Technology Changing Education, According to Elon Musk
During a recent non-profit economic think tank Milken Institute conference, Tesla CEO Elon Musk criticized the global state of modern education. Musk expressed his views on how technology is changing how we view education, stating that tasks that used to require minutes or hours of attention now only need seconds of automation.
Musk highlighted that teaching methods have not evolved much over his lifetime, emphasizing the traditional model of an adult standing in front of a chalkboard instructing children. He argued against this approach, stating, “You don’t want a teacher in front of a board.”
The tech billionaire pointed out that the current education system often fails to engage children, leading them to filter out information as useless trivia. Musk suggested that teaching staff typically lack the skills to impart essential knowledge to students.
Comparing modern teachers to vaudeville entertainers, Musk explained that the current education system is similar to vaudeville before the rise of radio, TV, and movies. He gave the example of how Hollywood revolutionized entertainment by collaborating with talented individuals to create compelling content.
Musk’s comments shed light on the need for a shift in the education system to adapt to the changing technological landscape. He emphasized the importance of engaging and relevant teaching methods to ensure students retain essential knowledge.
