DL represents "the extreme commercialization of higher education"

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by oxpecker, Feb 3, 2004.

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  1. oxpecker

    oxpecker New Member

  2. Laser100

    Laser100 New Member

    Distance Learning

    People were afraid that electricity was the work of the devil when it first came out.

    With proper regulation there is no reason to fear what is obviously is the future of education.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 3, 2004
  3. chris

    chris New Member

    These gloom and doom Luddites...

    are not unbiased. Professors have an interest in this as some full time academics feel threatened by DL. Face it, academia as a profession has some very nice benefits. 3 classes a semester (yes they do other things), ample time off over the holidays and spring break and in some fields a generous salary. It is not all roses but there are a LOT of much worse jobs out there that require similar education. These same people would be negative about something else if DL wasn't there. They live there whole lives that way. Without negativity they wouldn't have meaning.
     
  4. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    In Defense of Commercialization

    As an employee of Keiser College, a regionally accredited for-profit university with a dozen brick-and-mortar campuses throughout Florida, I can tell you it doesn't take distance learning to commercialize higher education. On the other hand, I can also tell you that commercialization isn't a bad thing. Schools like Keiser, Strayer University, and University of Phoenix provide a kind of "packaged education" that while not right for everyone is ideal for many students who are simply interested in learning skills they need to advance in their careers.

    -=Steve=-
     
  5. chris

    chris New Member

    I should point out...

    my statements are not a condemnation of all professors. Just the small minority who refuse to change with the times. All professions have them. In all fairness to David Noble, I think a Google search will reveal he is against a lot of other things.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 3, 2004
  6. Anthony Pina

    Anthony Pina Active Member

    Surprise, surpise...the usual anti-DL players here (David Noble and the AAUP).

    After 80+ years of research into the effectiveness of mediated instruction versus traditional instruction (nearly always showing no significant difference between the two) it's time for them to acknowledge that they can point to NO research that validates their opinion that DL is ineffective compared to traditional classroom-based instruction or any validation that DL should be limited to vocational instruction.

    Tony
     
  7. drwetsch

    drwetsch New Member

    An interesting part of the article was from the Senator in Wyoming who discussed the Higher Education Act as it has impacted providing funds to students at accredited schools. Its intent was to prevent students at diploma mills from attaining funding.

    It would have been nice to see the article attack diploma mills. With the loose licensing in Wyoming the good Senator could be a leader in pushing his state to get things cleaned up.


    John
     

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