conv.

All stories
EducationQuiet 4d · day 4

Education leader warns schools risk repeating tech mistakes with AI

A school administrator argues that AI adoption in classrooms follows a pattern of failed edtech promises, from televised lessons to MOOCs.

newest coverage 3d agosummary written 3d ago4 pieces29 likes & upvotes6 comments Hacker NewsMastodonNewswires

What to know

  • A school administrator argues that AI adoption in classrooms follows a predictable cycle of failed edtech: vendors promise cost savings and efficiency, schools buy in, and teachers' firsthand experience proves the technology doesn't deliver.
  • The essay cites historical parallels—educational television (1950s–60s) and MOOCs (2010s)—to show that no technology has ever reduced classroom costs without also reducing educational quality.
  • The core argument: education is fundamentally different from other industries because what works (a skilled teacher with a small group of students) cannot be automated or cheapened without harm, yet vendors keep promising it can be.

Friends School Boulder educator Author/school administratorDaphne Koller Coursera founder (historical reference)John Hennessy Stanford University president (historical reference)

Education leader warns schools risk repeating tech mistakes with AI
friendsschoolboulder.org

How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articlesposts

Peak 2 pieces in one hour at Sep 19, 5 PM; 4 pieces over 4 days (1 article · 3 posts) Sep 19, 5 PM — 2 pieces · 1 article · 1 post — Hacker News 1, Newswires 1Sep 19, 6 PM — quietSep 19, 7 PM — quietSep 19, 8 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Sep 19, 9 PM — quietSep 19, 10 PM — quietSep 19, 11 PM — quietSep 20, 12 AM — quietSep 20, 1 AM — quietSep 20, 2 AM — quietSep 20, 3 AM — quietSep 20, 4 AM — quietSep 20, 5 AM — quietSep 20, 6 AM — quietSep 20, 7 AM — quietSep 20, 8 AM — quietSep 20, 9 AM — quietSep 20, 10 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Sep 20, 11 AM — quietSep 20, 12 PM — quietSep 20, 1 PM — quietSep 20, 2 PM — quietSep 20, 3 PM — quietSep 20, 4 PM — quietSep 20, 5 PM — quietSep 20, 6 PM — quietSep 20, 7 PM — quietSep 20, 8 PM — quietSep 20, 9 PM — quietSep 20, 10 PM — quietSep 20, 11 PM — quietSep 21, 12 AM — quietSep 21, 1 AM — quietSep 21, 2 AM — quietSep 21, 3 AM — quietSep 21, 4 AM — quietSep 21, 5 AM — quietSep 21, 6 AM — quietSep 21, 7 AM — quietSep 21, 8 AM — quietSep 21, 9 AM — quietSep 21, 10 AM — quietSep 21, 11 AM — quietSep 21, 12 PM — quietSep 21, 1 PM — quietSep 21, 2 PM — quietSep 21, 3 PM — quietSep 21, 4 PM — quietSep 21, 5 PM — quietSep 21, 6 PM — quietSep 21, 7 PM — quietSep 21, 8 PM — quietSep 21, 9 PM — quietSep 21, 10 PM — quietSep 21, 11 PM — quietSep 22, 12 AM — quietSep 22, 1 AM — quietSep 22, 2 AM — quietSep 22, 3 AM — quietSep 22, 4 AM — quietSep 22, 5 AM — quietSep 22, 6 AM — quietSep 22, 7 AM — quietSep 22, 8 AM — quietSep 22, 9 AM — quietSep 22, 10 AM — quietSep 22, 11 AM — quietSep 22, 12 PM — quietSep 22, 1 PM — quietSep 22, 2 PM — quietSep 22, 3 PM — quietSep 22, 4 PM — quietSep 22, 5 PM — quietSep 22, 6 PM — quietSep 22, 7 PM — quietSep 22, 8 PM — quietSep 22, 9 PM — quietSep 22, 10 PM — quietSep 22, 11 PM — quietYesterday, 12 AM — quietYesterday, 1 AM — quietYesterday, 2 AM — quietYesterday, 3 AM — quietYesterday, 4 AM — quietYesterday, 5 AM — quietYesterday, 6 AM — quietYesterday, 7 AM — quietYesterday, 8 AM — quietYesterday, 9 AM — quietYesterday, 10 AM — quietYesterday, 11 AM — quietYesterday, 12 PM — quietYesterday, 1 PM — quietYesterday, 2 PM — quietYesterday, 3 PM — quietYesterday, 4 PM — quietYesterday, 5 PM — quietYesterday, 6 PM — quietYesterday, 7 PM — quietYesterday, 8 PM — quietYesterday, 9 PM — quietYesterday, 10 PM — quietYesterday, 11 PM — quiet 1
Sep 20Sep 21Sep 22yesterdaynow · 12:58 AM ET
  1. 1

    Essay gains traction on Hacker News

    The essay was posted to Hacker News and reached the front page, generating discussion about technology adoption in education and the recurring pattern of failed edtech promises.

    “Every time a new technology arrives, it finds its way into education, and every time, we are handed the same choice: listen to the people trying to sell it to us, or listen to teachers.”
    — Friends School Boulder educator, Author · source
    • twipped@twipped.social

      This essay is ultimately about why AI doesn't belong in the classroom, but I feel like the majority is about the challenges of teaching children. https:// friendsschoolboulder.org/the-c hoice-we-keep-making/ > What works in education hasn’t changed: one skilled, present teacher with a small group of kids. While pedagogy and curriculum can and do…

      twipped@twipped.socialMastodon3d agoview on Mastodon ↗
  2. background

    Essay argues no edtech has ever reduced classroom costs without degrading quality — The essay contends that while automation in other industries (manufacturing, banking) has reduced costs, education is fundamentally different because the core relationship between a skilled teacher and small group of students cannot be cheapened without harm. The author cites personal experience with failed technology purchases in schools.

  3. background

    Friends School Boulder educator publishes essay on AI in schools — An administrator at Friends School Boulder published an essay arguing that schools face a recurring choice between listening to technology vendors or trusting teachers. The piece draws on historical examples of failed edtech adoption, including educational television and MOOCs, to warn that AI adoption follows the same pattern.