2019 Annual Letter by Bill and Melinda Gates In this year’s annual letter, @thisisbillgates and @melindafrenchgates highlight 9 things that have surprised them in 2018. Highlight #8 is on #northwesternctd education - that Textbooks are becoming obsolete and that educational software is finally changing how students learn. Bill: I read more than my share of textbooks. But it’s a pretty limited way to learn something. Even the best text can’t figure out which concepts you understand and which ones you need more help with. It certainly can’t tell your teacher how well you grasped last night’s assigned reading. But now, thanks to software, the standalone textbook is becoming a thing of the past. Suppose you’re taking high school algebra. Instead of just reading a chapter on solving equations, you can look at the text online, watch a super-engaging video that shows you how it’s done, and play a game that reinforces the concepts. Then you solve a few problems online, and the software creates new quiz questions to zero in on the ideas you’re not quite getting. Melinda: In addition to adapting to what students know, these online tools also facilitate a new approach to teaching and learning that adapts to who these students are. All of this is a complement to what teachers do, not a replacement. Your teacher gets a rich report showing what you read and watched, which problems you got right and wrong, and the areas where you need more help. When you come to class the next day, she is equipped with a ton of specific information and suggestions to help her make the most of her time with you. What’s next? The same basic cycle you go through for all software: Get lots of feedback on the existing products, collect data on what works, and make them better. Read more at https://www.gatesnotes.com/2019-Annual-Letter. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bt5wXWmB19c/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1ttqw59lofavy
