What is needed to make DL as respected as B&M?

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by SurfDoctor, Oct 10, 2010.

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  1. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    Wow, she has some talent. Now is this just a friend? Sounds like a good catch, if you ask me.
     
  2. Maniac Craniac

    Maniac Craniac Moderator Staff Member

    I couldn't begin to extol her virtues with an internet post. No doubt, she would be an amazing catch... for someone else. We have known each other for many years and are like brother/sister.

    Did I just post details about my social life on the internet for strangers to read? EEK!!! *turns computer off*
     
  3. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    I was "just good friends" with my wife for about the first 6 months!
     
  4. Maniac Craniac

    Maniac Craniac Moderator Staff Member

    So, about DL...???
     
  5. MISin08

    MISin08 New Member

    As to overall respect (i.e.outside of academia) it's not related to the quality of education, but B&M has a social milieu, sort of an intangible package of benefits that DL doesn't. This makes DL feel like the more utilitarian option, not where you will go if you have a choice and not where you will send the kids if you want to impress people (or get them out of the way for a few years while still able to influence them).

    Phillip
     
  6. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    Love that "get them out of the way" line! Yes, it has the "social milieu" that online could never have. Did you hear about the fraternity at Capella? I read they were causing all sorts of problems. Never looked into it, it could just be a rumor. It led me to wonder how a frat at an online school would work. :confused:
     
  7. Shawn Ambrose

    Shawn Ambrose New Member

  8. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    You are absolutely right. Very interesting conference. So are you presenting at this conference? Is that you, S. Ambrose?
     
  9. Shawn Ambrose

    Shawn Ambrose New Member

    Yep, that's me. Presenting one paper, leading another panel discussion.

    Plan to get feedback on the paper I am presenting and preparing it for publication.

    Shawn
     
  10. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    Very cool, my best wishes for your success this weekend. You are improving the stature of Capella and of DL schools in general. Kudos to you. I want to be just like you when I grow up. :smile:
     
  11. MISin08

    MISin08 New Member

    Or when did Phoenix provide consulting to a local business? Or Aspen (sorry, had to) develop a sustainability department? Not to imply that DL is entirely mission-free, for example, the whole idea of access and offering higher ed to underserved communities is central to DL.

    Phillip
     
  12. Ian Anderson

    Ian Anderson Active Member

    Actually they do - kinda. My previous employer had UoP bring in specialist instructors onto their facilities to teach business courses such as Cost/Schedule Control System Criteria, Proposal writing, and ethics; with some employees attaining optional credit towards UG or G degrees.
     
  13. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator


    That's very cool Shawn. I hope it goes well. Please keep us updated.
     
  14. MISin08

    MISin08 New Member

    That's cool. It seems like one of the things B&M schools do that positions them as worthy of respect is add value to their communities beyond strictly academic outcomes. What could DL schools do that leverages what they do well -- networking educated people across time and distance at moderate cost for example -- to accomplish goals in a similar manner?

    [Or do I just want my dang degree and I'll go to Moo U if I want to be part of a community?]

    Phillip
     
  15. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    I would wager that most people would go with your second statement.
     
  16. Anthony Pina

    Anthony Pina Active Member

    Since for-profit schools have income, one thing that they do to add value to the community at large is by paying over $2 billion dollars in annual income taxes (non-profits pay $0).
     
  17. Anthony Pina

    Anthony Pina Active Member

    I couldn't agree more. Those of us in private sector higher education who offer the research doctorate degree need to demonstrate that we are capable of producing the type of scholarship ourselves that our students should be able to do at the end of their studies. That includes the things that you mention, and publishing in peer reviewed and professional journals, serving in professional associations, etc.

    By the way, congratulations on your presentation and on being a session chair.
     
  18. Anthony Pina

    Anthony Pina Active Member

    Some excellent insights have been offered in this thread. I agree that some will never accept them but, in time, most will. Some years ago, there were many institutions that would not hire someone with a degree from Nova University (later Nova Southeastern), largely because of it's well-known non-traditional programs. Years later, university faculty and administrators with degrees from NSU are commonplace and there are far fewer places where NSU is blacklisted. I predict the same for those now considered outside the mainstream.

    Of course. It is already happening. Faculty who were hired with the masters as their terminal degree are increasingly pursuing DL doctorates. It is common among community college faculty. It is becoming more prevalent among faculty at non-Ivy league and non-Research 1 institutions. Remember that there are thousands of regionally accredited higher education institutions in this country. Discussions of whether Harvard or Yale will hire faculty with DL degrees are silly, since institutions like that tend to be rather in-bred. The more relevant question is whether someone with a DL doctorate can get a faculty position at a mid-level unviersity. Right now, tenture track positions to teach face-to-face at traditional brick & mortar graduate-level universities is the area of lowest acceptance for DL doctorates. For non-traditional, career or distance learning programs, acceptance is much higher and growing.

    Yes, as stated before, those of us in the DL field have to earn respect through scholarly efforts. And we must weed out the "tares" in both the DL and for-profit sectors that give the rest a bad name and lead to inaccurate generalizations (including some by our friends in this very forum). Yes it will turn around as the current generation of academics retire and as we take better steps toward quality assurance and assessment.

    These questions are intentionally general. Please respond to them in any way you find most interesting.[/QUOTE]
     

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