You don't really have to read the textbook in many online classes.

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by SurfDoctor, Nov 13, 2010.

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  1. eilla05

    eilla05 New Member

    Thanks! But that is exactly what I am afraid of... that Ill blink and tomorrow he will be 21! Which is exactly why I do most of my school work between the hours of 7:30-12am :) (which is bedtime for Greyson)
     
  2. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    LOL! And the winner of the Best Post to this Thread Award is....DW!!
     
  3. Rain

    Rain New Member

    Interesting discussion. I am another one for exams, be it DL or B&M!

    While I do feel you learn A LOT by reading and writing, proctored exams have much more credibility. I could just pay someone to write my paper and who would know, right? And I know for a fact this happens a lot, especially in some parts of the world...

    On the other hand, poor exams that only require memorizing are no good either, in fact they're the worst.

    But there are exams out there that are high quality. I'm currently studying with Heriot-Watt and, in order to pass the exams, you need to BOTH memorize and understand + be able to apply what you learned. The main part of the exam consists of case studies, where you have to understand the situation, figure out which bits of knowledge are relevant to it, analyze and provide a solution to the situation by applying the knowledge learned, without forgetting to define each concept and give any classification / theory involved. Tough!!!
     
  4. joanie

    joanie New Member

    One of the problems I have with my (graduate-level) online courses is that even when there are tests, they're usually multiple choice and I can look up all of the answers by thumbing through the index. That, coupled with a lot of written assessments, leaves me feeling as if my grades are a poor indicator as to how much I have actually learned and retained in my classes.
     
  5. Maniac Craniac

    Maniac Craniac Moderator Staff Member

    When there's trouble you call D.W.
     
  6. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    Love your sig line: "Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
     
  7. distancedoc2007

    distancedoc2007 New Member

    I'll let you in on a trade secret - the profs don't read the textbooks either ;)
     
  8. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    So true! Sometimes the online adjuncts don't even know what the content of the course is. I've actually seen this, this one particular adjunct tried to hide the fact, but it was obvious that he didn't even know what was in his class. All he wanted to do was grade papers and be left alone. I won't mention the school because this was not typical of this particular school.
     
  9. Dave Wagner

    Dave Wagner Active Member

    This is not strictly true... I'm a speed reader and I read with good comprehension at over 1,000 words per minute, and sometimes more if I'm just skimming a textbook that is similar to what I've read before.

    Sometime I'll tell you how to read a journal article... You really only need to read about how the sample was drawn, the questions asked, and who the respondents thought were asking the questions. Rarely will the outcome be much different than your estimation of what the respondents thought the researchers were looking for while maintaining their own psychological comfort: 1) that is why the questions were asked; 2) that is how the questions were understood; 3) that is why the respondents answered the questions; 4) that is why it was published in the journal...
     
  10. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    1000 WPM? Wow! I read about half that speed and I took a speed reading course. It helped me speed up, but not as fast as you. Any tips?
     
  11. Dave Wagner

    Dave Wagner Active Member

    Just keep practicing and always pace yourself with your finger... I don't read that fast on every type of material. Tip: I find it helpful to read the heading on the page and then try to find the heading in the text; comprehension is pretty good that way.
     
  12. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    Yes, keeping pace with your finger so your eyes go to the right place and don't stay fixed on any word. I also take in an entire sentence at a time without looking at specific words as much as possible. You learn that you don't have to read every word to understand what a sentence is saying.
     
  13. Dave Wagner

    Dave Wagner Active Member

    Yes, the width of the column makes a difference... narrower columns are easier for me.
     
  14. mongoose65

    mongoose65 New Member

    I think it's all bunk. Any way you can accomplish the goals without cheating is sufficient. None of it matters in the real world. Someone with a HS education and years of experience will know more than a recent graduate. If it legally gets you the piece of paper, well done. More often than not, in the real world, time will be a factor. Skimming a reference to ascertain the important points and being able to summarize them is FAR more valuable and representative than reading a textbook with a little quizzie at the end of each chapter and then taking an exam. If you can formulate a cogent paragraph about a subject you display much more knowledge than regurgitating tru-false answers or filling in your best guess in a little circle. When your boss says "read this proposal and get back to me tomorrow with your opinion," you will need to discuss it and form an opinion and sell that opinion. He/she won't give you a true/false exam. Welcome to the real world. No exams, just results.
     

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