Question Assumptions

What is the purpose of the classroom?

Contrary to popular belief, my consideration is that the classroom is to efficiently manage an expensive resource -- teacher time. The goal is to apply a cost/benefit analysis to the business of education in order to achieve the optimal results with the least expense. It's not about maximizing learning. It's intended to minimize the cost of instruction.

Think I'm wrong? Try to get one teacher per student. Even one teacher for three students.

Most people engaged in education recognize the current populist model of school is based on an industrial-age sensibility of command-and-control. There's one boss. You all report to him/her. He/she reports to the board of directors. You have a product -- students -- that you must turn out in pre-established quantitities within certain tolerances.

Great when you're turning out lightbulbs or automobile tires. Sucky model when you're trying to teach a kid how to read. Or do math. Or investigate the physical world. I'm preaching to the choir here, right?

So. What should Classroom 2.0 be?

Or are we going to keep this industrial-age vision and continue to pretend that the classroom serves the learner?

For the record, I'm not saying we need to do away with the box which the classroom defines, nor am I suggesting that we throw out the need for efficient application of resources. (At least not as a pre-supposition. It may come to that.) What I am asking is how do we get around the problems inherent in the current command-and-control systems to maximize -- not merely optimize -- learning outcomes.

Suggestions?