WileyCCC@aol.com
Fri, 9 Apr 1999 09:02:49 EDT
From: WileyCCC@aol.com Date: Fri, 9 Apr 1999 09:02:49 EDT Subject: Re: ** Implications of INTERNET LEARNING
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We thank Tripathi the Tireless for the following post...my comments are
interspersed:
In a message dated 4/9/99 4:36:54 AM,
tripathi@amadeus.statistik.uni-dortmund.de writes:
<<
DIVISION OVER INTERNET LEARNING
Two new studies being released this week question the value of
online college courses. The College Board says in its report
that Internet courses could put underprivileged students who
have less exposure to computers at a disadvantage. ***Underprivileged are
always at a disadvantage, thus the admiration we have for those who
overcome*** They will
arrive at school with less computer knowledge and thus be less
prepared for online courses. ***less prepared, but not unable*** "There's
this rush to get online
and go virtual," says College Board researcher Larry F. Gladieux.
"Colleges, policy makers, and Internet providers who are driving
this market need to think about broad access." ***Not really, since Apple,
Microsoft, IBM, Oracle, Sun, eMachines, Xerox, Blackboard, Iomega, Hewlett
packard,Adobe, 3Com, Lotus, all phone and cable companies have thousands of
employees all everyday thinking about broad access, and actually
accomplishing something.***
The College Board
is concerned that schools facing budget cuts might be lured online
by pitches from technology providers that online learning cuts the
costs of real-world learning. But colleges must realize that a
technical divide exists, as only 20 percent of low-income
households own a computer. ***20%!!!? one in 5 poor people in usa have
computers?! What a country! My how that number has grown, and will continue
to do so due to the efforts of the businesses mentioned above and thousands
like them. The reason so many poor people have computers is the unfettered
competion among the companies mentioned has driven the costs down on
computers even as profits flow.***
Meanwhile, the Institute for Higher
Education Policy says in its report that Internet-based education
is too new and untested to justify its rapid growth in colleges. ***this
from the people who lauded the vast funding of such proven failures as Head
Start and D.A.R.E. programs in USA****
The report notes that there is a higher dropout rate of 32 percent
for online classes, compared to just 4 percent for real-world
classes. ***Love to see the studies****(Associated Press 04/07/99)>>
John Spiers
MA Ed Admin
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