April 26, 2012 | Posted At: 11:27 AM | Author: Alexander Russo | Category: School Life Pop Culture , Teachers, Teaching, Unions , Technology Is Scary , The Business Of Education , Think Tank Mafia
Fads: "Nerd Coachella" Site Will "Flip" Education
So TED has come to education, and if recent experience is any guide its arrival will be greeted by great cheering throngs of pundits and reporters and enthusiasts and largely ignored by principals and teachers who have better things to do (like administer standardized tests).
The Atlantic Wire calls TED the "nerd Coachella" and predicts that "In the Future All Children Will Be Taught By TED Talks." The Chronicle says that TED-ed "Turns YouTube Videos Into 'Flipped' Lessons."
Indeed, the welcoming page points visitors to both 62 videos and 585 "flips." Gak.
It’s difficult for me to determine if, given the state of education, standardized-test-centric as it’s become, the method of having children watch TED talks is really that much worse. It’s probably more beneficial. At least they receive the illusion of personal attention and have the opportunity to be somewhat engaged.
Posted by: Sarah | April 27, 2012 at 07:42 AM