[MATHEDCC] online info
rbenso@SEACCC.SCCD.CTC.EDU
Mon, 10 Nov 97 15:40:31 PST
Hi,
As mentioned earlier, our state is constructing a statewide online
program and our faculty are trying to get a handle on it.
The following are excerpts from a listserv message sent by Steve
Eskow. Thought they might be of interest. They conform to other
position statements that our faculty are making. Would be interested
in your comments. (Hope to be in the hospitality room 11:30 to 12:30
on Saturday when on-line courses are the topic).
Dick
7. The distance learning system, properly conceived, need not impose
uniformity of teaching or course organization and design on the
institution, nor dictate to the individual teacher pedagogy or course
appearance or structure.
4. The computer, modem, and international telephone system are all the
"infrastructure" that a college needs to provide distance learning
instruction of quality.
The millions that are being invested by instituions in
"infrastructure" need to be reviewed and rethought.
The Internet and The World Wide Web are themselves most of the
infrastructure a college or school needs, and that infrastructure is
in place worldwide.
A modest computer in the home of a faculty member and that home
becomes a teaching station.
A modest computer in the home of a student anywhere in the community,
the nation, or the world and that home (or office or hospital or
barracks) becomes a campus.
The computer is becoming the universal technology combining text,
sound, and images: there is no imperative need to invest in one-way
television systems or other expensive "monologic" technologies that
require the student to come to a specialized place for instruction.
3. Distance learning inititiatives, designed for educational quality,
can substantially reduce .... overhead costs.
For example: if colleges decided to have all 3-credit courses meet
only 2 hours each week on campus with the 3rd hour done at home or
work with computer and modem, the classroom capacity so released would
enable most colleges to expand oncampus enrollment without new brick
and mortar and parking lots.
And that 3rd hour could improve the quality of the learning
experience, and give campus students the experience and the online
skills there future requires.
(The following is a copy of a slide from a presentation given by
Murray Turoff at an ALN conference. At wwww.aln.org/conf97/)
Conclusions and Consequences II
No distinction between on campus students and remote
students in a single course offering.
Distance Learning if done right will put itself out of
business as a separate entity in university organizations
Not sure administrators in DL will appreciate that objective
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