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tinymontgomery

(2,614 posts)
Wed Jul 2, 2014, 09:09 PM Jul 2014

Gates' Excuse for Poor Results of Educational Technology: "Unmotivated Students"

So, will Gates change his attitude on attacking teachers?

http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/living-in-dialogue/2014/07/bill_gates_excuse.html

If there is one thing Bill Gates has been a fan of, it is the role of technology in improving education. But recent comments he has made suggest he may be starting to see that even technology may not be all powerful. And this leads to some deeper questions about the viability of the entire education reform project. In Lyndsey Layton's recent interview, Gates had this to say:



snip


Gates' recent comments in Los Alamos suggest where he places the blame.

New technology to engage students holds some promise, but Gates says it tends to only benefit those who are motivated.

"And the one thing we have a lot of in the United States is unmotivated students," Gates said.


9 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Gates' Excuse for Poor Results of Educational Technology: "Unmotivated Students" (Original Post) tinymontgomery Jul 2014 OP
kids want to use the tech for fun & personal communication, not for "education" nt msongs Jul 2014 #1
K & R femmocrat Jul 2014 #2
People can't be motivated by machines, Bill. They need other human beings to engage them. arcane1 Jul 2014 #3
Try being a CTE or advanced-level science teacher. Igel Jul 2014 #7
Great point! I handn't thought about that. arcane1 Jul 2014 #8
Oops expensive mistake lunasun Jul 2014 #4
Well no shit. Rod Beauvex Jul 2014 #5
That's code for "bad teachers." knitter4democracy Jul 2014 #6
Yup. Igel Jul 2014 #9
 

arcane1

(38,613 posts)
3. People can't be motivated by machines, Bill. They need other human beings to engage them.
Wed Jul 2, 2014, 09:17 PM
Jul 2014

I can't think of any educational problems that were the result of "not enough technology."

Igel

(36,010 posts)
7. Try being a CTE or advanced-level science teacher.
Thu Jul 3, 2014, 08:35 PM
Jul 2014

You want to teach kids to write phone apps, you need tech.

And I'm real tired of marbles, pool balls, and ramps. Or using styrofoam cups as calorimeters. You don't need high tech, but there's a limit to what you can do with the level of tech you can get at Sam's Club for $100 for 150 students.

 

arcane1

(38,613 posts)
8. Great point! I handn't thought about that.
Thu Jul 3, 2014, 08:39 PM
Jul 2014

I think my mind instantly went to CBT since we're stuck with that at work, and I hate not having a teacher to ask questions to

Rod Beauvex

(564 posts)
5. Well no shit.
Wed Jul 2, 2014, 09:50 PM
Jul 2014

Why bust you ass when there will be no jobs because they were shipped overseas? Or filled with cheap H1-Bs? Or automated? Or pay burger flipping wages that will never cover the cost of the schooling?

knitter4democracy

(14,350 posts)
6. That's code for "bad teachers."
Wed Jul 2, 2014, 11:17 PM
Jul 2014

As we all know, student motivation is entirely due to how effective their teachers are. Seriously, though, I have read many articles by reformers that argue that while ignoring all the other possible reasons for lack of motivation.

Igel

(36,010 posts)
9. Yup.
Thu Jul 3, 2014, 08:43 PM
Jul 2014

Thing is, for a lot of students that's a learned behavior. But we mustn't say where they learned it.

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