The Education Problem: Raj Reddy (Part 14)

Raj and I engage in a conversation debating the potential uses and benefits of providing high speed network connectivity to rural areas. In the process, we have some disagreements on microfinance models, but agree on the end goal of the killer app: providing a livelihood to the poor population.

SM: The question is, by selling a few baskets or some milk from a cow, are there any profits left, or are you just creating a sustenance model? RR: I am saying that whatever it is, you have to create a business model. I propose a franchising model. Let’s say I want to set up a flower business. If I am going to fund you, I will give you a franchise in your village to grow flowers, and I will also hire and train your people on management and so on.

What I am proposing is that there are four proponents to successfully executing a venture; knowledge, money, management and marketing. It is what I call KM cubed. If you are willing to work hard and put in twelve hours a day (8 hours for working and 4 hours for learning) I will cover everything else. You will have your own franchise.

SM: I think franchise would work. I am not convinced, with due respect, about the micro equity model. I am convinced about the franchise model. >>>

The Education Problem: Raj Reddy (Part 13)

Raj continues to address his concept of taking bandwidth to underdeveloped populations.

SM: It is just sunk costs, that should be OK. RR: They just need to bite their tongues and assume it is all lost, and it will come back via economic growth. So, that is the first problem I would like to solve; connectivity of the people.

The second problem is the computing problem. It will be solved, and is being solved, by people like Negroponte and the $100 laptop. They can have a computer and use it in interesting ways. The main things to think about when using a computer in a village is not the cost, $100, $50, or even $10. It is that if I am an illiterate person in the village I am not going to spend anything if I do not see the value in.

SM: There needs to be a kill app, what is the killer app? RR: Not Word, Excel and Power Point. I think it is entertainment, education and medical healthcare. Communication underlies all of them. >>>

The Education Problem: Raj Reddy (Part 12)

After having dealt so much with education, we also examine some of the other issues which are of interest and importance to Raj.

SM: We have spent a good amount of time addressing education. What other issues are on the top of your mind at this point? RR: The big picture where education comes in, for me, is again thinking broadly about how information technology can help with the people in developing countries. Especially rural people in developing countries, and those who are illiterate; those at the bottom of the pyramid earning a dollar a day. >>>

The Education Problem: Raj Reddy (Part 11)

Here we examine other similar learning methodologies, as well as their appropriate implementations.

SM: Besides your work which is being implemented in India, is Jim Gibbons’ work at Stanford being implemented anywhere? My second question is if there are any other methodology breakthroughs like this, elsewhere? RR: I did not invent all of this, this has been going on for 30 years, and there are a lot of cognitive scientists working on it. I have probably done some new innovations.

There is a professor here at CMU called John Anderson [Anderson Bio] who is highly regarded in psychology. He has a whole model and theory of learning. His model is called the ACT-R model which says he is going to build a model of what is in the head of every student, what he knows and what he does not know at any given time. That was done about ten years ago, and after a lot of false steps, a company called Carnegie Learning has been set up which is selling these intelligent learning systems in US School districts. Their sales this year will be $20 Million.

SM: Is that an effective methodology? RR: It is the same methodology as far as learning by doing, but they do it slightly differently. It starts with a different model, the theory of how learning works. It is still learning by doing; I am not trying to build a graph and I do not care about what exactly you know or do not, all I care is that you go from second to third to fourth grades. He wants a much more detailed understanding of what you know and what you don’t know.

SM: Howard Gardner [Gardner Bio] did this multiple intelligence research which says that people learn in different modes. Some people learn by listening, and some people learn visually. Some are more verbally talented, some are more scientifically talented. He built a model which is a personalized learning system. Once you figure out what a person’s learning style is, you can build a knowledge base which is personalized. RR: I would like to read more about that, if there is something specific that you can send me on him.

[To Be Continued]

[Part 10]

[Part 9]

[Part 8]

[Part 7]

[Part 6]

[Part 5]

[Part 4]

[Part 3]

[Part 2]

[Part 1]

The Education Problem: Raj Reddy (Part 10)

In this next portion of the interview, Raj explains in more detail how he ensures and verifies students learn the material they are expected to know.

SM: This is the methodology that you are putting together in your school? RR: Exactly, but not just for algebra. If you are trying to do an SAT exam, and you make a mistake, the same applies. For every question we present you, we know what the basic, fundamental knowledge you must have in order for you to correctly answer that question. When you make a mistake, that means you do not understand some of the foundational material. So let me show you a just in time lesson. For English, if a student uses “she” when he should use “he”, he would get a lesson on gender.

Then, to prove he understands what mistakes are made, he must review three sentences and correct the errors. >>>

The Education Problem: Raj Reddy (Part 9)

Our discussion now focuses on a key element of the ‘learning by doing model’: mentors, and evolves into the root of education – the process of learning.

SM: Right now what is happening is at a very low level. There is no “methodology”, just a connection with a tutor who knows the material, sort of like a personal trainer. RR: Let’s imagine a scenario where the person on the other end takes the same problem or some other problem, and then you have a shared terminal where they can both be looking at the same thing. The tutor can work through the solution with the student, this is learning by example. If you already know how to do it, then it is a problem. But if you are thinking through the problem and solving it on the spot, which is what doesn’t happen in a conventional lecture.

The lecturer prepares everything and knows how to prove a theorem, and he just goes there and writes down the theorem. There is no clue how he got to the proof, he just emits it as the end product. What the student really needs to learn is the thinking process behind how he got to the proof of the theorem. >>>

The Education Problem: Raj Reddy (Part 8)

In the next segment, we discuss how Raj’s model could be applied on a global scale. When thought of in these terms, it could become a revolutionary methodolgy and change the concept of education throughout the world.

SM: So Raj let me explore a different thread with you. Kind of like an evolution; let’s assume the basic methodology we are working with is this learning by doing methodology which is mentored rather than lecture taught. How about an online implementation of this? If you are trying to scale this globally, you have the call center in India with students all over the world. That model is starting to happen. There is an online tutoring industry that is starting to come together using Indian tutors. >>>

The Education Problem: Raj Reddy (Part 7)

Raj continues discussing his new education program, and the key benefits it provides.

SM: So this is going to be a state funded program? RR: The scaling can be anything, I can take a million people. This particular program scales because everybody gets their own computer. It is a wireless network campus, so all I need is trained mentors, I can get them it takes about two or three years. The tuition is 1.2 lacs per year including food and accommodation. That is only ~$2000 dollars. >>>