Jim Clark wrote:
> > Why at distance learning? Many of the distance programs
> > provide just as good of educations as any traditional
> > institution.
>
> I would be very interested in the evidence for this statement.
Since Lynne works at an institution that offers precisely that kind of
program, and since this question came about as a result of thread coming
from her post, I'll leave it for her to respond to it if she chooses.
Just as you ask for evidence that distance learning provides as good of
an education as a traditional institution, however, I would ask that you
provide evidence that it does NOT do so.
For the record, I took my BA from a school that offered distance learning
programs--Vermont College, a traditional liberal arts college which forms
a part of Norwich University, a reasonably well rated institution. During
my undergraduate education, there were many times when I had the
opportunity to compare the level and nature of work I--and other distance
learners--did with traditional on-campus students in both Norwich programs
and those offered by Vermont College itself. In _every_ instance the
on-campus students were suprised that we were required to do significantly
more work, and to explore subjects to significantly more depth than was
true in their own cases. For example, my Senior project ran over 150 pages
and included over 100 citations, the approximate size (and depth) of most
Master's thesis at traditional institutions. I realize that's anecdotal
material, not evidence, but I doubt you will find any hard research to
support the assumption that distance programs are _not_ as good as
traditional ones either. BOTH depend on the nature and approach of the
institution. There are distance programs which have very low criteria
(although most of those are not fully accredited and therefore are
irrelevant to the discussion)--but then again there are campus based
programs that have dumbed down to the point that they are essentially
extensions of high schools as well--as we _all_ know. There are also
programs at _both_ types of institutions that offer challenging, thorough,
and well developed programs that are superior to those found on the
average campus. To lump all distance programs together and assume they are
not as good as those on traditional campuses is no different than to
assume that men are better at college level teaching than women, who are
more suited to teaching children than adults--it is stereotyping based on
either bias or ignorance.
Peace,
Rick
--
Rick Adams
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Department of Social Sciences
Jackson Community College, Jackson, MI
"... and the only measure of your worth and your deeds
will be the love you leave behind when you're gone."
Fred Small, J.D., "Everything Possible"
