Alfred Bork wrote:
Several recent letters from Canada were in this list, some making negative
comments about my views I criticized the courses currently available on the
internet. I do not think there is much of value there, and I know of very
little competent research that thinks otherwise.
I see the following problems with current internet courses.
Part of the difference of opinion is your focus on internet courses and
others focusing on educational resources -- to use the current buzz
terminology, learning objects. Further, you expect the internet course
to stand alone in meeting the learning needs of the student and the
assessment needs of the offerer. Courses without context don't exist in
real life.
I put together courses that use online resources. This is completely
different from designing an "internet course". A successful internet
course must serve a particular audience, provide content that meets
specific curriculum objectives, and be teacher or provider centered.
Because of these features, I use internet courses all the time. When I
am constructing a course I look for learning objects that meet the
curriculum objectives and are suitable for most of my students. They
form my basic content. To these objects, I add commentary, links to
learning objects and resources suitable for students whose needs and
interests differ from most of the students, and assessment modules as
needed. Flexibility and assessment are part of my course design and do
not depend on any individual learning object. As I become more
comfortable with the available resources and students' choices, I am
becoming more facilitative -- helping students through the learning
process, rather than directive -- selecting recourses for the students.
The availability of resources online enables student centered learning.
A school district can't buy a dozen different texts or subscribe to
several learning system vendors, its just not cost effective. However,
a district can provide internet access and the world.
--
Larry Phillips
FutureCraft
http://www.clubwebcanada.ca/l-pphillips/
Quantum 2000: Education for Today and Tomorrow
http://www.clubwebcanada.ca/l-pphillips/quantum
Finding a Way
http://findingaway.blogspot.com/
Alberta Consumers' Association
http://albertaconsumers.org
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