ON LINE studies again... - - - - - The emblematic case is that of San Jose State University, which partnered with Udacity, a Silicon Valley start-up that [California Governor Jerry] Brown had talked up, on several introductory online courses. “As was learned last July, more than half the enrolled students flunked, and the university had to put the program on hold for retooling. The revised program has shown better results, but thats only after considerable human outreach and interaction. The experience only underscores what [University of California President Janet] Napolitano said: Online learning is no silver bullet. - - - - - The key aspect missing in the online experience is the human interaction, which creates the students engagement with the learning process. When attempting to remedy this missed ingredient, costs skyrocket and the process becomes a waste of money, and resources, still unable to insure success for the learning experience. On Line support, on the other hand, is a valuable tool for real teachers and students, nowadays only missing a consistent and affordable access to research material, usually priced out of reach by the Scientific Literature Publishers seeking to maximize their profits. It is high time that we direct our efforts toward this end of the equation if we are to provide a meaningful access to education to our communities. Perhaps we should think about an alternative to the current system, centered on a non-profit (non-partisan) and Government sponsored, association of scientists, professionals, and educators, with a small annual fee (in the order of $20.00/year) required from the users, in order to support the technological costs, and adding to an adequate Government grant. To dream is allowed, but to lose touch with the reality is not advisable. Our classrooms and laboratories and shops will not go away, nor there is a pot of gold at the end of the virtual rainbow.
Posted on: Sat, 29 Mar 2014 14:17:08 +0000
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