15 October 2010 - 11:54 PM.

[Una]

Yes computers can take place of teachers.As we can see nowadays doctors are doing surgeries via internet.So it is completely possible for having computer education instead of teachers.Online study programs are the examples of computer study.

[robomoon]

It is often hard to find out what those intelligent business people think. However, when there's a very limited number of commercial closed source operating systems for the teaching terminal, computers can take the place of teachers for some history lessons or some elementary geometry without greater difficulties. Otherwise, there will be Economic Consequences observed by most of humans as a way of what can be called a Social Problem.

Bill Gates thinks so!

Edited by robomoon, 19 November 2010 - 05:21 PM.

[Kolos]

Perhaps one day it will be possible to just upload information directly to the brain but I guess to understand what you are actually learning and use this information in practice would still require some help. Just imagine your brain is connected to the internet most of the time and you can just "google" answer to almost every question, that would change whole education system in many ways. Memorizing most data would be useless waste of time, children would have to learn creativity and the art of asking the right questions and choosing the best possible answers.

[Elus]

Most 'teachers' are nothing but unionized bureaucrats. They positively make people stupider and less curious. Sitting at home watching cartoons would be better than government schools.

What an idiotic generalization.