Comments on: E-Learning Story on NPR http://sakaiblog.korcuska.net/2007/11/29/e-learning-story-on-npr/ Occasional thoughts and updates about Sakai Thu, 11 Mar 2010 23:28:56 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Michael Korcuska http://sakaiblog.korcuska.net/2007/11/29/e-learning-story-on-npr/#comment-231 Michael Korcuska Sun, 27 Jan 2008 04:09:07 +0000 http://sakaiblog.korcuska.net/2007/11/29/e-learning-story-on-npr/#comment-231 I think that's probably true today, Chuck. Although the implication is that the (seemingly increasing number of) "all online" programs are either going to deal with more straightforward subject areas, deal with a drop in quality, or invest the extra effort in preparation. The extra effort is worth it if the content is stable and you can, as you point out, simply keep teaching the same way term after term. The scalability/repeatability of online learning activities for was a major obsession of the research institute where I was a grad student in the 1990s (The Institute for the Learning Sciences at Northwestern under the direction of Roger Schank). Also, sorry for the delay in approving your comment. It somehow got flagged as spam and I just discovered it. I can't see what would have caused that, given the obviously prurient nature of the rest of the spam queue. I think that’s probably true today, Chuck. Although the implication is that the (seemingly increasing number of) “all online” programs are either going to deal with more straightforward subject areas, deal with a drop in quality, or invest the extra effort in preparation. The extra effort is worth it if the content is stable and you can, as you point out, simply keep teaching the same way term after term.

The scalability/repeatability of online learning activities for was a major obsession of the research institute where I was a grad student in the 1990s (The Institute for the Learning Sciences at Northwestern under the direction of Roger Schank).

Also, sorry for the delay in approving your comment. It somehow got flagged as spam and I just discovered it. I can’t see what would have caused that, given the obviously prurient nature of the rest of the spam queue.

]]> By: Charles Severance http://sakaiblog.korcuska.net/2007/11/29/e-learning-story-on-npr/#comment-90 Charles Severance Fri, 30 Nov 2007 02:44:59 +0000 http://sakaiblog.korcuska.net/2007/11/29/e-learning-story-on-npr/#comment-90 Michael - this *will* work because the following is generally true - those courses best suited for distance education are often pretty straightforward material wise. if I am teaching the same course after about three semesters - I have the material so polished - that it becomes easy. If I am going to teach the same class for three or more semesters - my net time over three semesters is much lower doing it online - even though it is about double the prep time for the first semester. I once taught the same online course for 6 straight semesters - the course got very good after a while and took me very little time to put on a pretty good show. I was not completely lazy and each semester I would update/improve the weakest lectures - so once I had the course running well - it took about 1/3 of the prep time to teach - and some of that 1/3 time was revising materials to make the course even better. So it was a win-win in terms of what the students learned and how well the course was taught. The next loss frankly is the lack of micro-feedback from students when they did not get some topic. In a non-distance situation students will very clearly tell me when I went too far or too fast - or even if I am going too slow - in a distance situation - I never see the frowns or smiles - so I cannot adapt my teaching on a moment by moment basis. Once yo invest so much in prepared materials it takes a pretty strong push to change the course direction - whereas if you are ding the prep in the moment - things can change. Michael – this *will* work because the following is generally true – those courses best suited for distance education are often pretty straightforward material wise. if I am teaching the same course after about three semesters – I have the material so polished – that it becomes easy. If I am going to teach the same class for three or more semesters – my net time over three semesters is much lower doing it online – even though it is about double the prep time for the first semester. I once taught the same online course for 6 straight semesters – the course got very good after a while and took me very little time to put on a pretty good show. I was not completely lazy and each semester I would update/improve the weakest lectures – so once I had the course running well – it took about 1/3 of the prep time to teach – and some of that 1/3 time was revising materials to make the course even better. So it was a win-win in terms of what the students learned and how well the course was taught. The next loss frankly is the lack of micro-feedback from students when they did not get some topic. In a non-distance situation students will very clearly tell me when I went too far or too fast – or even if I am going too slow – in a distance situation – I never see the frowns or smiles – so I cannot adapt my teaching on a moment by moment basis. Once yo invest so much in prepared materials it takes a pretty strong push to change the course direction – whereas if you are ding the prep in the moment – things can change.

]]> By: Michael Korcuska http://sakaiblog.korcuska.net/2007/11/29/e-learning-story-on-npr/#comment-88 Michael Korcuska Thu, 29 Nov 2007 23:57:57 +0000 http://sakaiblog.korcuska.net/2007/11/29/e-learning-story-on-npr/#comment-88 Fixed. Thanks, Steve. Fixed. Thanks, Steve.

]]> By: Steve http://sakaiblog.korcuska.net/2007/11/29/e-learning-story-on-npr/#comment-87 Steve Thu, 29 Nov 2007 23:47:59 +0000 http://sakaiblog.korcuska.net/2007/11/29/e-learning-story-on-npr/#comment-87 The link to the story is malformed. Just FYI. The link to the story is malformed. Just FYI.

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