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Original poster

Teachers to be replaced by apps

60 replies

noblegiraffe · 10/02/2018 12:38

Your school can't get a Spanish teacher to teach A-level? No worries, how about a 1 hour weekly webinar and 4 hours of working on an app?

Soon to be extended to maths, physics and any other subject the government can't be bothered to find a solution to the shortage of (like decent pay and conditions). Oh, and you'll be paying Pearson for it.

www.tes.com/news/school-news/breaking-news/exclusive-schools-consider-virtual-a-levels-dont-need-classroom

OP posts:
Original poster
noblegiraffe · 10/02/2018 14:29

There should also be concerns that this is more handing over of education to private companies. Pearson has spotted a gap in the market (no teachers) and is selling its products and 'Pearson teachers' to schools to make up for it.

Alarm bells should be ringing as Pearson virtual schools in the US have performed poorly academically.

www.ft.com/content/d3c5d510-1aeb-11e7-a266-12672483791a

OP posts:
Quorafun · 10/02/2018 13:46

Nothing surprises me anymore.

Biscuit
Original poster
noblegiraffe · 10/02/2018 13:44

I bet it would be the poor kids getting the apps, the best schools would still have proper teachers.

OP posts:
Ll81 · 10/02/2018 13:43

Apps would be better than the majority of secondary teachers I had.

It's all 6 of one half a dozen of another.

jeanne16 · 10/02/2018 13:41

The general view is that lots of professionals roles will be replaced over the next 10years. Teaching is just one of them.

Original poster
noblegiraffe · 10/02/2018 13:39

I remember hearing about a school that couldn't get maths teachers so they put all their kids in a massive computer room and made them work through mymaths instead, supervised by a teaching assistant.

Results were terrible.

OP posts:
Original poster
noblegiraffe · 10/02/2018 13:35

It'd have to be to adequately replace me.

OP posts:
sonlypuppyfat · 10/02/2018 13:30

Will the app be sarcastic and have class favourites?

Original poster
noblegiraffe · 10/02/2018 13:28

What worries me is the suggestion that a teaching assistant be employed to keep students on-task suggesting it's not actually that great.

Would you really want to risk one of your 3 A-level choices on a bit of software and the hope of self-motivation?

OP posts:
Julie8008 · 10/02/2018 13:21

For sixth formers that actually want to learn I think it should work. High quality specialist content, where teachers never get sick or has a bad day. Students could re-watch lessons multiple times. Subjects where its not viable for the school to run the subject. Ear phones on and no distractions from other disruptive students. Pod casts to revise whilst on the go. Maybe even flexible lessons times. Quite a few possibilities.

I accept it would not work for all students but definitely for the ones who want to learn and go to university I could see the benefit.

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