tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276812992911002375.post1863474214741954167..comments2024-03-16T04:17:51.852-07:00Comments on 100 Reasons NOT to Go to Graduate School: 82. Teaching is moving online.100 Reasonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13655155303350793785noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276812992911002375.post-65601414220990061762021-11-16T20:51:18.114-08:002021-11-16T20:51:18.114-08:00Man was this post ever prescient. Man was this post ever prescient. Author Died of Covidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276812992911002375.post-18101321870942864952015-06-04T14:09:08.318-07:002015-06-04T14:09:08.318-07:00You can put "Rate My Professor" down, bu...You can put "Rate My Professor" down, but frankly I wish it had been around during my second tenure at grad school. <br /><br />Why? I frequently had instructors whose behaviors were not to be believed. Foreign nationals who could not communicate course times let alone complex engineering concepts (twice!). Lecturers who changed course lecture times and places on a whim. Professors that winked at ridiculous levels of cheating (several times). Profs with TAs that clearly violated university regulations in grading assignments by nationality. Professors with exams that did not reflect lecture or textbook material (several times). Professors who reused exams *with all the academic dishonesty you can imagine that entails.* Professors who tried to flunk entire classes of students (including one that went after *an entire graduating class* in the department - there was a real disaster that was hushed up).<br /><br />I'll admit there's a fair amount of stupidity on Rate My Professor, as there is on other public rating systems. However, because school faculty, administration, and other students refuse to openly discuss problems involving their own faculty and departments, there's definitely a place for a forum in which such problems can be mentioned. And if it *had* been around in the late 90s, I might not have wasted years of my life in a profoundly dysfunctional department.<br /><br />And frankly, if Youtube had been around, I would have ensured that a number of faculty were publicly shamed. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276812992911002375.post-73556837215622271872015-02-08T18:18:37.180-08:002015-02-08T18:18:37.180-08:00While I read this blog, an ad on the right side re...While I read this blog, an ad on the right side reads:<br /><br />Earn a Master of Education On-Line in only 24 months. Apply Today.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276812992911002375.post-1319861366779552752014-10-15T11:24:14.102-07:002014-10-15T11:24:14.102-07:00The woman who runs the student health services cli...The woman who runs the student health services clinic at my land grant university in the midwest recently completed her DNP from the University of Alabama online - she defended her dissertation via Skype.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276812992911002375.post-84889446178076949102014-09-21T13:54:54.015-07:002014-09-21T13:54:54.015-07:00My suspicion is, like "cram schools" in ...My suspicion is, like "cram schools" in East Asia, and "after-school activities/"professional activities' in the US, all online learning will actually do is create another set of requirements for people aspiring to work in an academic discipline. At the undergraduate and graduate levels, you will have to attend your "actual" courses (and labs), then you will have to supplement this information with what you can pick up online, and do the work relevant to both, in addition to whatever research, (pre-)professional activities, dollar-chasing, and outside work you already have to do.<br /><br />For the most part, online education is a way to make the population feel connected to educational and vocational prospects without actually granting them to 99.9% of those who actually wade through the material (themselves only a fraction of those who express an interest). It is a population pacifier and a way to fault the economically disconnected (by engaging in that curious American meme claiming that the ways and means of economic self-improvement are available to all - if you aren't pulling down $60K as a chemical engineer, then that's your fault). It will be a (desperate) way to bloat resumes (probably mostly fraudulently) on the reception end, and a way to expand resumes (and for most, limit personal responsibility) on the production end.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276812992911002375.post-39757578200827972822014-05-13T08:02:02.530-07:002014-05-13T08:02:02.530-07:00MOOCs aren't as good as your ideal class. But ...MOOCs aren't as good as your ideal class. But I've rarely seen the ideal class. More often huge impersonatonal ecture with student's turned off, alienated , surfing the net, many absent professor does no grading, few office hours, knows no one 'a names (if you even get a prof rather than adjunct). Fair comparison is between a MOOC and that reality. http://news.sciencemag.org/education/2014/05/lectures-arent-just-boring-theyre-ineffective-too-study-findsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276812992911002375.post-34349728756779559152012-10-15T23:47:36.474-07:002012-10-15T23:47:36.474-07:00This blog is nice and amazing. I really like your ...This blog is nice and amazing. I really like your post! It's also nice to see someone who does a lot of research and has a great knack for writing, which is pretty rare from bloggers these days. <br />Thanks!<br />Get GED Onlinehttp://www.sandfordhighschool.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276812992911002375.post-3625779205566394732012-05-22T15:41:51.683-07:002012-05-22T15:41:51.683-07:00Here's another eye-catching story...
Score On...Here's another eye-catching story...<br /><br />Score One for the Robo-Tutors<br /><br />Without diminishing learning outcomes, automated teaching software can reduce the amount of time professors spend with students and could substantially reduce the cost of instruction, according to new research.<br /><br />http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2012/05/22/report-robots-stack-human-professors-teaching-intro-stats#ixzz1vdo2GMReMTTnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276812992911002375.post-78001913635436906672012-05-17T18:32:24.454-07:002012-05-17T18:32:24.454-07:00This says something about where things are headed:...This says something about where things are headed:<br /><br />"MIT Names Its Provost, Who Led Online-Education Efforts, as New President"<br /><br />http://chronicle.com/article/MIT-Names-Its-Provost-Who-Led/131896/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276812992911002375.post-74531488616945882962012-05-10T20:52:22.037-07:002012-05-10T20:52:22.037-07:00John Fry--another con artist heard from.John Fry--another con artist heard from.Socratesinthemarketplacehttp://www.yahoo.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276812992911002375.post-70127292669962939842012-05-09T12:10:57.608-07:002012-05-09T12:10:57.608-07:00"It looks like Drexel has 559 tenured and ten..."It looks like Drexel has 559 tenured and tenure-track faculty out of a teaching staff of 2,560."<br /><br />4 to 1. That's pretty high, but 3 to 1 will be the ratio of TT to Adjunct/contingent at most institutions not long from now, if it's not already at most schools. <br /><br />At least Drexel has buildings. I got a good number of credit from University of Maryland University College, their online arm. It wasn't bad. There are advantages and disadvantages, but yes it's here to stay. <br /><br />It won't replace classroom, though, not by a long shot. Classrooms are still needed just for the legitimacy factor. I have yet to hear anyone who does hiring for anything speak favorably about degrees from all-online institutions like University of Phoenix, etc...Aaronnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276812992911002375.post-14536058187110033882012-05-08T20:15:44.355-07:002012-05-08T20:15:44.355-07:00In response to a New York Times column about onlin...In response to a New York Times column about online education, the president of Drexel University in Philadelphia sent this letter to the editor:<br /><br />****<br /><br />To the Editor:<br /><br />Like David Brooks, I am excited that several of the world’s best-known universities have embraced online learning through open courses. But lest he leave the impression that Harvard, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford and Penn have newly legitimized the field, I want to note that online education has been central to the mission of a number of outstanding brick-and-mortar universities for a decade or more.<br /><br />Many of us are committed to delivering not just open courses but full degree programs equal to our outstanding on-campus offerings in quality and individuality of instruction.<br /><br />Online learning has proved very popular. At Drexel University, for instance, where we offered our first online degree program in 1996, about 5,000 of our nearly 25,000 students are enrolled through Drexel eLearning. Many of our on-campus students also take one or more classes online in “hybrid” programs.<br /><br />Knowledge seekers worldwide are well served by our colleagues’ plans to share great teaching for free. And our world is also well served by the proven ability of universities like Drexel to leverage online technology to expand access to a full college education.<br /><br />JOHN A. FRY<br />President, Drexel University<br />Philadelphia, May 4, 2012 <br /><br />http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/09/opinion/as-elite-universities-embrace-online-learning.html<br /><br />****<br /><br />Whatever the merits or faults of online higher education, it's here to stay. When I read about those 5,000 online students in Fry's letter, I immediately wondered who was teaching them.<br /><br />It looks like Drexel has 559 tenured and tenure-track faculty out of a teaching staff of 2,560.<br /><br />http://chronicle.com/article/faculty-salaries-data-2012/131431#id=212054Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276812992911002375.post-55081681199865941562012-05-05T07:37:10.471-07:002012-05-05T07:37:10.471-07:00I really hope your decision was not made primarily...I really hope your decision was not made primarily off of this blog. Starting a PhD and ending a PhD is a major life decision that should really be made by you and you only. Good luck.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276812992911002375.post-30008013697100425272012-05-03T12:41:16.480-07:002012-05-03T12:41:16.480-07:00Love this blog - soooo happy I found it.
http://a...Love this blog - soooo happy I found it. <br />http://awaywardscholar.blogspot.com/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276812992911002375.post-68177438602638392632012-05-02T08:48:50.708-07:002012-05-02T08:48:50.708-07:00Well done! You are my hero. Hope to join your rank...Well done! You are my hero. Hope to join your ranks soon!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276812992911002375.post-74495520312639462622012-04-28T21:18:45.111-07:002012-04-28T21:18:45.111-07:00Congratulations! It's tough as hell to leave n...Congratulations! It's tough as hell to leave no matter what, but if there's one thing to be learned from this blog, it's that you probably won't miss a damn thing about academia. Best of luck!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276812992911002375.post-24297634682425167652012-04-28T16:42:36.577-07:002012-04-28T16:42:36.577-07:00good for you!!good for you!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276812992911002375.post-17626699596929093262012-04-26T21:50:11.673-07:002012-04-26T21:50:11.673-07:00Congratulations!!! Enjoy the big wide world! You&#...Congratulations!!! Enjoy the big wide world! You're free!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276812992911002375.post-88946956317847735252012-04-26T20:28:58.769-07:002012-04-26T20:28:58.769-07:00I'm convinced! I'm dropping out of my PhD ...I'm convinced! I'm dropping out of my PhD program in June and I can't wait! I've never been this happy in my life!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276812992911002375.post-9444824069400823612012-04-26T07:27:42.025-07:002012-04-26T07:27:42.025-07:00"or the record, it wasn't my plan to appl..."or the record, it wasn't my plan to apply to community colleges, but I've got to the point now where I'm applying for everything and hoping for anything."<br /><br />Try not to convey that attitude. They will sense it and you won't get called.Aaronnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276812992911002375.post-29239890881506353702012-04-26T07:24:45.844-07:002012-04-26T07:24:45.844-07:00I took a couple online courses in 2006, back then ...I took a couple online courses in 2006, back then it was kind of a blog format.<br /><br />Today, there have been great strides, and it can actually be kind of fun to set up; there are a lot of things that can be done with ipads, smartphones, etc... Different instructors handle the "lectures" differently, but generally that kind of communication is a smaller component of what you'd do as an online instructor. <br /><br />It's probably fine to say in your cover letter that you're open to teaching online, even if you've never done it. Schools contract with different companies that set up the systems, so you'd have to go through training regardless.Aaronnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276812992911002375.post-63630333855475514132012-04-25T14:01:00.148-07:002012-04-25T14:01:00.148-07:00I wouldn't hold your breath on having grading ...I wouldn't hold your breath on having grading jobs taken away from robo-graders just yet. Looks like they're still easy to fool with giberish. <br /><br />http://news.slashdot.org/story/12/04/23/1326254/how-good-are-robo-graders?utm_source=slashdot&utm_medium=twitterJMGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08475650963396841115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276812992911002375.post-90149573494783582982012-04-25T13:40:51.400-07:002012-04-25T13:40:51.400-07:00I've never taken an online class in my life, b...I've never taken an online class in my life, but I'm on the market now and most community colleges seem to be looking for online instructors.<br /><br />Does anyone have any experience teaching online? How does it work? Are there lectures? Do you record yourself lecturing? Do you interact with the students directly or is it all over email? Did you like it? Did you hate it?<br /><br />For the record, it wasn't my plan to apply to community colleges, but I've got to the point now where I'm applying for everything and hoping for anything. I haven't even had an interview yet, but if I ever get one at a place where the work is online, it'd be nice to know what I'm talking about.Hobartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276812992911002375.post-24251057101145354182012-04-25T04:54:05.505-07:002012-04-25T04:54:05.505-07:00The other side is that colleges have at least as m...The other side is that colleges have at least as many horrible people as great people. Insulation from market pressures ensures that they will stay, and will stay pricks, as long as they want. (I call it the personality corollary of Gresham's Law.) <br /><br />Online, especially in the "massively multistudent" model, can be a less aggravating alternative. <br /><br />All a student really needs to get the social benefits of college is be on campus for extracurriculars and office hours.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276812992911002375.post-1563422769555118512012-04-25T04:47:04.386-07:002012-04-25T04:47:04.386-07:00Some words taken out of context from Aaron: "...Some words taken out of context from Aaron: "there is no substitute for physical chemistry"<br /><br />If you have ever taken that particular course as an undergraduate, you know that it is indeed a painful experience for which there is no substitute.<br /><br />It is also a course that would be very difficult to teach online. Lots of heavy math...best taught with a chalk board (oops...I'm dating myself...best taught with a white board and dry erase markers)...too many derivations to simply spit out on a PowerPoint or some other canned online format.STEM Doctorhttp://www.foxnews.comnoreply@blogger.com