The EdTech Revolution Has Failed

Ed tech, like most tech, is primarily focused on making money for the ed tech companies and their shareholders. Not at all surprised that it doesn't actually lift education standards.

As the parent of two kids in elementary and middle school, the one thing we learned from Covid is that children need live teachers. Yes, there are exceptional children who can self-teach with good materials (I have one such child) but most don't. And for those who do, you don't need fancy tech. I supplement my (advanced) child's education and primarily use books and pencils, and live coaching, as I've found those work better than any "adaptive" EdTech I've encountered. Finding it too easy? Just skip pages to the next chapter? Too hard? Find some extra review problems on the topic.

> as I've found those work better than any "adaptive" EdTech I've encountered

Have you tried Math Academy? From seeing my son using it, I'm guessing it's more effective than live coaching from a median middle school math teacher.

I saw that on HN recently, and it does look good, but haven't tried it yet. I might give it a try. One factor is I'm my son's math coach so I don't mind sitting down with him and books (he's 2 grades ahead).

This isn't to say EdTech can't be useful, and my previous comment was perhaps a bit harsh. Khan Academy is great for drilling into specific subjects; my older child (now finished college) used it at home in HS as a supplement and it helped (scored in top 2% nationwide on SAT).

I just don't think EdTech __replaces__ teachers (which is what many edtech-utopians preach), and I'm not even sure it's a good classroom tool, but rather is a useful _supplement_ that allows _some_ students who are interested and good at certain subjects to forge ahead on their own, or maybe as homework. It's just a tool among others, not a "revolution in education" that's going to "raise scores for everyone".

  I'm not even sure it's a good classroom tool, but rather is a useful _supplement_

We may soon get to a point where, for certain subjects, edtech is the classroom tool, and the teacher/coach is the supplement.

  I don't mind sitting down with him and books (he's 2 grades ahead).

My son is also 2 grades ahead in math. He skipped Kindergarten and now, in 3rd grade, he does math with the 4th grade class (which is currently working through the Singapore Math 4A book).

At home, he's just over half way through Math Academy's 5th grade curriculum (which is roughly equivalent to 5th grade common core standards). He still comes to me with questions. Sometimes, I can give a great, personalized explanation just because I know him well, we have shared context etc. But usually he's just been too aggressive at skipping past the explanations or worked examples in the MA lesson, and I just tell him to scroll up and read. He does that and says 'oooh, now I get it...' and then he can continue on his own.

What I'm trying to say is: I also don't mind sitting down with my son with math books. But it's more effective for MA to be the core experience, and for me to be an on-call coach (i.e. for me to the supplement).

> in 3rd grade, he does math with the 4th grade class (which is currently working through the Singapore Math 4A book).

Coincidentally, my son is also in 3rd grade and also on Singapore 4A book at home :) He can't do math with the 4th grade class (not really an option at our school) but does 5th grade level with the apps they use in class (DreamBox, not sure which others).

> But usually he's just been too aggressive at skipping past the explanations or worked examples in the MA lesson, and I just tell him to scroll up and read.

Again, similar situation here; so I prefer to go over the concepts with him to make sure he's grasped them. His biggest problem is reading the problems too quickly. When he slows down and takes the time to think through he figures them all out -- and that's probably my most important contribution as his "coach" -- and also where you need a live person I think. It's like with sports -- many players are skilled enough that they don't need a coach to teach them skills, but they need a coach to learn how to use those skills.

> But it's more effective for MA to be the core experience, and for me to be an on-call coach (i.e. for me to the supplement).

Fair point. I should give it a try as an alternative (always useful to have different curriculums approaching problems from different angles, especially as the concepts get harder).

If someone's only exposure to math edtech tools is Dreambox, IXL, Prodigy etc., they would be right to be skeptical.

Math Academy is great (4th grade onward). Beast Academy online is also very good (up to 5th grade only).