do you believe that progressing through a “tech tree” is the thing that makes a real difference between a motivated and unmotivated student?
Seeing a visual representation of that “tech tree” probably would. One thing lacking in school is a clear communication of the intended skills to master and progress towards that mastery.
for example that to create a proper tree of knowledge you would have to split the information into too many parts.
The tree would need to be able to be displayed at multiple levels of hierarchical composition.
(Feel free to steal ideas from Khan Academy.)
Anyone know what Khan Academy already has in this regard? Or other educational software?
Research what already exists.
That really should have been his starting point—study what’s already been done.
I am not doubting that seeing the visual representation of the “tech tree” would make some students somewhat more motivated. But I am thinking about many other things which make students unmotivated (such as: the student’s parents are preparing for a divorce right now, and the student cannot focus on learning at school), so I doubt how many % of the total “unmotivation” can be fixed specifically by showing the students the “tech tree”. 5%? I’m probably being too optimistic here.
Anyone know what Khan Academy already has in this regard?
This. I don’t know if they have other subjects than math processed in this way.
That Khan Academy tree is pretty demotivating for me, and it’s actually less math than I know (it looks like it only goes up through derivatives in a more traditionally structured series of classes). Now imagine that there are similar, more comprehensive trees for every major field of knowledge. To truly face the fact that you will only ever be able to learn a tiny fraction of any given field is pretty depressing. Of course, this is partially a reflection of the scale at which the tree is made and the way it’s presented, but motivation is not at all a sure thing.
To truly face the fact that you will only ever be able to learn a tiny fraction of any given field is pretty depressing.
First, if that reality depresses you, you need an attitude adjustment. I got a PhD in EE which taught me that neither I nor anyone else knows squat. That’s just the way reality is.
Second, the graph isn’t enough without identifying levels of competency against some standard, which could be population statistics, or grade level. That’s what’s needed for education—realistic goals, and a way to track progress toward completing them.
That should be sufficient for schooling. After that, experts could recommend material based on desired specialties.
In tough times, the advantage of habits of achievement and monitoring developed in good times should provide significant help, if not a guarantee of success, which I don’t think anyone promises or expects.
Seeing a visual representation of that “tech tree” probably would. One thing lacking in school is a clear communication of the intended skills to master and progress towards that mastery.
The tree would need to be able to be displayed at multiple levels of hierarchical composition.
Anyone know what Khan Academy already has in this regard? Or other educational software?
That really should have been his starting point—study what’s already been done.
I am not doubting that seeing the visual representation of the “tech tree” would make some students somewhat more motivated. But I am thinking about many other things which make students unmotivated (such as: the student’s parents are preparing for a divorce right now, and the student cannot focus on learning at school), so I doubt how many % of the total “unmotivation” can be fixed specifically by showing the students the “tech tree”. 5%? I’m probably being too optimistic here.
This. I don’t know if they have other subjects than math processed in this way.
That Khan Academy tree is pretty demotivating for me, and it’s actually less math than I know (it looks like it only goes up through derivatives in a more traditionally structured series of classes). Now imagine that there are similar, more comprehensive trees for every major field of knowledge. To truly face the fact that you will only ever be able to learn a tiny fraction of any given field is pretty depressing. Of course, this is partially a reflection of the scale at which the tree is made and the way it’s presented, but motivation is not at all a sure thing.
First, if that reality depresses you, you need an attitude adjustment. I got a PhD in EE which taught me that neither I nor anyone else knows squat. That’s just the way reality is.
Second, the graph isn’t enough without identifying levels of competency against some standard, which could be population statistics, or grade level. That’s what’s needed for education—realistic goals, and a way to track progress toward completing them.
That should be sufficient for schooling. After that, experts could recommend material based on desired specialties.
In tough times, the advantage of habits of achievement and monitoring developed in good times should provide significant help, if not a guarantee of success, which I don’t think anyone promises or expects.