> >I have 2 issues I need feedback on.
> 2)We are launching into teaching courses via teleconferencing.Starting
> Winter quarter we will be teaching at 5 sites. We are being told 1 class
> could have 200 students. We are not supposed to use multiple choice tests
> as per our accrediting agencies (not my choice for good testing anyway).
> This will be inaddition to 3 other classes here on campus. (A normal load
> for us is 20 credits per quarter). We've also been told this class may
> require transmission on Friday night or Saturday. We have no workstudy
> students or TA's. Since we do not have a union to help us determine what is
> fair, we need input on what kind of agreements some of y'all have worked out
> with your schools for handling the distance learning loads.
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Sharon Smith
> Augusta TechnicalInstitute
> Math Instructor
> Isa 43:1-3
> email ssmith@augusta.tec.ga.us
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
Our State System (14 Universities) is also grappling with this problem.
So far, no statewide agreements (we are unionized). Locally, we have
worked out some sort of agreement this past week or two. I don't have a
copy of it as yet, should be getting one soon. At our union rep council
meeeting two days ago some concerns/suggestions were raised:
1. Try to avoid student evaluations in distance learning classes. From
past experience with televised courses, professors get murdered in their
evaluations compared to traditional classrooms with a human present and
teaching.
2. Determine who owns the results of the distance learning episode. Is it
the intellectual property of the professor or the university?
3. Try to ensure that distance learning is NOT just another way to reduce
faculty size.
When I find out more, I'll post it.