The Quest for an “Automatic Teacher”

A compelling narrative marred by flawed commentary

This piece appeared originally in Education Next.

Teaching Machines: The History of Personalized Learning
by Audrey Watters
2021, MIT Press, $34.95; 328 pages.

As reviewed by Michael B. Horn

For nearly a decade, Audrey Watters has cast herself as a snarky and skeptical writer about education technology. From theories of personalized learning to new education…