Wesley Fryer recently posted a concern that I believe is off target. His post seems to position teacher relationships against adaptive online video and management systems (think Kahn Academy) in a way that implies the learning experience should be one or the other.
If one takes the position of Salman Kahn as a way of understanding how systems such as the Kahn Academy are intended to be used, the notion of tech or teacher is far from what is intended. Kahn offers a concrete number of the limit of time to spent with the videos (2 hours per day) and clearly aligns what the teacher is to be doing with the popular “teacher as facilitator” rather than “teacher as knowledge dispenser” position. Kahn also advocates classroom, cooperative learning activities that do not rely on video and may take advantage of peer tutoring.
Arguments for the value of using classroom time in a more personal way, e.g., flipped classroom, blended learning, argue that it is the group-based, classroom presentation approach that limits the teacher-student relationship.
In the classes I teach, I use a model proposed by Alessi and Trollip to explain the instructional design process – presentation, guided/supported processing, practice, evaluation. The reality of the classroom is often less individualized than idealists might suggest. A teacher working with 25-30 students simply does not have sufficient time to individualize. Technology does not have to be better than what a tutor could be to offer advantages over what a real teacher can provide. The presentation and practice components are areas where technology can individualize effectively. This offers the teacher the opportunity to focus on guided/supported processing and evaluation. The combination offers experiences that are more individualized.
I understand there may be programs assuming that students will rely exclusively on video, but the Kahn Academy (one I know something about) would not be an example. I have been attempting to identify programs I think would serve as examples. I use Lynda.com for some personal learning, but this site is obviously focused on adult learners who can take responsibility for more components of the learning experience and find this approach efficient and cost effective.