Be advised: Microsoft’s Bill Gates is now out there calling textbooks “obsolete” and predicting their imminent death. Yes, this despite the fact that ongoing studies keep finding/proving that students prefer reading the paper variety. Moreover, when coming across pertinent online information, rather than reading and leaving, most kids hit print.

Plus, while new textbooks last for years, schools must purchase a new set of licenses every year–a so-called and pricey subscription service. Nowadays, even Microsoft Word comes with a price tag.

And now this:

In at least 12 states, teachers can now receive blow-by-blow, in the moment instruction advice from someone unseen, unknown, and somewhere else. It’s called “bug-in-ear coaching,”  and it goes like this:

A teacher, earpiece in place, delivers his/her lesson to a classroom full of kids that’s also being live-streamed to a distant coach, who then gives ongoing feedback and improvement suggestions. Yes, all at the same time, unlike a principal or supervisor who comes in, observes a lesson, makes notations, and then conferences with said teacher afterward–one-on-one, face-to-face.

Reportedly, it works, but personally, when I’m addressing students, I  don’t think I really want someone talking in my ear at the same time I am and making ongoing suggestions.

Maybe you can do three things at once, but juggling has never been my strong suit.

How about you?