> Hi Listers,
>
> Do you think the big technology software and hardware companies,
> with all their money and people power, will be able to take over our
> teaching responsibilities by developing sophisticated internet courses
> which include videos, CD's, lectures from well known teachers, computer
> testing/grading etc.???
>
> If NO, why not?
> If YES, then what can we do about it, if anything?
> Should they take over teaching?
>
In a word - No. I take my view from the forward to Richard Feynman's Lectures
on Physics: The besy learning is done when one teacher and one student interact
over the material. As the internet stands now it can be a resource but not a
replacement. Bandwidth restrictions alone will prevent little more from list
memorizing and basic communications from taking place. The greatest thing we
have to offer our students is not a list of procedures (that are in large part
not very useful) but a model of the analytic process and for now, that is best
done in a classroom, office, or lab; in person picking apart each other's work.
(aka the Socratic method) Technology is a tool, but not a replacement for
personal interaction
Jay Malmstrom
Oklahoma City Community College
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