Sofia University to expand its DL offerings

This is an interesting point because in any distance learning course that I do, I effectively teach myself using the text. The texts have become very sophiscated today and sometimes have websites or CDs attached as learning aids.

My assignments are specifically answering the question. If there is formatted answer to that question given to the lecturer, then there will be a uniform approach to the assignments and what points need to addressed, I guess. If I don't know the answer to the question or I am unable to answer the questions in an articulate manner, then I don't know the material. Presumably, the answers to the questions were prepared by somebody who did know the answers.

For me that works. I don't need the interaction. I don't think I am being ripped off. Effectively, every assignment is an examination, not a teaching effort.

 

This is the strategy of many online instructors. Just give an A to everyone and you will avoid complaints and keep getting contracts.

I couldn't do this, I got many emails from angry students threating me to talk to my supervisor or withdraw from the program because I was too "harsh" and "abusive". Many students taking online classes think that the instructor is just a customer service rep that can be threaten.


I don't think this model will work for long time. Eventually someone is going to figure out that the model is full of flaws and things will need to change.

The teaching model should require that the instructor actually shares knowledge and contributes at least with new assignments every term that are prepared and solved by the instructor. This model could force the instructor to actually understand the subject being taught. The problem is that this model would require to pay more to the instructor as it requires more time.

The actual online teaching model at many for profits basically allows a student to pay money for a Master's and graduate with a submission of a bunch of papers that are graded with B or A by another instructor that got his or her Master's or Phd by using the same model.

Most of the graduates from these programs end at positions that do not really require a University degree (e.g. customer service, sales rep) so the lack of quality is not an issue. It seems that most of these students know that the degree is just to get an interview but the actual job would require little knowledge learned from a degree that just requires to prepare a set of papers that hardly anyone reads.

 

I think it's interesting that there are contributors to this this thread, all anonymous, who seem disposed to make accusations about the practices of certain (unnamed) universities. I'd like to suggest that they (in the vernacular of my male friends) "grow a set" and name school names and identify themselves or stop sniping anonymously. If you've got something to say then stand up and say it. Otherwise it's just all fiction.

 

This is a discussion board. If I revealed names, schools, etc, I will be sued by the these online schools tomorrow for all my assets and more (I have signed non disclosure agreements). Why? Just to show that some people are making tons of money with low ethical practices in online education? Do we really need to make a case to let people know this?
Let people lurking in this forum make their own research and find things on their own. It doesn't take long to validate these claims.

I would suggest starting by challenging your instructors with questions that are not part of the "script" and "canned" assignments and see if they are able to answer them.
I'm sure you that some would be surprised with the results.