[michaeldhopkins]

If the lessons replaced are nothing but teacher-to-student lecturing then little is lost. However, all my best teachers employed more of a Socratic method. That method cannot be substituted with a recording. This program could work well with the Socratic method if students come to class to debate and present the material they studied at home.

[Egregore]

Unfortunately a lot of lessons are just teacher to student lecturing.

[pflats]

True, but software isn't going to solve that. (Note: I am a classroom teacher.)

Teacher to student lecturing happens for a combination of three reasons:

1. The teacher believes it's the best way to present the material.

2. Generally, a lecture is easier to prepare (and easier to keep on task) than any other form of instruction.

3. To the average person (and many administrators) a classroom full of children sitting silently in rows, all taking notes, looks "right".

[dhimes]

You mean, if the students did their homework? ;-)

[michaeldhopkins]

Yes, which is the opposite of the proposal to have the teaching at home and the homework in class. But I think any distinctions are not helpful to the students.

In a good class there is no distinction between learning from the teacher and the teacher's assigned material because each is required to excel in critically debating and responding to the other.

[dhimes]

I totally agree. In fact, I am working toward a private beta release of lesson planning software which actually helps teachers build quality lessons.

[michaeldhopkins]

I and my wife are educators among other things and want to try this. Please notify me at @mdhopkins or michael at oblique ideas dot com when you're testing.

[dhimes]

You're on.