Virtual rant: revisited

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by PaulC, Oct 19, 2006.

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  1. PaulC

    PaulC Member

    Consider the meaning of the word "Virtual":

    1. Existing or resulting in essence or effect though not in actual fact, form, or name: 2. being such in power, force, or effect, though not actually or expressly such: 3. temporarily simulated or extended by computer software.

    I think the overuse, misuse, and marketing speak takeover of the term virtual has contributed significantly to the diminished perception of online learning and online universities. Think about it, if it is a virtual university or virtual learning, it is merely a place holder for the real thing. It is “virtually” the same…and so, by definition, not really the same.

    I completed my MS at Aspen and PhD at Capella and this is what I know regarding these two institutions:

    Both have real programs with real courses containing real content with outcomes assessed through real assignments which are taught and graded by real faculty who are managed by real administrators and support staff who are located in real buildings who work with real students seeking very real personal objectives that are achieved as a result of the real learning that takes place at these very real universities. There are buildings and people and systems and content and delivery models and learning, exactly as there are at traditional BM schools

    I wish the online education community would collectively put the use of this term to bed. To do so could only be a plus to the online learning paradigm. Unfortunately, I still see university web sites touting their online programs as "virtual".






    Note: I concede that an online gathering place for discussion and idea exchange could be rightly considered a “virtual classroom”, which is one of the few appropriate and correct uses of the term in the context of online learning and the institutions that deliver education online.
     
  2. JoAnnP38

    JoAnnP38 Member



    I don't think anyone is saying that the education people receive from online institutions is not real. However, these institutions do not have a B&M campus, therefore I think the usage of "virtual university" is correct. It is a campus projected through software designed to render an educational community. Yes, I understand that there are other forms of distance learning that don't use computer networks; however, I believe we can all agree that this is the primary form. I disagree with you whole heartedly about saying good night to this term. I think it speaks a truth about the physical assets of the university and the value of a degree from a virtual university.

    On another note, I do believe that perception, while not exactly reality, does play a significant part in the value of things. I think people should seriously consider this when choosing their education.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 19, 2006
  3. PaulC

    PaulC Member

    Aside from the physical campus, which of the many other aspects of a university are not real in substance with an online university?
     
  4. PsychPhD

    PsychPhD New Member

    Well, there is that ambiance

    Paul,

    As both an online learner and instructor, I support your efforts to eliminate needlessly perjorative labels attached to online learning.
    (For example, is it really necessary for Capella's transcripts to indicate courses were delivered online?)

    But, as one who has taught at B&M institutions as well, I have to say there is an ambiance that cannot be captured in online learning.

    Of course, the value of such a sense of community is totally open to debate, especially its worth to unconventional (read: working adult) learners.

    By the same token, I taught for two different campuses of the City University of New York (Hunter and Brooklyn Colleges) and they "feel" very different. Hunter -- literally four buildings straddling an intersection in the Upper East Side of Manhattan was a wonderfully energetic and enthusiastic environment. But it was difficult to get a sense of the "campus." Brooklyn, on the other hand, subsumed two entire blocks of a Brooklyn neighborhood and the buildings were built on the perimeter of the land, so there was a literal courtyard in the middle, reminscient of the my state college alma mater in Massachusetts. There was a more palpable community at Brooklyn than Hunter though I couldn't discern any real difference in the quality of the educational offerings.

    Bottom line - the learning environment is going to matter to people for different reasons. I believe I would have been very disappointed if I started collegiate study without a campus based experience. However, for me, I didn't miss having a campus for my doctoral studies. (Though my Year in Residence cohort did joke about fielding a Capella fantasy football team!)
     
  5. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    I know what you mean. I'm tired of played out words like virtual, and attaching cyber- and e- to the front of everything. Yeah, yeah, we do stuff online now. Whooptidoo.

    -=Steve=-
     
  6. PaulC

    PaulC Member

    Re: Well, there is that ambiance

    I very much agree with you on this. For many, sometimes me as well, being on a campus is just what the Dr. ordered for "feeling" right.

    However, I don't think the feeling of the experience of being in an online community or an on campus community connotes anything about the virtual nature of an institution. An online university exists in time and space in a very real way: in the same ways as a traditional B&M.

    Remember the hubbub in the boom days about “virtual reality”. It was a means to experience a sense or feeling or vision of a thing that was not real, but rather an attempt to present a close enough facsimile as to fool you into believing it was real. That is the appropriate use of the term virtual.

    Is that what a virtual university does - fools one into believing what one is experiencing in the process of learning and networking is close, but not quite the real thing. If that is how one sees what an online university is and does, then I concede it is a reasonable use of the term to their perspective.
     

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