[Vision2020] Panel Rejects Day-Care Rules

[Art Deco]

Briefly:

When I attended the University of Minnesota more than four decades ago, this is how many multi-section (both upper and lower division) classes were taught:

An instructor was chosen to teach the class based on their ability to teach effectively.  That instructor taught one class live at the earliest section.  The different sections of the class that occurred at the same time were captured and taught via live TV feed to regular classrooms.  The sections later in the day were taught via videotape in regular classrooms.  The TVs were B/W 21" sets.

Many the lecture portions of math, language, science classes were taught this way.  It would not be unusual for a class to have 30 sections of 30 - 40 students each.  UM at that time had 42,000 students.  Access to off-section time with the instructor or TAs was provided for those needing out-of-class assistance.

There were two main reasons for this approach.

1.    It saved a lot of money, something a large university can always use.

2.    By choosing the best instructors, a high quality of instruction was achieved.

I am told that a large number of universities now do this.


Of course, this approach would not work for all classes, but there are many that it did work well.

In addition, I took a graduate course from an instructor who had great mobility problems.  We met at his house.  His house was a ways from campus and though it was a reasonable accommodation for a very talented disabled person, it did present problems for students, many of whom were poor and had no means of transportation except legs.


With present technology (cheap video cams, interactive intranet and internet connections) there is no reason that some or perhaps many of UI or WSU classes could be taught by instructors from their homes.  Students could also access the lectures via streaming video at times best for them.  Of course, instructors need to provide in-person access and do other activities where their presence would be required on campus at times.  

I understand some other universities are doing just this.  In addition to streaming video, the classes are made available as video Podcasts.


In well designed business systems, accounts receivable and payable as well as a lot of general ledger work can be done by telecommuting as well as design work, production scheduling, etc.


In the early 1970s, I was once disabled for two months while working for a computer service branch of a large company.  By using the telephone and with the aid of a old, slow 30 cps terminal and an acoustic coupler, I was able to do a large part my normal job duties from house where I lived.


Working at home demands a great deal of discipline not only to get the work done, but to avoid having the work over take one's life.  It can be done.  And we can learn to do it well, when motivated.

W.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "lfalen" <lfalen at turbonet.com>
To: "Tom Hansen" <idahotom at hotmail.com>; <deco at moscow.com>; <vision2020 at moscow.com>
Sent: Wednesday, February 28, 2007 11:54 AM
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Panel Rejects Day-Care Rules


> Ask Wayne, He brought the subject up. In any case with things that can be done by computer, you can live any where even Timbuktu.
> 
> Roger
> -----Original message-----
> From: "Tom Hansen" idahotom at hotmail.com
> Date: Wed, 28 Feb 2007 12:31:53 -0800
> To: lfalen at turbonet.com,  deco at moscow.com,  vision2020 at moscow.com
> Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Panel Rejects Day-Care Rules
> 
>> Roger Falen stated:
>> 
>> "Working from hone is great and would be a plus for everyone."
>> 
>> And just what work-at-home opportunities are there here in Vandalville, 
>> Roger?
>> 
>> I mean other than opening a day care center.
>> 
>> Tom Hansen
>> 
>> 
>> >From: lfalen <lfalen at turbonet.com>
>> >Reply-To: lfalen <lfalen at turbonet.com>
>> >To: "Art Deco" <deco at moscow.com>, "Vision 2020" <vision2020 at moscow.com>
>> >Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Panel Rejects Day-Care Rules
>> >Date: Wed, 28 Feb 2007 10:16:25 -0800
>> >
>> >Wayne
>> >Working from hone is great and would be a plus for everyone.
>> >
>> >Roger
>> >-----Original message-----
>> >From: "Art Deco" deco at moscow.com
>> >Date: Wed, 28 Feb 2007 11:03:21 -0800
>> >To: "Vision 2020" vision2020 at moscow.com
>> >Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Panel Rejects Day-Care Rules
>> >
>> > > Roger writes:
>> > >
>> > > "The statements by some Republicans that the voted against the day care
>> > > bill, because mothers should stay at home is ridiculous. In an ideal 
>> >world
>> > > that would be desirable."
>> > >
>> > > Why in an ideal world, it is the just the mothers that stay home?  Why 
>> >not
>> > > let the families choose, if they can afford to live on one salary, which
>> > > parent stays home?
>> > >
>> > > Why not make it a national/state/local policy to promote much broader 
>> >use of
>> > > the work from home concept?  We now have the hardware and software
>> > > technology that would allow parts of many jobs to be done at home.  
>> >Besides
>> > > allowing more time for parents to spend with their families, such a
>> > > workforce shift would save gasoline, etc.
>> > >
>> > > W.
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > ----- Original Message -----
>> > > From: "lfalen" <lfalen at turbonet.com>
>> > > To: "Ellen Roskovich" <gussie443 at hotmail.com>; <thansen at moscow.com>;
>> > > <suehovey at moscow.com>; <graylex at yahoo.com>; <vision2020 at moscow.com>
>> > > Sent: Wednesday, February 28, 2007 9:12 AM
>> > > Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Panel Rejects Day-Care Rules
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > >I am glad you brought up on site day care.  This is something I have
>> > > >thought was a good idea for a long time for those companies that are 
>> >big
>> > > >enough to do it. Obviously small companies can not. The statements by 
>> >some
>> > > >Republicans that the voted against the day care bill, because mothers
>> > > >should stay at home is ridiculous. In an ideal world that would be
>> > > >desirable. There are many circumstances where that is not feasible. 
>> >Single
>> > > >working mothers are only one example. Day care is needed and they need 
>> >to
>> > > >be safe. Some allowances should be made for babysitter, but 
>> >professional
>> > > >day care centers at least need some minimal rules to insure the kids 
>> >are
>> > > >not put in harms way.
>> > > >
>> > > > Roger
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