Computers are better than teachers.

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Re: Computers are better than teachers.

Post by Blind groper » Fri Jan 18, 2013 6:26 pm

I will try to nail down some references later. A bit difficult right now since I am reading the book on a kindle, and I am still struggling a bit with the kindle instructions.

Here is a reference to the use of computers in a medical school, as direct teachers. It appears they meet with approval.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8017519

Of course, a lot of work has been done since that first experiment, and there are now entire courses on computers, which are supposed to be more effective than a classroom. In fact, the aim was to permit total education from kindergarten to tertiary degree, all on computer. I suspect that, by now, this can be done.

Another approach mentioned was the use of directed computer games as teachers. Apparently these are very effective, although I doubt that the 'bang, bang, you are dead' games quite fit in that category!
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Re: Computers are better than teachers.

Post by Rum » Fri Jan 18, 2013 6:43 pm

I have also read research (it used to be part of my job) that suggests the best thing to accelerate learning and help kids get smart quickly is to read to them early, teach them to read early and keep reading to them and encouraging them to read.

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Re: Computers are better than teachers.

Post by JacksSmirkingRevenge » Fri Jan 18, 2013 6:47 pm

Teachers don't show you porn...At least, none of mine did.
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Re: Computers are better than teachers.

Post by Clinton Huxley » Fri Jan 18, 2013 7:01 pm

JacksSmirkingRevenge wrote:Teachers don't show you porn...At least, none of mine did.
Good grief! What kind of school did you go to?!?
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Re: Computers are better than teachers.

Post by JacksSmirkingRevenge » Fri Jan 18, 2013 7:08 pm

Textbooks were in short supply and that kind of textbook doesn't age very well. 3 terms or so and they end up like blocks of oak.
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Re: Computers are better than teachers.

Post by JimC » Sat Jan 19, 2013 3:56 am

Computers, and carefully designed instructional software are very valuable resources. I make use of them when I design courses for gifted students, as an aid to accelerate, and also as a tool to help weaker students. There is some excellent animated resources in physics, done in a very interactive style, as well as whole sites like Mathletics.

However, ultimately, teaching is about human interactions - I don't think the attributes of a good teacher will ever be completely superseded...
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Re: Computers are better than teachers.

Post by Gawdzilla Sama » Sat Jan 19, 2013 1:30 pm

JimC wrote:Computers, and carefully designed instructional software are very valuable resources. I make use of them when I design courses for gifted students, as an aid to accelerate, and also as a tool to help weaker students. There is some excellent animated resources in physics, done in a very interactive style, as well as whole sites like Mathletics.

However, ultimately, teaching is about human interactions - I don't think the attributes of a good teacher will ever be completely superseded...
A computer will never, in the foreseeable future anyway, be able to tell when a student is not quite sure of what's just been taught. Much of my job in the Navy involved teaching n00bs how to do their job. I got good at spotting when a point wasn't clear.
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Re: Computers are better than teachers.

Post by Gawdzilla Sama » Sat Jan 19, 2013 1:31 pm

Having said the above it would be lovely if each student had a computer to use for class work. This would require somekind of firewall or something to make sure that's what it was used for, of course.
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Re: Computers are better than teachers.

Post by Jason » Sat Jan 19, 2013 7:38 pm

Reference books and having a computer with internet access helped me more often than any of my teachers. I'd say they can be better educational aids, but cannot replace a proper teacher directed curriculum.

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Re: Computers are better than teachers.

Post by Blind groper » Sat Jan 19, 2013 7:48 pm

Gawdzilla Sama wrote: A computer will never, in the foreseeable future anyway, be able to tell when a student is not quite sure of what's just been taught.
Au contraire.
In fact, one of the strengths of computer teaching is constant rehearsal and testing. A computer can be, and frequently is, programmed to present information or concepts, and then test understanding and retention. It does this on a one to one basis, and is way, way better at it than a teacher. it does not wait for a test period, but inserts constant testing into the running program.

A result is that it progresses at the speed of the individual student, making education more complete.
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Re: Computers are better than teachers.

Post by Gawdzilla Sama » Sat Jan 19, 2013 8:04 pm

I am pleased that the National Archives cites my 2 sites in their list of nongovernment resounces for WWII.

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Re: Computers are better than teachers.

Post by JimC » Sat Jan 19, 2013 10:04 pm

Gawdzilla Sama wrote:Having said the above it would be lovely if each student had a computer to use for class work. This would require somekind of firewall or something to make sure that's what it was used for, of course.
All of our junior students have an iPad, and then they graduate to a MacBook. You do get some issues of playing games when they shouldn't be, but we have ways of dealing with that...
Blind groper wrote:
Gawdzilla Sama wrote: A computer will never, in the foreseeable future anyway, be able to tell when a student is not quite sure of what's just been taught.
Au contraire.
In fact, one of the strengths of computer teaching is constant rehearsal and testing. A computer can be, and frequently is, programmed to present information or concepts, and then test understanding and retention. It does this on a one to one basis, and is way, way better at it than a teacher. it does not wait for a test period, but inserts constant testing into the running program.

A result is that it progresses at the speed of the individual student, making education more complete.
Up to a point, that process works. However, students often reach various sorts of mental roadblocks and misapprehensions, which are best sorted through interacting with an experienced teacher. Also, the brighter students start to see patterns, and want to discuss them - hard to do with a computer...

The ability to look up material on the web is very useful, particularly for students who finish the required work early, and can explore some extensions. That's where each student having their own device is handy.
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Re: Computers are better than teachers.

Post by Gawdzilla Sama » Sun Jan 20, 2013 12:13 am

And we don't just dump students into a library, root hog or die.
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Re: Computers are better than teachers.

Post by Robert_S » Sun Jan 20, 2013 12:33 am

I think there's much to be said for just face to face human interaction in learning.

Also, with a teacher, there's someone to impress with progress and let down with laziness.
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Re: Computers are better than teachers.

Post by Blind groper » Sun Jan 20, 2013 4:27 am

Sadly, Robert, in today's schools, there is very little face to face teaching. Simply, there are too few teachers and too few resources. Computers represent a way to get around this. Solid, computer based learning allows those resources to be stretched.
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