Bill Gates expects the web to be the best single source of education within 5 years
By Vlad Savov 
posted August 9th 2010 5:38AM
posted August 9th 2010 5:38AM
posted August 9th 2010 5:38AM
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@ThomasK Except that it's already true?
@ThomasK
"The same Gates who believed that 640kb of RAM is big enough"
Obviously not since this Gates never said that. You could even use the internet to, ya know, educate yourself on this fact just like he suggests.
@ThomasK Yeah thats why windows NT and 95 both had TCP/IP, do you really think j.Allard changed gates mind in his most successful and godish time? even so bill accepted it, which means a lot
IS THAT MORGAN FREEMAN TO THE LEFT?
@shreyas That's Bill Russell... Ever watched basketball? Bye the way that's John Kerry on the right....
I was making a list of things the Internet and computers have replaced.... Music stores, typewriters, maps, etc. But schools? It makes sense, and foreigners can get their degree without ever leaving home, even if that home is a hut in Africa! But in 5 years, no way.
Yo Kanye, I'm really happy for you and Imma let you finish but Bill Gates is the greatest college drop out of all time, of all time!!!
sorry for this necromeme.
Sorry Gates, but that is nonsense.
There's something about actual in-classroom learning that no website can touch. Between the interaction of teacher and student, and student and student, there is so much more to the learning process than just learning facts. I think that online learning has great potential and is a good option sometimes, but can't hold a candle to in-person learning.
@Hazdaz
Yes, but is that interaction worth $40,000 a year?
@bata
You don't have to go to some expensive school to get a good education. Some community or state colleges have the same professors teaching there that also tech at much more expensive universities. You can the benefits of actual in-person education for a fraction of that $40k/year cost.
I am not saying that online education is not a cool option, but realistically the stuff you learn at school that tends to be most useful in the workplace is not what is actually in the curriculum, but rather what you learn from other people in a social environment.
@bata Yes.
@bata
It's all about the networking.
Einstein dropped out too, even before Gates.
Both my comments have been erased from this article?
Why?
I happen to be reading _Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling_ By John Taylor Gatto. I'm reading it on my Kindle app on my phone, BTW.
He makes a lot of good points about what is really being taught in school, and it ain't reading, writing and 'rithmatic. The main lessons learned are 1) your ranking is everything, 2) your caste is set for life and you'll never move beyond it, 3) Never question authority, 4) Learning takes place at specific times and places. When the time's up you have to stop learning. NOW. 5) Big brother is always watching. 6) You should only interact with people the same age as you.
No wonder I hated school.
So,
You all want your Doctor to be a graduate of "medschoolonline.com" or a brick and mortar institution?
The internet is fast replacing the university library - and I would love to see it break the textbook-extortion racket. Lab courses, student-student interaction and student-teacher interaction are a requirement for of a complete education.
'Online Education' vs. traditional matriculation is equivalent to watching an 'Online Live Performance' vs. a live show.
Kevin
I got my high school diploma from penn foster (online). Got a bachelors degree in computer science from F.I.U (Florida International University). Going after an M.B.A from phoenix university.
Right on Bill Gates!
@Ducman69 wow that was awesome. like a whole other era only 14 years ago. thanks for the link.
@ravissimo commenting fail. how did that happen?
@ravissimo I'm not sure, but Japanese ritual suicide is the only option to restore your honor at this point.
@Ducman69
It has been an honor commenting on engadget.
*Huuuuuh!*
X__X
damit gates u couldnt of said this 5 years ago o i would have to go to school in september
I completely agree with him. Especially if you want to be a programmer, or something related to that.
guess we'll have to wait and see in 2015. *imagines possible tech advances* :D
two words :
paperless office.
;-)
Bill talks half truths here
one as far education goes the internet will and needs to replace text books
You can read all the material you want on the internet but it CAN'T replace real world experience or hands on training.
and if you know anything about Bill Gates life he had a wealth real world training as programmer well before he went to college. so traditional educational seems very obsolete to him.
If you don't go to college, how will you meet your Steve Balmer?
Actually, the best move it to be born to rich lawyers that can give you good advice on contracts.