This doesn't have to be an either/or conversation about the relative importance of teachers vs technology.
Teachers will always be needed and valued (above everything else, someone has to create content for technology to disseminate).
The thing is, not all teachers are created equal. I'm sure we can all recall certain teachers that were obviously not concerned for the betterment of their students. Hell, some are downright hostile. Then, there are those teachers who really do care- the ones you remember for life.
Likewise, technology isn't created equal. There are some downright terrible online learning courses.
The difference between now and a few years ago, is that the education system is finally seeing the value in online technologies to aid in the classroom.
Ideally, you have a synergistic effect. A good teacher aided by a curriculum we can actually track and measure on an individual scale.
The students are happy because they can learn at their own pace (or not- you can't win them all over), and the teachers are freed from having a one-size-fits-all solution to a problem that requires a more nuanced approach.
What about this is negative? Are jobs at risk? Probably. They have been for a while now, but not because of technology. Our public schools are just plain underfunded.
In the end, technology will actually create MORE jobs- as I said, someone has to design and teach the online courses too.
Khan Academy isn't designed to replace teachers, it's designed to aid them in the classroom and free up the time and resources to provide that QUALITY education we all desire so badly for our children.
Teachers will always be needed and valued (above everything else, someone has to create content for technology to disseminate).
The thing is, not all teachers are created equal. I'm sure we can all recall certain teachers that were obviously not concerned for the betterment of their students. Hell, some are downright hostile. Then, there are those teachers who really do care- the ones you remember for life.
Likewise, technology isn't created equal. There are some downright terrible online learning courses.
The difference between now and a few years ago, is that the education system is finally seeing the value in online technologies to aid in the classroom.
Ideally, you have a synergistic effect. A good teacher aided by a curriculum we can actually track and measure on an individual scale.
The students are happy because they can learn at their own pace (or not- you can't win them all over), and the teachers are freed from having a one-size-fits-all solution to a problem that requires a more nuanced approach.
What about this is negative? Are jobs at risk? Probably. They have been for a while now, but not because of technology. Our public schools are just plain underfunded.
In the end, technology will actually create MORE jobs- as I said, someone has to design and teach the online courses too.
Khan Academy isn't designed to replace teachers, it's designed to aid them in the classroom and free up the time and resources to provide that QUALITY education we all desire so badly for our children.