Whenever we start talking about scope, there’s always this confusion about “either-or”. As if we need to teach online OR in classrooms. Clarence Fisher up at Remote Access has a wired classroom where he’s actively engaged in a “thin walls” project to connect his classroom with one in California. It’s this kinda stuff that makes me wish I were K-12 certified.
Back to basics:
Remember that one precept of what I’ll call “non-classroom learning” is “Everywhere. All the time.” Most distance ed people think along the “Anywhere, Anytime” line, but I think we’re missing a clue about how people learn if we even consider that there might be a time when they’re not learning. Once we’re no longer bound by the classroom box (what I call “the 30×30 for 3hrs on Thursday” notion), that gives us the opportunity to provide educational experiences that are not possible in the classroom. This class, for example, would not be possible if I could only teach you in the classroom. I could cover the same content, but it would not be this course of study and, in my opinion, a much poorer alternative to reach the stated goal of inculcating an understanding of distance delivery theory and practice.
The other precept is that “all education is at a distance.” There is no “either-or” but only “education.” The choices we make about what communications tools we use are driven, in large part, by the structural constraints of the class. Does the school have to fill the seats in order to amortize the cost of a building? Is the nature and subject matter of the course less about information presentation and more about student interaction? Is the intended audience for the course easily accessible in space and time?
Somebody, and I don’t remember who so I’m not pointing fingers, mentioned that online education would work well for “older” students but that perhaps middle school and below needed the teacher’s push in order to acquire the time management skills necessary to succeed and that push requires a bit of face-to-face time with an intimidating adult. (No, that’s not what the posting said, but that’s the implication.) Let me just point out that you get reminders from me every day (weekends included) and fresh content, and I’m applying pressure on each of you to get and stay on task. Be thinking about how I’m doing that and what the stressors are that I’m able to apply to keep you motivated to learn.
September 4th, 2007 at 12:10 pm
Traditional definitions of “classroom time” have hindered obtaining those experiences we want for our students. The task of self-discovery outside of the “30 x 30″ square, for example, is something that would require focus from the student, but would give them something that they may appreciate later. Teachers can keep students on task with daily reminders of what needs to be accomplish, constant feedback, and constructive critcism. It doesn’t take a intimidating adult to keep kids, but just one who cares enough to tell them when they are doing well and when a situation calls for improvement.
September 4th, 2007 at 12:11 pm
Left out the word “focused” after the word “kids” in the last sentence.
My bad.