RE: web based subscriptions. RE: It should be free

Gary suggested: "One ought to be able to order a DVD of a math, engineering or" whatever for a couple hundred dollars...

As this relates to "It should be free" and the general topic of lowering the cost of education, Gary's suggestion turns the discussion in an important direction. That is, the Master Plan should be promoting R&D; into other methods of "teaching" that are more cost-effective while still leading to high academic achievement.

The problem is, the "teachco" and other CD and/or videotape type "technological solutions" are virtually obsolete and have a proven track record of providing only limited results and then only for select students. A "state-of-the-art" technological solution must provide a flexible program that adjusts to learning styles and abilities just the way an excellent teacher already does. I believe that technology must be used by a live teacher to have more channels for teaching rather than just "replay" a canned and static lecture series.

I believe, and the Master Plan should promote R&D; to bear this out, that we can reduce the costs of education by ten-fold using instructional technology (which includes by isn't limited to "video" or "audio" lectures). I am (sans subsidy) already pursuing this R&D; track but welcome others to try it for themselves.

Once we have a low-cost alternative methodology such as this deployed, then we can start discussing "free" education for all since the remaining costs will fall well below the current "subsidies" already being forked over by the state.