Just to say I've been following this thread with great interest and have come out of "lurking" mode (another great thread) simply to say that I agree that such technologies enable and enhance certain types of practices but disable or take away from others. I take Steve's point about crtically examining the reasons for any big push from university administrations. If it's assumed to be a cost-saving measure, then don't expect improved education. I also agree with Nancy that unmotivated students and distance ed are a very bad combination. Distance ed and online courses in particular at UW are becoming very central on on campus students. I was told by the Director of the unit that half the students enrolled are now regular students who are working alot and prefer to take electives via DE. Rhiannon Bury University of Waterloo Mark D. Johns wrote:
Charles Ess wrote:
... While there are clear advantages to online learning environments - one of the best teaching moments in my life occurred during a brief stint with WebCT - because, like Mark Johns, I'm privileged to teach in a private, liberal arts place with classes ranging between 8 - 20 students each, I'm also profoundly convinced of the many sorts of teaching excellences that I can do only in f2f environments.
Thanks for the mention, Charles, and your willingness to be seen in the company of one who commits the abominable sin of (gasp!) taking attendance in his classes.
This, and Nancy's point a little further downstream about unmotivated students, are what I was attempting, less articulately perhaps, to state earlier. Some things work better online, some things don't work well that way at all. It depends on the situation, the subject matter, the temperament, motivation, and learning styles of the students, etc.
Yes, as Nancy points out, being able to use the technology and understand how these various technological and F2F environments affect communication are crucial for students (and professors) to learn in order to be successful in our technical world. But using technology for technology's sake is not always productive. And what we teach is often more than the subject at hand, but the "wisdom," as you say, to live life well.