What an educational-technological journey! Listening to the Freakanomic’s podcast, How is a Bad Radio Station Like our Public School Systems was an interesting introduction to the world of online tutoring meets the public school system. If anything, when listening to this podcast I had a sense of apprehension. Yes, I agree that the current model of teaching in public schools needs to change, it must incorporate the opportunities that our globally connected world has to bring. The “school-of-one” idea, where an individual’s education is focused on, rather than accommodating to the “cookie cutter” masses is preferable. But how do we most successfully do this? I called myself apprehensive because I wonder, in all of the online tutoring, online games, independent practice, small group practice, etc, where the sense of community lies? As a cohort, our MAT class has discussed, and tends to agree, upon the importance of school not only as a place where children can learn their “facts and figures” but also as a place to develop a sense of community and how to function in a democratic society. I questioned how this is possible when students are working on computers rather than with their peers.
To this end, however, listening to Salman Kahn’s TED presentation helped turn my perspective around. Focusing students learning on e-tutoring and e-presentations at home, allows teachers to have more time to focus on individual needs in the classroom. It can allow for more discussion amongst peers and teachers, rather than less, when done well. Most significantly, for me, was the fact that having students work with e-programs in math, for example, allows the computer program to keep track and analyze students’ work: where and how are they succeeding? What problems do they struggle with? A single teacher cannot assess every single student, every single day. Programs such as the one that the Kahn Academy has produced save teachers time as well. It allows us, as teachers, to be more efficient about the one-on-one time that we give students because we know where we should focus and how they are struggling. It saves time. And time, in school, is everything.
As an individual jumping into the public school sphere, this approach is one that I believe that I should embrace, rather than fight. I firmly believe that the aspect of community and one-on-one time with peers and the teacher are a pertinent aspect of school and that this should remain. What I am finding is that the idea of e-tutoring can embrace such a method if done thoughtfully. As we race towards the future of technological change in education, I believe that we should do so cautiously and continue to ask questions: Who are the “after school” tutors that are teaching our students? Are they recordings or live people? What strategies are being taught? Is there an emphasis on critical thinking? Is the focus on creating autonomous learners? As educators we should always ask questions our own teaching methods and beliefs –this includes the implications of e-learning on the individual.
