Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Random Distance Learning Thought
So, as I was working on developing my online classes for the fall. I started to think about all the things I'm learning in my classes and then had this thought pop into my head. How many of the individuals that are developing and programming course management systems (CMS) actually have some knowledge about how distance education works? We went through a process last year looking for a new CMS. There are some good ones out there, and some really bad ones, and looking back now I realize I was looking for the wrong things. As a faculty member that also teaches online, I was looking at systems that made it easier for me.. not necessarily were better designed for the distant learner. I was looking for a system that was easy to navigate (supposedly for the students), easy to upload material, easy to post grades, and relatively intuitive. Does this mean that it is better for distant learners? The system we selected is relatively intuitive, but uploading different forms of media is not exactly easy. The traditional text documents are easy enough, but the system seems to struggle with large media files. And while I realize that no system is perfect, the grass is greener on the other side, and everyone suffers from some buyer's remorse (and any other cliche you can think of), it makes me wonder how well the designers and programmers were prepared for the next phase of distance learning? Ok... back to work.
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By Boyd on Jun 18, 2009
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ALL BUT DISSERTATION (ABD)
Are you at the ABD destination in your program?
There are two types of Ph.D. candidates that fall into this category:
1) The “just arrived” and anxious to move forward.
2) The “been there for awhile” and think they will never move forward.
While both types might require help to move on, it is the latter that is likely to derive the most benefit from this article and become motivated to complete, perhaps, the most important event in their life.
You are intelligent enough to have come this far, there is no reason (from an academic stand point) to linger in the “ABD Zone.” The longer you are there, the more difficult it becomes to pick up the pieces and move forward.
Many Ph.D. candidates seem to hit a brick wall and feel disarmed when called upon to work on the “methods” and “results” section of their dissertation. This is the point where many students diligently search for help calling on their mentor, peers, university assistance and even Google. This is also the time when the student may ask themselves the question “HOW MUCH HELP IS TOO MUCH”?
For complete article:
http://www.statisticsconsultant.com/uncategorized/all-but-dissertation-abd/
http://www.adesblog.com/2009/06/17/mit-open-course-ware-free-lectures/#comment-119744#ixzz0IiLH2Z1g&D
My guess is probably very few. It seems to me that in schools, the people who are less capable are the administrators, they act powerful to hide the fact that they know very little. (Sorry to any administrators out there!)Interesting topic this week.
Kassidy
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