Education and Structure

The first thing I liked about Nelson was his conversation-like prose. His ideas were presented in a friendly and personable manner. His writing style is actually a good example of his ideas on education. He doesn't condescend, nor does he seem to place any additional barriers between the reader and the text. He emphasizes the need to re evaluate the system that controls education. This portion of the text was the most impressive.

Even the concept of a system of education places a leash on the desire to learn. I don't think that Nelson wants to throw the whole system away,as much as he wants to place the flaws in front of us where they can't be ignored. He makes a point that topics are presented on one angle. Old standards guide what is to be taught, even though technology has made many of these obsolete. This stifles intelligence, not to mention creativity. Learning has become rigid, and much of this is because of our institutions.

Nelson also advocates those willing to educate themselves. Too much attention is placed on the exchange between student and teacher. Some even consider the education that comes from accredited teachers as a sort of "official knowledge", while dismissing the important skills they have learned on their own. I agree with Nelson, that education consistently places a wall between the student and the information and ideas contained in a subject.

CAI seems like an idea that will take away some of the negative aspects of traditional education. A student can afford to get comfortable with the subject matter. There is no teacher racing through material at warp speed. A student's questions will never be ridiculed by CAI. Most importantly the student can breathe, and take in the material as opposed to studying the system. Students usually spend a great deal of time learning what they believe to be "the right answers" rather than the array of concepts and possibilities offered by the material.Education is at its peak when it can provoke thought. It should not be based in tests that have students memorize obscure dates that they will gladly forget in the next hour.