Bill Gates and Common Sense Media launch educational web site

[fjtorres]

http://news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-57...urce-graphite/

Microsoft chairman Bill Gates is putting his money where his mouth is. He is backing a new initiative called Graphite that is a free online resource to help teachers discover and share education technology.
Gates has long emphasized his belief that investing in education and digital tools could help solve the world's education crisis.
"What's surprising is given how the Internet has changed how we buy airline tickets and books and how we look up things, is that formal education hasn't changed hardly at all," Gates said in an interview with CNET in 2010. "The technology sector deserves its blame -- it could be doing more here. But now is the time."
Graphite is a partnership between Gates and the education non-profit Common Sense Media. The idea is to provide educators with free online resources -- which have already been tested, evaluated, and reviewed -- to better teach their K-12 classrooms. The resources available on the Web site include apps, games, links to other sites, and digital curricula.

Not Gates' first educational venture and probably not his last but he's determined to help develop effective educational tech, one way or another. I wouldn't bet against him.

Gates' education ventures may make some improvements to education, but I doubt that it will be anything radical. He focusses too much on technology and business processes. Education is far more likely to be affected by social issues, intellectual development, and the highly politicized nature of educational reform.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by BWinmill

Gates' education ventures may make some improvements to education, but I doubt that it will be anything radical. He focusses too much on technology and business processes. Education is far more likely to be affected by social issues, intellectual development, and the highly politicized nature of educational reform.

Could be.
So far, the evidence suggests the single best predictor of a kid's educational success is parental involvement. Second best is the teacher's mastery of the material being taught, especially in math and science.
There is too much searching for a magic bullet tech solution to make up for the blatant failings in those two areas. And yet, as you point out, social and political issues render the more likely answers off limits. So...