The school system of education is redundant

1.Response I would like to review your scientific/educational theory reference for my own edification. Typically, a teacher will assess what students already know, then plan a lesson that is at a level they cannot complete without assistance. This is called the Zone of Proximital Development, ZPD. This is the area where students climb a step to learn something new, also known as scaffolding. Material is reviewed, taught and practiced using various methods to accommodate learning styles. Then, what taught is experienced in some manner to make it relevant to the student. When effective, retention rates are between 50 and 90% dependant on individual students learning styles and capabilities. Please do some reading on Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky and ZPD. I see back-peddling on your stance. Earlier you stated "Overall, 90% of teaching could be done via computer." Now you"re stating a shadow curriculum should be available. This is already being done. Many teachers have classroom web sites that are accessible to parents containing lesson plans and homework assignments for the week or month. Text books that are being used in the classroom are accessible to students on line through text book publishers. Either the info is on the teacher"s web site, or a parent can do a little digging with a simple internet query. Or a child can just take the text book home and do some old fashion reading off of paper and catch up on some homework. 2.Response A computer can"t have a discussion, can"t ask questions 'or probe what specifically a student doesn't understand; nor can a computer program adjust to meet the needs of individual students. Only a teacher who knows the child with an understanding how he learns can make judgments on how to resolve learning issues. 3.Response I see second thoughts yet again from your earlier contention. Please refer to Pro top of Round 2. What happened to the premise of 10 minute snippets of information that are tested after each interval? If the division points are further apart would that not hinder retention of multiple concepts? Remember that TV show I asked you about? Again, video viewing and computer learning is a passive activity and does little for student retention of knowledge. Hand on activities, discussions; writing and just doing are far more effective. 4.Response Let"s not confuse teacher assessments with student quizzes and test. Certainly, it would have been better to put in place a definition previously to define the difference but, I believe in context I have made this point known. "Teachers use various types of assessments throughout each lesson to see if children are progressing, if it's found they are not grasping certain concepts, the teacher changes the method of teaching (Con Round 2)." Assessments already too late? Again, how would a computer program know where understanding is lacking? The child missing a multiple choice question? What is it that he does not understand? Example: 12 + A =15. A student can agonize over what A means. It is a different language from numbers. Some children intuitively pick up that A equals a missing number, others do not. A teacher understands this and substitutes A with a blank space to explain that A means an unknown number, not A for apple. Can a computer do something like this in every instance? Most respectfully, I"m looking for how you would approach how student learning issues would be resolved from a cognitive approach using a computer learning based system. 5.Response If a parent finds that their child is failing 2 or 3 months into a term, whose fault is that? Progress reports are sent out at regular intervals throughout a term. It takes parents and teachers working together to make education work. If you feel your child"s education is the sole responsibility of the teacher, you"re mistaken. At the end of a term you can"t scream at a teacher stating she is not doing her job if you did not take any responsibility as a parent. Valuing education at home has to be a priority. Did the parent take the time to look at the papers a child is brings home? Actually looking at progress reports and taking action if needed is helpful in solving problems. As a parent, you know your child best. Your input on how he behaves and thinks is valuable to a teacher in making decisions pertaining to his learning. If at the end of a term you are surprised your child is failing; you might want to question if you, the parent, is complicit. 6.Response - See paragraph 3, Con Round 2. In addition --- "This is where the computer learning system excels in the area of repeat learning methodologies. "-- Please extrapolate on how a computer excels in repeat learning methodologies? What is the specific methodology that you"re are referring? Is this not the point of your debate, too much redundancy? --"Being in a class room of 30 students is a very passive environment also."" Refer to paragraph 10, minus quotes, Con Round 2. 7. Response Granted, it is difficult for administration to rid schools of bad teachers. But, don"t let the media deceive you on how things really work within schools and amongst teachers. School administrators have their hands tied due to teacher contracts on the process of firing rotten eggs. Good teachers care about kids and make life miserable for teachers who just glide along. The bad do get pushed out due to lack of cooperation from their peers. 8. Response There are no details provided on the event to make a judgment; as a result, an invalid statement for debate. A child"s perspective on an occurrence is different from an adult"s. Example: Chewing gum in class. Not a problem from a kid"s point of view. From a teacher"s perspective gum usually ends up stuck under the desks. It is an unsanitary element with cold, flu and mono spread potential. The next student who sits there might get their pants ruined. A custodian has to use chemicals and a scraper to remove the gum, which is time and money out of the school budget. 9. Response Nothing is free. Taxes would be paid to develop, maintain and monitor this supposed system. 10. Response Here again there is a bit of contradiction; Pro Round 2, paragraph 2. In conclusion, I hold fast that teachers are still necessary. The process of education is neither redundant nor out of date. Sole reliance on video and computer instruction is insufficient in meeting individual student learning styles, and resolution of issues regarding learning. http://www.pepperdine.edu... http://epltt.coe.uga.edu... http://www.timelessinformation.com... http://www.tenouk.com... http://academicjournals.org... http://www.uft.org... http://extension.illinois.edu... http://www.thirteen.org... http://researchnetwork.pearson.com... http://www.connectionsacademy.com...