Got back from camping this morning and thought I'd check the old email to make sure I've done all the homework for the week. Yes, I did it all. BUT......... There is a new post to read. And a comment about doing more then we are asked to do. I admit at first I was stunned. I just don't know how to explain it. It was like being a teacher for years and then suddenly they say "oh yeah, remember we will be working Saturdays and the day shift has been replaced with midnights. I just didn't seem to compute. But I started to think about something. How either in the reading or email or something that distance education isn't just a normal class with the people far apart. It is more then just that. Internet and Web courses aren't at all restricted by the Monday-Friday 8-3 schedule we become accustomed to growing up. I think this is hard for many especially teachers or other jobs that in many ways take the m-f 8-3 schedule for granted. I know I don't take it for granted because I've worked full time jobs that were no where near that schedule. Now I'm learning that education isnt on that schedule anymore. College has beegun changing to include night and weekend classes. So distance education may just keep the ball going. Technically, I could have done all my work for this class at 3am if I wanted to. Past internet courses were in some ways so flexible to allow me to work only one day a week of my choosing.
So what about this. I'm not sure. I think the flexibility is great and with chatrooms and IM's people get to stay in contact. As the tech gets better and cheaper we will all have very functional webcams. This will really begin to take away the need to have traditional classes. Why take a Calc 3 class in a room when you can do it from home or on vacation. You'll still be able to see everyone, talk to everyone, ask quetstions, see the teacher respond in real time. When this will happen I don't know but it seems almost inevitable for many courses to switch to a distance learning option. Some hands on training course may need to meet but again many basic or hands off classes can be done DE.
FINALLY. I must say I don't smile at the thought of doing school work seven days a week. But here I am doing it. Funny.
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2 comments:
Yup.
Interesting world, huh?
The experience of this class is geared to boost you out of your comfort zone. I practice what I teach and the old industrial age models are obsolete.
Many online teachers -- even most -- just don't get it. One of the catch phrases has been "Anytime, anywhere." That's been usurped by "Everywhere, all the time."
We'll spend some time talking about the role of classroom in the educational process as the week progresses.
I have to admit when I saw the e-mail this morning I was surprised also. But I also appreciate that I am in an online class where the teacher is consistently communicating with us. I have been in so many classes where you can go weeks without hearing anything from the teacher. I am grateful because the daily e-mails keeps me motivated and points out important information and details I may have missed on my own.
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