"The Trouble With Online College" NY Times article

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by BlueMason, Feb 21, 2013.

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  1. BlueMason

    BlueMason Audaces fortuna juvat

  2. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    Me say online not "type O" universal donor solution for all. Became fad and now will retrench to a level that be equilibrium.

    Maybe other students think online easier?

    That's what say me.
     
  3. BobbyJim

    BobbyJim New Member

    Same story: motivated students find a way, unmotivated students drop out – or take a motivation break (in my case many breaks:bigeyes:).

    My personal favorite in all the online, print based, classroom, and blended formats is the blended – but it’s not always an option. I did a number of courses that involved distance learning with very intensive residential labs in my 2+ decade journey to a few undergrad degrees. My all-time favorite mode of learning is challenge exams because I can work at my pace with resources of my choice, and test when ready. Of course testing out options become rarer at the third year of most under-graduate programs.
     
  4. BlueMason

    BlueMason Audaces fortuna juvat

    I think that some students indeed think that online is easier.. I think many who fail are simply not used to not having someone guide their every step and are poor at time management. College should hard work (unless you're particularly gifted in an area (e.g. Math)) where accountability and responsibility stare you straight in the face and you either step up or step away.

    Motivation is most definitely a large part to success, but not only in school and business, but life in general.
     
  5. pfelectronicstech

    pfelectronicstech New Member

    Thumbs up, could not agree more with this posting. Its something I tried to post in the past but you said it much better and more concise.
     
  6. cbryant

    cbryant New Member

    Seems the typical, lets blame the system and not the students, mentality in the article. Some of the comments on the article indicate that "students are ill-prepared for college" and "they have lack of computer resources", etc., etc.

    I had a conversation a few years back with a Full Professor, an adjunct, and a TA (all in the Philosophy dept of a big research university) and they balked at online education saying it was inferior because they couldn't control the discussion, classroom, etc. I have friend who teaches communication at a Community College and has similar attitudes. I told both groups that the only way they were going to stop online education is to quit teaching and go into administration because as long as people from the business department are going into administration they are going to try to run a college like a business.
     
  7. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    That's because they still treat their students like children, ignoring andragogy. When teaching adults, one should not be the "sage on the stage." Instead, facilitate adults' learning by being the "guide on the side." And you can facilitate a whole lot of learning and discussion online with that approach, and students will surprise you with how they can own their learning--with your guidance, of course.
     
  8. 03310151

    03310151 Active Member

    It's the perfect article for readers of the New York Times.
     
  9. Johnny Aloha

    Johnny Aloha New Member

    Would you mind elaborating a bit on your comment?
     
  10. 03310151

    03310151 Active Member

    Most people who read the New York Times enjoy articles like this.That by the running this story, the NYT reinforces its position as the one who decides things, in this case educational things. You may be invited to offer comment, of course, but the best you can do is agree or disagree with the NYT-- they become the authority.

    The burden of proof falls to you to explain why they're wrong. When you read these editorials I'm amazed at the math/science that they use. In this article one study = it must be true. The New York Times loves science, LOVES it, especially the kind with no numbers and frequent appeals to authority, especially ESPECIALLY if those authorities are from the cast of Freakonomics. Here are the seven most important sciences according to the NYT:

    1. Sociology
    2. Political science
    4. Climate science
    5. Science fiction
    7. NPR
    8. Law

    It's an article written for people without online degrees about the "kind" of people who get online degrees so that the NYT readers can feel better about themselves since most do not have online degrees.
     
  11. Johnny Aloha

    Johnny Aloha New Member

    Thank you for answering.
     
  12. 03310151

    03310151 Active Member

    I'm not a fan of NYT articles or editorials, if you can't tell. I don't hate them as much as I do the Yahoo education/finance/anything articles but they are a close second ;)
     
  13. Maniac Craniac

    Maniac Craniac Moderator Staff Member

    Well, there ya go! The trouble with online college is that most people aren't good enough to do it :veryhappy:
     
  14. pfelectronicstech

    pfelectronicstech New Member

    I worked for the NY Times for 12 years so I have to say this. The reason the "physical newspaper" is dead is because people with online degrees read the news online, how ironic huh? The point is young people will never buy a physical newspaper, they read the news[including the NYT] on their laptops, Kindles, and ipads. The Times is selling a lot of "Digital subscriptions" now and those readers for the most part are very open to online degrees, and educations. Again just a little ironic.
     
  15. RugbyMan187

    RugbyMan187 New Member

    Well said PFelectronics.
     
  16. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    I'm still in my 30's, and I like paper newspapers. I don't subscribe only because I wouldn't have time to sit down and read it every day, and by the time I do I'll be retired and they probably won't exist anymore.
     
  17. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    You're a young whipper-snapper.
     
  18. Maniac Craniac

    Maniac Craniac Moderator Staff Member

    I guess that makes me an embryo.

    I also prefer my news to be printed on paper, but it's hard to compete with the price of $0 per issue when I read the news online.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 22, 2013
  19. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    lol.......
     
  20. RAM PhD

    RAM PhD Member

    Per the article, the summation was that poorly designed courses were the culprit. The same could be true in a B/M face-to-face context.
     

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