Posting a picture of yourself is required at my school.

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by SurfDoctor, Sep 18, 2010.

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  1. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    Looks like recent nuptials, congratulations. You scored!
     
  2. james_lankford

    james_lankford New Member

    that is dumbest thing i have ever heard

    there is no way I would ever fulfill that requirement

    maybe I'd take a pic of my belly or back of my head and post it

    maybe I'd stand in the crowd on times square and have a friend take a pic from 1/2 a block away so I'd be one tiny face among 100's

    but there is no way I would post my real pic

    it is none of their freaking business
     
  3. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    That ugly, huh?............Just kidding, just kidding!!! Sorry. :)
     
  4. Would you wear a ski mask to a B&M class? Seems like an irrational fear not to post a picture.

    For those doing graduate work in online education, here's a research study idea for you:

    Take three groups (classes) of online students and apply the following independent variables:

    Group 1) Have all students provide a self-portrait avatar (or put the picture below each post)
    Group 2) Have all students provide an image/avatar that they feel represents themselves but isn't a picture of themselves (again putting the picture below each post if there are not avatars)
    Group 3) Have none of the students provide a picture of any kind.

    Create a "group cohesion survey" (or something similar) that can spit out a "Group Cohesive Index Score" (or something) as well as a survey about satisfaction with the class (your dependent variables).

    I would hypothesize that both group cohesion and satisfaction would improve significantly if there were visual representations of the students.
     
  5. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    True, I can already feel the positive effect. I wonder if video conferencing would be even more valuable sometimes. I know there would be a huge problem coordinating schedules across the nation and the world, enough so that I would be impossible for some.
     
  6. rickyjo

    rickyjo New Member

    I'm totally interested in the idea of requiring a picture OR an avatar that represents themselves and explaining why. I believe that would be a reasonable compromise. This is another way of leaving the benefit intact while not ruffling feathers or causing a potential issue.

    @TJ:
    I don't understand why you believe it is silly to have a strong desire for privacy on the Internet. I believe that is becoming increasingly sensible. If somebody believe that he/she should not post a picture, than don't. The Internet and online learning does not need to, and should not, try to emulate the failing class-room model. The laws of unintended consequences are many and sneaky on the Internet.

    I also agree that it may be in ones best interest not to give away details such as age, sex, or race in the interest of keeping the playing field level. Obviously a picture will show those things, voiding a potential benefit of remote learning.
     
  7. Cauble_TXSG

    Cauble_TXSG Member

    When I began the Volunteer Leadership program at Portland State University, we were all required to give biographical info on ourselves, and post a current photo.
     
  8. 03310151

    03310151 Active Member

    What an interesting school. As on online student do you have to adhere to their Code of Conduct?

    Man the reason I went to college was to do some of this stuff, sheesh.

    This one is interesting: Assault/sexual assault (minimum two semesters out)

    WTF? Really?

    I know a guy who graduated fom Liberty, he really enjoyed it.

    Reprimands and Consequences

    1 Reprimand

    * Curfew violation (one additional reprimand for each half-hour late until 2:00 a.m.)
    * Late to Convocation (one additional reprimand for each 15 minutes late)

    4 Reprimands + $10 Fine

    * Allowing unauthorized overnight visitor in residence room
    * Absence from required meeting
    * Disturbance/non-participation during Convocation
    * Dress/hair code violation: male or female
    * Failure to respond to an official call slip (for Student Affairs use only)
    * Horseplay (plus financial restitution)
    * Improper personal contact (anything beyond hand-holding)
    * Improper sign out
    * Missing Convocation
    * Music code violation
    * Outside residence hall after curfew
    * Residence hall disturbance/noise violation
    * Unauthorized borrowing (plus financial restitution)

    6 Reprimands + $25 Fine

    * Attendance at a dance
    * Direct disobedience/disrespect
    * Disassembly or removal of residence hall furniture
    * Entering entryway of opposite sex on campus or allowing the same
    * Gambling
    * Improper social behavior
    * Possession and/or use of tobacco
    * Unauthorized room change

    12 Reprimands + $50 Fine

    * Attendance at, possession or viewing of, an "R," "NC-17" or "X"-rated movie
    * Deception
    * Entering the residence hallway of the opposite sex or allowing the same
    * Entering the space above ceiling tiles
    * Out of residence hall overnight or substantial portion of the night without permission (after 2:00 a.m.)
    * Participation in an unauthorized petition or demonstration
    * Possession and/or viewing of sexually explicit material
    * Possession of a school key without authorization
    * Students of the opposite sex visiting alone at an off-campus residence

    12-18 Reprimands + Corresponding Fine

    * Malicious horseplay/behavior (plus financial restitution)
    * Obscene, profane or abusive language or behavior

    18 Reprimands + $250 Fine

    + 18 hours Disciplinary Community Service

    * Association with those consuming alcohol
    * Entering a residence hall apartment or quad of the opposite sex or allowing the same
    * Entering bedroom of the opposite sex on/off campus or allowing the same
    * Failure to properly identify oneselft
    * Sexual harassment (i.e., unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors or other conduct or comments of a sexual nature)
    * Sexual misconduct and/or any state of undress
    * Threat to do bodily harm
    * Vandalism (plus financial restitution)

    30 Reprimands + $500 Fine

    + 30 hours Disciplinary Community Service + possible Administrative Withdrawal. NOTE: For each accumulation of six or more reprimands after 30, an additional $150 fine will be assessed.

    * Abortion
    * Assault/sexual assault (minimum two semesters out)
    * Failure of three Christian/Community Services without reconciliation
    * Illegal drugs-association/possession, use/distribution (minimum two semesters out)
    * Immorality
    * Involvement with witchcraft, séances or other occult activities
    * Non-participation/disruption/non-compliance (possible removal/exclusion from campus)
    * Possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages
    * Refusal to submit to an Alco-Sensor test and/or drug test as specified by the administration
    * Spending the night with a person of the opposite sex
    * Stealing or possession of stolen property (plus financial restitution; minimum two semesters out)
    * Two or more individuals of the opposite sex together in hotel/motel room without proper permission


    I'd be interested to know of those that oppose posting a picture at school, if they have Facebook accounts with pictures of themselves.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 18, 2010
  9. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    Most Christian schools have a similar code of conduct. I appreciate it.
     
  10. I think "privacy on the Internet" (your words) and privacy in the classroom are different things. The synthesis of the two, 'privacy in an Internet classroom', is somewhat new terrain. Even still, I question whether in an online class you should be entitled to any more anonymity than in a traditional class. To the contrary, I think the ideal online class should be even *more* personal than a B&M class to try to facilitate networking as much as possible (something that is considered an advantage to B&M programs).

    In every online class I've been in, full names are disclosed and in many classes, personal bios are also requested. Combined or separate, these provide clues to sex, age, and race without a picture. I don't think withholding a picture is ultimate the veil of privacy.

    In fairness, these questions can be studied. If there is any "potential benefit" to anonymity, as you suggest, how can we tease it out with an experiment? An online classroom makes a great laboratory for this because you could create "dummy" students with different pictures that had the same posts in every class. You could see if these students were evaluated differently based on their pictures (ie. black, women, white, old, etc.)

    Without having the evidence in hand, I would say that the potential benefits of pictures, videos, and personal bios greatly outweigh the negatives. I could be wrong. Also, I wonder if bringing these elements of personal connectivity into the online classroom would give online education more legitimacy as it brings it closer to B&M interaction and contemporary social networking.
     
  11. JBjunior

    JBjunior Active Member

    To clarify, it isn't a requirement of the school but rather a requirement for that particular professor in the particular class. I see no problem with it and you apply to the school with your social security number, name, and other identifiable information so you are not internet anonymous.

    In other news, I had one of my professors call me out of the blue yesterday to ask me if I had any questions and to share information. It was definitely refreshing.
     
  12. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    Yes, I failed to mention that. I was pretty sure it was a requirement of that particular prof and not the school in general. Sorry to mince the facts.
     
  13. 03310151

    03310151 Active Member

    I suppose they would, I guess I never looked before. I just happened upon that while searching their site. I still think its a good school and I hope you do well in your program.
     
  14. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    Thanks, I appreciate that. I don't think the code applies that much to DL students anyway.

    LOL, I just read the part about sexual assault, that is really bizarre. Two semesters out? I think jail time is more appropriate.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 19, 2010
  15. rickyjo

    rickyjo New Member

    @TJ:
    Your points are well made. I would be very interested in a study!

    What do you think of compromise for those reluctant to post pictures to use avatars and then have to explain how they relate to you? I think that's almost as good. Sometimes a picture relating to you says more about you than a face.



    @ Michael Oliver:
    Sorry I didn't see your post before, it was my wedding from October and and I yanked this pic off my wife's facebook :). It was a wonderful day!
     
  16. Ruble

    Ruble New Member

    I've taken at least a half-dozen online classes where I have been required to post a photo. Like one poster stated, what is the difference in that and attending an on campus class?

    Liberty has been a great school so far, having a completely different atmosphere than anything I have ever experienced.
     
  17. rickyjo

    rickyjo New Member

    I understand that in the end posting a picture is similar in nature to attending an online class; however, if one considers privacy an inherent disadvantage of in-person classes than why force Internet users who may cherish the difference to comply with this policy? Perhaps it would be better to come up with a compromise, I believe that everybody could be happy with a more moderate policy. I really liked the avatar and what it means to them idea in combination with the option to post an actual photo.

    I kind of look at this like the "ground zero" mosque issue, if there's a way to make everybody happy and appeal to everybody's sense of reason and moderation, let's go that route. I don't see a significant disadvantage to compromise.
     
  18. Maniac Craniac

    Maniac Craniac Moderator Staff Member

    So, your'e not a manic, finger-pointing asian nor a reflective bald buffoon, you are a fit young stud who married the woman of my, errrr, I mean your dreams.
     
  19. rickyjo

    rickyjo New Member

    "Fit" is such a strong word, I prefer not obviously fat when wearing a suit :)

    As for Emily, she is the woman of any sane man's dreams. I take no offense. She is beautiful, pragmatic, intelligent, graceful, and charming. I could not ask better, she's a lady for sure^-^.

    As for the guy in the back, he's cool too :) he's been a relatively senior friend during great adversity, I am grateful for his support.
     
  20. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    Congratulations – I guess you will be having your one year anniversary soon. My wife and I will celebrate 20 years this October. How she puts up with me I will never know! ;)
     

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