One of the ongoing confusions seems to be what constitutes distance in education. The idea that a classroom is fundamentally a different environment in terms of education than, say, a course offered in Blackboard seems pretty common. The problem, of course, is that classroom teachers are so fluent in the use of “classroom technology” that they fail to understand that the same principles that guide “online education” guide “classroom education.” Since most classroom teachers are unable to really come to grips with the notion of spoken language as technology, let’s look at the other venerable classrrom institution — the textbook.
No where is the dichotomy between reality and belief clearer than when dealing with a textbook. If I teach a class using the Kearsley book in a classroom, then it’s a classroom based course. If I teach a class using the Kearsley book and don’t meet the class in a classroom, then it’s a distance class. The problem is, as Lev Vygotsky points out with his idea of “distant teacher,” I’m not the teacher when you’re using the Kearsley book. Greg Kearsley is. It doesn’t matter where or how I assign the book. When you read it, Kearsley is the teacher. He offers the lesson, and perhaps part of what you learn from reading the book is what he intended. The fact that what *I* wanted you to learn is congruent with what Kearsley teaches notwithstanding. I didn’t teach it. I only assigned it.
I’ll say it again. All Education is at a distance. You are required to use some technology to bridge the gap between your mind and the mind of the learner. It’s not like I’m arbitrarily making this up. Until and unless you can implant your thoughts directly into the mind of the learner, you need some technology to carry your message. Once you can accept that and come to grips with it in a meaningful way, the rest of the discussion is centered on the tools, how well the tools carry various messages, and debunking some widely held mythology like the real value of body language, and the idea that a learner who never sees your face is at a disadvantage.
September 8th, 2007 at 5:36 pm
I suppose with this new insight into textbooks, all teachers do not teach by themselves. The textbook they assign every year to their students was written by one or more authors on the content for their subject. So, between the authors and the teachers they are collaboratively teaching the subject to the students. Every resource that the teacher uses outside of the textbook, computer programs, journals, videos, etc., are also collaborating with the teacher. I never really considered the resources that I used with my teaching to assume my role for the duration the student was engaged with them. It makes sense.
A learner can still learn at a distant. We all learn when we have our chat time together, in the many blogs that we read, and from other educators we meet in online communities. I still think body language holds some value in making a point, but it is not the end of the world if the students can’t see the body language. Presentation of the content can still be just as effective in our ways than just face-to-face conversations.
September 8th, 2007 at 6:52 pm
[...] Pros and Cons of Distance Education September 8, 2007 Filed under: Uncategorized — remonzer @ 10:52 pm If we start with the premise that all education is at a distance (see http://durandus.com/phaedrus/2007/09/08/is-a-book-at-a-distance/), then in commenting on pros and cons of distance education we are the best modes and devices for lesson delivery. [...]
September 8th, 2007 at 8:27 pm
I see what you are saying and I must have understood the discussion differently before. I understood you to say in the other discussions on this that “All education, Distance or not” was just “Education” I did not get the message as being “all education is Distance Education” my bad!!! I see that words and in what context they are taken by the reader can make a difference in what they say.
Another way to see how communication can help or hinder the education process.
I hope you see what I was thinking…
September 9th, 2007 at 11:21 am
I understand what you’re saying. Yes, all education is distance education. The real key is to get the student to want to be a learner. That motivation is hard to achieve whether there is face to face communication or not. There are too many other things grabbing the attention of the student (especially k-12).
September 9th, 2007 at 3:41 pm
So, just where exactly does the term teacher come into play? I agree with everything you have said so far. I never thought of things in this way until now, but I definitley get it. So, with that said, why are we not called ‘Facilitators’?
I guess I’m having trouble with my identity now. If we are always at at distance from our students and the author of some chosen book is the actual teacher where do we take our place?
September 9th, 2007 at 4:15 pm
First, you always were at a distance from your students. The only thing that’s changed is that you know it now.
Second, the role of teacher has its own week, but this is a good time to start thinking about it.
September 10th, 2007 at 8:44 pm
So, do you think that some of it boils down to semantics? I don’t think I ever really thought I was “teaching” Shakespeare if we put it in this terminology. However, I would say that I help students make sense of text, etc. Can any of us be teachers if we rely, at least in part, on someone else’s work? I’d always thought of it more in terms of… Julius Caesar was the Ford, but I was behind the wheel.
September 10th, 2007 at 11:49 pm
Ah. Now you’re talking about two different uses of a text. That’s another issue. Literature is a text but in a different way than, say, Kearsley.