{"id":17734,"date":"2013-03-10T12:30:05","date_gmt":"2013-03-10T17:30:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/techcitement.com\/?p=17734"},"modified":"2013-03-11T02:54:59","modified_gmt":"2013-03-11T07:54:59","slug":"sxswedu-modern-day-edison-thinks-we-need-software-yodas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/techcitement.com\/culture\/politics\/sxswedu-modern-day-edison-thinks-we-need-software-yodas\/","title":{"rendered":"SXSWedu: Modern Day Edison Thinks We Need Software Yodas"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the SXSW<\/a> behemoth slowly awakened, Bill Gates gave the final keynote at SXSWedu<\/a>. The host introduced Gates as a \u201cmodern day Edison,\u201d an apt comparison in more ways than one<\/a>, but if philanthropy<\/a> redeems, perhaps we should forgive him.<\/p>\n

Gates described the explosion in computing power and the implosion in cost, telling an anecdote of a 13-year-old Bill who stayed up late for a few minutes of time on a mainframe 50 times less powerful than today\u2019s smart phones. He pointed out that in the 1990s it cost $400 to store an hour of video on the internet. Today, that same hour costs $.02, and other forms of data are even smaller and cheaper.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe tipping point of the availability and the price coming down should mean that the technology is not a big barrier,\u201d said Gates.<\/p>\n

After presenting convincing evidence that we have the technology we need, he pointed out that technology has not<\/i> caused the educational revolution that the world expects. Gates showed an image of a classroom from 75-years-ago next to an image of today\u2019s classroom, and the only differences were the style of clothing and a whiteboard instead of a chalkboard.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe market for educational technology is difficult,\u201d said Gates, and then asked the question of the day. \u201cWhat is it we\u2019re trying to achieve with software?\u201d<\/p>\n

Gates believes the traditional student teacher model can work fantastically well and referred to the fictional example of Luke and Yoda from the Star Wars<\/i> universe. Yoda teaches with complete sensitivity to Luke\u2019s individual needs, tailoring his instruction specifically to Luke.<\/p>\n

\"lukeandyoda\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Gates thinks that great teachers can personalize their instruction even in a class of 30, and that to some degree, educational software can achieve personalization. He considers adaptive educational software for students and teachers a critical element of a technology driven educational revolution.<\/p>\n

To demonstrate some promising efforts at educational technology innovation, Gates invited three CEO entrepreneurs of educational technology companies to join him on stage and explain what their companies develop:<\/p>\n