Part 4 of 8 in The Emperor has no Clothes: How do we fix a broken schooling system?← Part 3Part 5 →
This chapter discusses the outdated industrial model of education and suggests that technology now allows for personalized learning. It argues for a shift away from standardized education to embrace AI-driven personalized learning experiences.
- The current schooling system is based on an industrial model.
- Children are grouped and taught in a standardized way, similar to factory production.
- Technology now allows for personalized AI learning companions for students.
- AI can tailor education to individual needs, addressing specific learning gaps.
- Personalized education is now economically feasible at scale.
Sceptic: But there is no realistic alternative. Schools may be imperfect, but they’re the best system we have.
Me: That argument made sense when information was scarce.
It doesn’t make sense anymore.
Our present schooling system was designed for an industrial age. Education had to be delivered at scale, so we borrowed the logic of the factory.
Children were grouped by date of manufacture.
They moved along an assembly line.
They were processed in batches.
A bell told them when one activity ended and another began.
Standardisation made sense because personalisation was impossibly expensive.
But technology has changed the constraint.
A personalised AI learning companion can now sit beside every student.
It can explain fractions ten different ways without becoming impatient.
It can ask questions rather than merely provide answers.
It can discover that a child who is struggling with algebra actually has a gap in fractions.
It can allow one child to move ahead while another spends another hour mastering the basics.
Most importantly, it can allow children to learn actively instead of sitting passively through lectures.
For the first time, personalised education is becoming economically feasible at scale.
Why would we continue pretending this technological change does not matter?
Frequently asked questions
What is the industrial model of education?
The industrial model of education is a system where students are grouped by age and taught in a standardized manner, similar to factory production.
How can AI change the education system?
AI can provide personalized learning experiences by tailoring education to individual student needs and addressing specific learning gaps.
Why is personalized education important?
Personalized education is important because it allows students to learn at their own pace and addresses their unique learning needs, leading to better educational outcomes.
Is personalized education economically feasible?
Yes, with advancements in technology, personalized education is becoming economically feasible at scale.