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<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 2/19/2013 6:26 AM, Art Deco wrote:<br>
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<div class="">February 18, 2013</div>
<h1>The Trouble With Online College</h1>
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The online revolution offers intriguing opportunities for
broadening access to education. But, so far, the evidence
shows that poorly designed courses can seriously shortchange
the most vulnerable students. </p>
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<br>
On the other hand, there are exceptions to these problems. For
example, I know there are local University students who are, in
addition to their live class attendance and homework, are listening
to online lectures from the likes of MIT OpenCourseWare in the same
subjects in which they are enrolled in local classes.<br>
<br>
Even some of the locally-prepared on-line courses can be interesting
and informative. For example, the U of I English department's
English 175, Introduction to Genres, seems to be well-received by
students to whom it is mentioned, and I thought it a worthwhile
on-line presentation when I took it. The thick Norton anthology
used as a text for that course continues to hold more reading
material to extend the course should a student elect to persist with
it.<br>
<br>
After a student has some subject-matter foundation, then independent
study may continue at a student's self-assigned pace. For example,
William Shakespeare wrote about 38 plays, which, at the rate of one
play per month, a person could read, study, and enjoy over a period
of just over three years. Such a relaxed schedule will fit into
most people's lives comfortably, and not seem such a duty-driven
exercise as reading all of the Bible within a year.<br>
<br>
On-line education has a place in the scheme of things, but
prerequisite preparation better fosters its success, and its utility
as preparation for subsequent autodidactic activities.<br>
<br>
<br>
Ken<br>
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