Aren't there enough cable channels to put grades one through twelve on TV?

[Boojatta]

To provide variety, in each state there could be three channels for every grade. That would be a total of just 36 channels in each state set aside for grades one to twelve.

Students would be followed through their classes so that each channel would include classes in all subject areas. Of course, the camera would be mainly on the teacher.

Some benefits: immigrants, ill students, and students who are isolated because of temporary transportation problems or other emergencies would be able to view classroom lectures.

What are the major disadvantages besides the simple fact that it would cost something and would need to be paid for via cable fees, taxes, or advertising? Are there no good teachers who are willing to appear on TV regularly? Is it not possible to find students who are willing to appear on TV regularly and who would continue to learn while being filmed?

Another idea would be to hire teachers to teach just viewers watching from home. Each channel could have a toll free phone number for viewers to call in with questions. The questions could be answered on the air during the class that prompts them.

[Kolesar]

1. A big part of the public broadcasting agenda is to produce training materials for schools

I suppose that means these are special shows, not for broadcast, that have teacher's guides with them.

something I learned when reading about the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

[LisaM]

2. Well, first you are assuming that everyone has a television and can afford cable

Heck, cable has gotten so expensive, that a lot of people I know either don't have it, or have the most limited version, with only about 35 channels.

[flor de jasmim]

3. It's already being done (w/ link)

I'm not at all familiar with the program, but I googled "distance learning elementary school" and came up with this, among others.

http://www.laurelsprings.com/

[Warpy]

4. Education would have to be centrally planned and rigidly

structured so that all teachers in all schools would be teaching the same thing on the same day. Since that's not going to happen, the TV lectures could be seen as enrichment but not the real thing. Consider, also, that once kids go to middle school, classes become more specialized and that it would take several stations to get through middle school and high school to cover all bases.

FWIW, I loved a 6 AM college level math class when I was in junior high. I remember one of the things they taught was permutations. It enhanced my already devastating pinochle and poker techniques. I've also enjoyed a more contemporary late night History 101 on PBS. I wish they'd put more of this stuff on the tube for those of us who are bored stiff by reality TV featuring whiny yuppies.

[salvorhardin]

6. Aye aye!

The Learning Channel when it started was nothing but this kind of stuff. Connections, History of Western Culture, Biology, Algebra, Geometry and Trigonometry... It was wonderful.

[annabanana]

7. I miss The Learning Channel..

And The Discovery Channel, and The History Channel and the Biography Channel... and all the rest of the co-opted bandwidth...

[Red Zelda]

5. And stop using my tax money

to pay for high school fucking sports!
The local high school has a football field that's like a Taj Mahal with artificial turf.

[angrycarpenter]

8. Teaching is a two way street.

Half of teaching is making sure that they are paying attention. Pop quizzes and classroom discussion are what make teaching effective.

[SomeGuyInEagan]

9. As one who works in distance education for higher education ...

... I would be interested in seeing studies of such a model for k-12, especially for the lower grade levels.

I would say that your model (three channels per grade for the entire state) would require a very, very, very rigid statewide curriculum be followed.

I would think that in and of itself would pose problems. I won't even get into my thoughts about the need for feedback, identifying and addressing learning styles and effectiveness of lecture-based instruction (I'll just say that the commonly-used lecture-based model isn't used because it is the most effective teaching model out there - but it it among the least expensive).