DailyDirt: Teaching Technology

from the urls-we-dig-up dept

Tue, Jan 24th 2012 5:00pm — Michael Ho

More and more online classes are appearing, and a lot of non-traditional students are trying out these kinds of classes. But the effectiveness of online learning and self-taught students hasn't gotten that much attention. Someday, online education might be the norm, but so far, it doesn't quite look like e-learning has proven itself. Here are just a few articles on the topic of teaching with technology.

Self-serve teaching technology has its place, but it might also be displacing human educators -- is that a problem? Teachers aren't necessarily objecting to the use of technology as a tool, but some teachers in Idaho (and elsewhere) want teaching technology to be deployed more effectively -- without reducing the importance of teachers in the classroom. [url]
One of the largest states in India is launching its own education social network to connect subject matter experts with students. Will the government of Rajasthan be able to jump into e-learning and leapfrog over the infrastructural challenges and illiteracy rates? [url]
MIT is developing a certification process for its open education projects. MITx students will not receive degrees from MIT, but a yet-to-be-named non-profit organization within MIT will award certificates of completion to students who demonstrate a mastery of MITx subjects made available online. [url]
To discover more interesting education-related content, check out what's currently floating around the StumbleUpon universe. [url]

By the way, StumbleUpon can recommend some good Techdirt articles, too.

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Filed Under: e-learning, education, mitx, online classes, teachers
Companies: mit

6 Comments

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abc gum, 24 Jan 2012 @ 5:39pm

There are many out there who are self taught, no need for a formal class online or off, they know where to find the information they need and how to implement what they find. The motivation, whether out of curiosity or to fill a need tends to be focused and deliberate - whereas the formal classes tend to be regimented and dogmatic.

There is a need for a standardized something to put on ones resume in order to get an interview, where this is headed could be interesting.
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- Michael Ho (profile), 24 Jan 2012 @ 6:07pm
  
  Re:
  Certifications that actually mean something definitely could get interesting... but it might take quite some time before anyone really accepts an "online degree" as a worthwhile achievement... it's not like unlocking a level in a MMORPG or something. :P
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- Matt Tate (profile), 24 Jan 2012 @ 6:35pm
  
  Re:
  "...they know where to find the information they need and how to implement what they find."
  
  "There is a need for a standardized something to put on ones resume in order to get an interview..."
  
  The question here is whether these two goals are satisfied by universities, or only the second one. IE, whether they are more concerned with education or credentials.
  
  For the most part, autodidacts can handle the first on their own, but once online learning can supply reliable credentials, the second will be in reach of a lot of people at a very low cost. We might even see big universities react the same way that Hollywood studios are reacting to this loss of control.
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  - Dementia (profile), 24 Jan 2012 @ 6:41pm
    
    Re: Re:
    I wouldn't necessarily say at a relatively low cost. Most traditional colleges that offer online classes charge the same rate per credit hour as they do for standard classes, and then throw a few extra fees in as well.
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    - Hephaestus (profile), 24 Jan 2012 @ 7:19pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      I think that is why a set of standardized competing certification centers is the way to go. Do your stuff online, pass all the exams, then go for certification at a testing center.
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Cedric, 24 Jan 2012 @ 7:21pm

I know many community-college level students who have online classes. The learning experience is different in that they must motivate themselves much more than in a traditional college classroom. However, they learn just as well as in a college environment, and online classes reach student who would otherwise *not* be able take these classes. Teachers are just as involved with these classes as they are with traditional ones. Answering questions online and reviewing student's materials is just as time consuming as with traditional college.

As for the Idaho article, it's a classic mistake of groupware. From my research on groupware, you MUST have buy-in from those using the technology (in this case it's computers, not some specific software), which means the teachers. I'll also add that, yes, teachers *are* concerned about their jobs, more-often-than-you-would-like before their students. And those who are afraid of technology will feel threatened.

But *should* the computer be in the classroom? Meh. The technology changes so rapidly that any school with a five-year-old computer might as well not have one at all. Kids have their own cellphones and computers and know how to use them. The skills in the classroom are arguably long-term ones like math and English, not short-term ones like the latest operating system. And, of course, computers are so cheap that families can afford them without some technology company lobbying their school for computers.

IMO, What technology companies should do is make computers more affordable to students, like Apple did for colleges. Likewise, schools should look into Kindles for electronic textbooks, so kids don't have to carry heavy backpacks and get a head start on their back problems.
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