[dr_dshiv]

Keep in mind that Benjamin Bloom attributes much of the success of tutoring to the affective learning components. That is not addressed in the meta analysis.

Bloom described how the tutor and the student achieved an emotional connection that is often difficult to achieve with a class of students.

This is so critical, because the barrier to learning for many students is emotional. It’s not that they are really trying and just don’t get it; it’s that they don’t have the capacity to care enough to engage over time. Emotional barriers to learning are super widespread — being “bored” for instance is an emotional response. Transformational learning takes place when there is an authentic emotional motivation to succeed. Human contact can support that. It’s also why stuff like ALECKS only goes so far. There is not emotional resonance, like with a human.

[mleonhard]

I think you could combine both models: Students use tutoring software and their teacher spends time with each student celebrating their progress and encouraging and teaching them when they struggle. The teacher's primary job would be to teach the children how to learn and succeed in academics. Specifically, teachers would teach students how to make plans, follow plans, focus, how to think about success, how to think about failure, determine the cause of failure, update their plans, develop determination, evaluate their own mood, and recognize their mental habits. Teachers would also assign, grade, and give feedback on student projects. Projects would have multiple iterations before a final grade.

[barry-cotter]

> being “bored” for instance is an emotional response

Don't be so patronising. People are bored (not "bored") because they're being asked to do something they don't care about. That's an extremely common experience. About a third of high school students are bored every day in every class, and another third report being bored in at least one class every day. Most people have no interest in intellectual pursuits. Their preferences are completely valid.

[dr_dshiv]

Patronizing?

I’m sure we can sit here all day and debate what material kids should learn. My point is that 1. people do well in any subject when they care about it and 2. tutors often help kids care. I’m trying to distinguish this emotional effect of tutoring from the cognitive effect —- otherwise it is difficult to explain the 2 sigma findings.