Interesting article about the potential benefits of Distance Ed. The comment about getting a GED online was a good one. But I think it brings up an excellent point. And before I state it I would like to say that I am coming from someone who works with prisoners every day. So I have some of the "criminal thinking" bouncing around all the time in my head. Anyway to the point.
Cheating. I know many will argue that cheating isnt an issue with online courses. And perhaps depending upon how it is ran, then cheating would be more work then actually doing the work. But lets go back to the GED. Let's suppose you want your GED and you are 23 year old man that hasn't been in school since 5th grade. Well you go and take it and fail. Then you hear about the online test for the GED. Your girlfriend is 19 and graduated high in her class last year. You sit down with her and take the test together. BLAM! You have a GED.
This argument could be extended to any online class, certification, license, or anything were proving who you is about typing in info to a faceless computer. Again, I don't think cheating is a large factor, but imagine an all online degree(such as the one I am currently in). From the day I signed up for this class, this could have always been my cousin Ted. Now, not only this class, but all my classes. Honestly I can't think of any reason my cousin Ted, if I had one, couldnt get the entire degree for me. Maybe pay him some money or whatever. For all anyone knows, this is Ted right now.
Again, I just think it has the potential to be a problem. I would really enjoy comments or responses that show me cheating isnt the issue I think it could be.
Excellent point, and why getting a GED online can't be done using the "final exam" model.
ReplyDeleteIt's what most educators imagine it would look like. That is what they're trained for, but some of you may have noticed, I don't give tests here. Or, more precisely, I don't give those kinds of tests.