Online classes: The baby formula of higher education

[bemildred]

I was disturbed but not surprised to read that central to retiring California State University Chancellor Charles B. Reed's "new Master Plan," as he wrote in his Times Op-Ed article last Tuesday, is a push for "year-round, online" education. As a full-time professor at Cal State Northridge, I am getting a bit worn out by this push (or should I say "shove&quot . What bothers me most about Reed's promotion of online education as part of the state's Master Plan for Higher Education is his absolute lack of candor.

Oddly, the administrative push toward online education reminds me of the 1950s infatuation with infant formula. In both cases, there is a legitimate advantage in the new systems' technology, convenience and innovation. Infant formula was and is a wonderful invention for women who cannot or choose not to breastfeed, enabling fathers and other caretakers to be more involved. Likewise, online instruction is a wonderful option for self-disciplined and self-motivated students who prefer online education or cannot get to class.

However, just as Nestle had a strong economic incentive to convince women to use infant formula rather than breastfeed in the 1950s, the fact is that the push for online instruction is financially, and not pedagogically, driven. Just as women in the 1950s were told that infant formula was "just as good" for their baby as breast milk, Reed implies that online education is just as good as classroom instruction. But of course, in both cases, it is the convenience and economics that is central to its being pushed -- not the absolute quality of the product.

Moreover, what Reed does not say is that rather than simply being a new "option" for students, our brick-and-mortar classes are currently being replaced by online courses for financial reasons. Sadly, I have had many conversations with students who were taking online courses not because they wanted to but because they could not get a seat in a class. And I keep finding myself in what can only be described as inane and absurd conversations with schedule-makers in defense of classroom instruction.

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/debate/la-ol-online-classes-infant-formula-blowback-20120917,0,5678315.story

[exboyfil]

1. At least for analytical classes

so long as the standard remains the same, I do not see a problem with online education. I firmly believe that my daughter's Calculus I class is better online than the comparable class would be at a large university. Her teacher is very committed to the learning process and responds to questions quickly. She has put a great deal of work into structuring the class, and I only regret she is not teaching Calculus III online (as of yet).

On the other hand my daughter's other online classes have been somewhat weak. I think she has done a very good job in them, but the teachers do not seem to be engaged to the level I would like to see. Her speech teacher seemed to check out for the last half of the class (she was having medical problems). The course was also mostly canned, based upon the textbook. I did think the content was good, and my daughter did four videotaped speeches (the last in front of about 40 people).

Of course brick and mortar is no guarantee of quality. My daughter's on campus Chemistry class this summer was split. The first half was taken by a very skilled professor who did an excellent job. The second half was covered by an individual who was not very good in Chemistry which frustrated my daughter.

I have done probably 20 online classes, and I have been happy with the instruction in them. They provide me an opportunity to take M.S. Engineering classes I would not otherwise have.

[bemildred]

2. It has its place. But that place is not every place, as you point out.

And it's not for everybody. The larger point in my mind, is that for some people and some subjects it is not the right thing at all, and there is a tendency to push it because it is cheap and to use it as a band-aid for administrative and government failures.

[jody]

3. Distance Learning (DL) courses will replace classroom courses except for some in science and

mathematics and courses dependent on them, i.e. STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics).

That will happen regardless of whether old gray beard professors want to keep face to face contact.

Students enabled or disabled with technology will demand it.

I don't see how accrediting agencies can ensure the student of record actually took a course unless students take a comprehensive test over the course material in a proctored environment.

[bemildred]

4. Yep, teachers are knowledge workers.

And ALL knowledge workers are under threat from both outsourcing and the internet.

[jody]

5. See DU thread "How to succeed in college without even trying!" at:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021372369

[bemildred]

6. Where you have the profit motive, you will have scams and other games played.

Therefore, the profit motive is not appropriate in an educational situation, which is essentailly altruistic, or should be.

Therefore, teachers should be paid, and well, but schools should be non-profit and preferably with fixed and guaranteed funding.

The use of degrees to determine eligibility for jobs, of course, is part of the problem too.

[GMR Transcription]

7. Online Classes Replacement with Online Courses.

I really appreciate the topic which has been discussed over here. It an important and a relevant fact to be discussed among the students as well as the every individual. Online education now-a-days plays a very pivotal role in building up an educational base for the students. What Reed has suggested here that online education is just as good as a classroom education.
Here, a point has not been suggested that, it can be a good option for the students,as the online classes can be replaced due to the financial reason as well.A conversation has been noted in this post with a student that they are taking the online courses not just because they are willing to but sometimes they could not get the seats there.

Overall!!!Nice post!!!