[Vision2020] Task force tweaks education reform

[Art Deco]

We live in an age of great and accelerating change.  The availability of computer and media is changing and will continue to change the way we do many things including education.

In order to take advantage of what life now offers in this country including education, not just computer literacy, but adept computer skills are necessary.

Many of us participate in and believe that life long learning is an important pubic policy.

I think that in principle requiring high school students to take two online courses which places the responsibility on the student themselves is generally good public policy.  Given the current trends, such experience opens the door more widely for life long education.

However, I several concerns, here are two:

1.    Not all online courses are of the same quality.  Some are garbage, fully of inaccurate information and very poorly designed despite the hype that comes from their producers/agents/political friends.  Where there is a profit motive, there will be a real chance that hyped up, marginal courses will be foisted on many students by either corrupt and/or ignorant public officials.  A little Goggling will show the problems that have already occurred in this area, and have plagued this area since the 1970s when online instruction via timesharing became available.

2.    There are a lot of elements that contribute to a quality, or even a mediocre education.  Individual help, encouragement, monitoring, care, and concern that comes from good teachers are perhaps the most important of these.  It is doubtful that any online program can ever produce the effects of individual attention and motivation that teachers provide.  Teachers also are able to recognize other problems such as child abuse, malnutrition, mental health problems, etc that at this time computer programs are unable to.  There is a real danger, given the conservative swing in politics, that ignorant/arrogant/corrupt public officials will sharply reduce the number and the quality of teachers available in order to save a few bucks and to steer business to cronies or experts at hype.  The long range consequences of this, in my opinion, would be disastrous.

w.


From: Dan Carscallen 
Sent: Thursday, December 15, 2011 10:06 AM
To: vision2020 at moscow.com 
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Task force tweaks education reform


Y’know, Elk City is served by a state highway, and gets pretty regular service from the ITD snow plows.  I think it’s pretty rare that you *can’t* get there.

 

Not that I’m speaking for or against any of these education reforms, but sheesh, it is a relatively accessible place.  I think First Step has even made some pretty good inroads to that area with high-speed and wireless service (they’re everywhere!).

 

Going beyond Elk City, now you might be talking about some difficulty.

 

DC

 

From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com] On Behalf Of Tom Hansen
Sent: Thursday, December 15, 2011 9:02 AM
To: Janesta
Cc: Moscow Vision 2020; Penni Cyr
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Task force tweaks education reform

 

And just who is going to respond to . . .

 

"Hi.  This is Mary Jones of Elk City.  My son's laptop is having problems and he is scheduled for an online class exam in a couple days.  How soon can you get somebody here to repair it?"

 

 . . . in FEBRUARY.

Seeya round town, Moscow.

 

Tom Hansen

Moscow, Idaho

 

"If not us, who?

If not now, when?"

 

- Unknown


On Dec 15, 2011, at 8:54 AM, Janesta <janesta at gmail.com> wrote:

  A friend told me years ago... Back in the day... *laugh* not sure of the EXACT date, once a student in Elk City became high school age, they would attend high school in Grangeville. This would consist of finding a family to live with, then, going home on weekends.

  Computers would be great for students in Elk City. 

  *thinking*

  Hmmm.. I wonder if there is a regular connection during winter?

  Janesta



  On Wed, Dec 14, 2011 at 6:43 PM, Tom Hansen <thansen at moscow.com> wrote:

  As Randy Newman would say, "It's all just a matter of . . .

  Political Science"
  http://www.TomandRodna.com/Songs/Political_Science.mp3

  Tom Hansen
  Moscow, Idaho

  "The Pessimist complains about the wind, the Optimist expects it to change
  and the Realist adjusts his sails."

  - Author Unknown


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