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Schools rely on software-based instruction

Ray Kurzweil, Books and essays, 1999, published 1999-01

The traditional mode of a human teacher instructing a group of children is still prevalent, but schools are increasingly relying on software approaches, leaving human teachers to attend primarily to issues of motivation, psychological well-being, and socialization.

Source

Verdict

partialThe two blind graders disagreed (A: miss, B: partial). A third agent settled it (D20).

Grader A: miss

In 2009 teacher-led instruction was the norm, with computers used 'often' by only 40% of teachers and mostly as support tools (word processing, presentations, practice). Teachers did not shift to a role focused mainly on motivation and socialization, and software was not the main instructional approach by 2014.

Test: At least 20% of schools relying mainly on software for instruction with teachers in a support role: under 5% in 2009 and 2014.

Teachers' Use of Educational Technology in U.S. Public Schools: 2009 (NCES 2010-040) (2010-05): Computers were used during instruction often by 40% and sometimes by 29% of teachers, mainly as supporting tools.
Effectiveness of Reading and Mathematics Software Products (NCEE 2009-4041) (2009-02): Software products produced no significant achievement gains, giving no basis for replacing teacher instruction.

Grader B: partial

Teacher-led group instruction stayed dominant (true). Schools added software (tutors, online assessment, blended pilots) but teachers did not shift mainly to motivation and socialization roles.

Test: Industry test: software instruction >5% of schools, teacher role shift not mainstream by 2014.

NCES: Educational Technology in U.S. Public Schools: Fall 2008 (2010-04): Fall 2008: 3.1 students per internet-connected instructional computer; 97% of schools had computers in classrooms; 58% had laptops on carts; whole-school wireless 39%, partial 30%.
Wikipedia: Cognitive tutor (accessed 2026-09-28): Carnegie Learning tutors in thousands of US schools; WWC 2009 found potentially positive effects from 1 qualifying study.

All captured fields

rank: 38
kind: decade_prediction
section: Education
subject: Schools rely on software-based instruction
target year: 2009
timing: in
position: Chapter 9, "2009"; item Education 12 in Kurzweil 2010, p. 39
confidence: high
note: Wording as reproduced by the author in "How My Predictions Are Faring" (2010); book page not given there. Subject label is the essay's own item heading.