The Harvard EdCast

I just heard Mr Khan of Khan Academy tell us all what a best practice would be for systems and education online/distance right now... I need to say his thoughts are out of touch with most US public schools. His point was knowing teachers have many kids and little time they should consider for example taking a 60 minute period of time and turning it into multiple shorter sessions with fewer kids.. Most teachers in most systems have between 4&6 60minute sessions a day, and sometimes those have as many as 40 students... the math doesn’t work. Systems are firing right now not hiring, as tax revenue has plummeted and many states are reentering closedowns etc. his pontificating about best practices for kids and realizing we shouldn’t worry about hitting every curricular unit.. That has been the norm pre-covid in most places. How about some good advice like honest triage advice that will get us through this year. Shortcuts for explanations for kids that are at the top and ways distance learning actually can be done with special needs students. Actual in class techniques (when to mute, how to use chat functions, etc). This whole method is only disintegrating an already broken system and his company, while non-profit now or seemingly, stands to gain from the sudden need for online content. I would love to hear from actual K-12 educators in the trenches, many for the last 2 months.

Great show, I wish you didn’t have to report on such things.

This episode was absolute garbage. Not only was it not compelling, it was convoluted and, frankly, absurd. Thinly veiled political shenanigans.

Tea time @ Harvard. What a disappointment! But when you are Harvard, you can sell the banal as profound. Hegemony even in education. There are better podcasts, even in education. Just one’s taste, and just one’s needs. For me, this is just filler-air and book sales. What a disappointment! Ph.Ds? I’ll go on to my other podcasts. Listen to the interview with the Dean of Education at Harvard U, and hear the empty air of U.S. higher education fill the space of time with empty words and their expensive egos. I’ve found more interesting and engaging Ed podcasts out there, (BAM radio, etc.) that interview line teachers. Like one who said that this back to school for K-12 decision was not about education or safety & public health it was all about the economy—Leadership had the time to think about the reopening since March & in August reopened unprepared. After 12 credits into a M.Ed. I’m dropping out, a waste of money to listen to these Education professors. But the Dean of Education did not mention in her talk that after the pandemic “There’s a change a comm’n for US Higher Education.” And the disruption will leave them behind. And the professors will not be held responsible. An ignorant citizen’s assessment of the result of the post pandemic and these times of uncertainty—-True Globalization.