"Sorry Johnny, Classworks version 2.0 says you get to repeat 3rd grade"
While probably completely unfounded, I think I have a serious problem with a computer program which remediates kids based on their performance on tests and assignments entered into it.
This is in reference to Rabun County Board of Education's looking into ClassWorks, a program which will have every student in Rabun County entered into it, along with their test scores, to determine the best way to teach students. This is includes deciding if they are an auditory or visual learner, and presenting material accordingly, as well as giving them review work on stuff they aren't doing as well on.
For starters the program will not be able to determine WHY a student did poorly on an assignment or test. The teacher will know that Timmy is having trouble at home, or didn't sleep well, or whatever. (Or at least they are supposed to) where as to the program, failure is failure.
I suppose my objection comes from a well of resentment against standards based education. Is it important to know certain basic facts, and have basic abilities with social science, math and language arts? Yes it is. But more important is children LEARNING to LEARN. If they aren't good auditory learners, well tough luck. Fact is they are gonna be facing the real world where, believe it or not, information is conveyed by ear, whether you are good at it or not.
This is in reference to Rabun County Board of Education's looking into ClassWorks, a program which will have every student in Rabun County entered into it, along with their test scores, to determine the best way to teach students. This is includes deciding if they are an auditory or visual learner, and presenting material accordingly, as well as giving them review work on stuff they aren't doing as well on.
For starters the program will not be able to determine WHY a student did poorly on an assignment or test. The teacher will know that Timmy is having trouble at home, or didn't sleep well, or whatever. (Or at least they are supposed to) where as to the program, failure is failure.
I suppose my objection comes from a well of resentment against standards based education. Is it important to know certain basic facts, and have basic abilities with social science, math and language arts? Yes it is. But more important is children LEARNING to LEARN. If they aren't good auditory learners, well tough luck. Fact is they are gonna be facing the real world where, believe it or not, information is conveyed by ear, whether you are good at it or not.
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