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USM Forum -- Message Board -> AAUP-USM MESSAGE BOARD -> Preview numbers 7/8
Post Info TOPIC: Preview numbers 7/8
Anna

Date:
RE: RE: Preview numbers 7/8
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quote:




Originally posted by: online prof
 "The next generation of professors at USM will be more open to technology though."


But don't forget, online prof, it is the current generation of professors that invented techolonogy. You most certainly do sound like an online prof who takes your instruction seriously, and my guess is that you are quite good at it. I suspect that what concerns a great many of the more traditional instructiors is not online instruction per se. The concern is that one can obtain 100% of their degree program through online instruction, whereas so much of a college education is obtained outside the classroom. But you do sound like you know what you are talking about with regards to the online instruction component. 



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Disgusted

Date:
Online instruction
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quote:
Originally posted by: online prof
""This is one of the reasons why more and more people have degrees but fewer and fewer are educated."
No. A class is only as good as how much effort and dedication an instructor puts into it. I have found that those who criticize online classes are those who did not grow up with the internet and those who are struggling to keep up with academic trends. There is a convention here at USM to oppose new things.
The next generation of professors at USM will be more open to technology though.  For example, in the three online classes I teach, I tape my lectures and then put them online. Students have to listen to these lectures and send me summaries of them to show they actually listened. I also make them take two tests on campus rather than online. I then grade their tests, scan them, and send them back via email in picture format. All of this allows them to have input from the instructor the old-fashioned way. That is, they still see the instructor’s handwritten comments and still hear the instructor’s voice.
 
When it comes down to it, what is the difference between getting educated online and getting educated in the standard classroom? The only difference is the instructor.
 "



This thread originally appeared under "RE: Preview numbers 7/8"

I agree with "online", whom I've quoted above. My experience at USM and at another, leading public state univeristy in the South, is that online courses supplement traditional in-class instruction. A student may take 3-4 classroom courses and one online course.

Many of us at USM already incorporate these tools in our traditional courses.





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Invictus

Date:
RE: RE: RE: Preview numbers 7/8
Permalink Closed

quote:
Originally posted by: Otherside
"
I was wondering the age range of your online students. I seems to me that online courses require more mature students than the average that I'm seeing."


Invictus knows a little about online teaching. As online prof indicated, controlled testing is an absolute must. Upthread, someone (palindrome?) mentioned lab classes. Some so-called "lab classes" can be handled using CD-ROM simulations & work-at-home kits. I know instructors who're handling biology and A&P classes online that way with pretty decent results.

BTW, the Mississippi Virtual Community College has undergone its SACS substantive change review. Has USM's distance ed program has done that?

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Otherside

Date:
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quote:
Originally posted by: Invictus
"

Invictus knows a little about online teaching. As online prof indicated, controlled testing is an absolute must. Upthread, someone (palindrome?) mentioned lab classes. Some so-called "lab classes" can be handled using CD-ROM simulations & work-at-home kits. I know instructors who're handling biology and A&P classes online that way with pretty decent results.

BTW, the Mississippi Virtual Community College has undergone its SACS substantive change review. Has USM's distance ed program has done that?"


We may be discussing different things here. I too know that students can watch a CD and past a test afterwards. However, has the student been "educated" or only "trained"? In the area of the physical sciences, I find the students have no knowledge (intuitions) about the physical world. They have seen natural laws violated on a regular basis on CD's and videos too often to have an understanding. A ”real" laboratory experience is needed to provide that knowledge. Otherwise it is just "some stuff on another CD that the teacher makes me memorize to pass the test. Someone just made this up, so what.”

No wonder "creation science" is constantly threatening to invade the school system.


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Invictus

Date:
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quote:
Originally posted by: Otherside
"
We may be discussing different things here.
"


I think we are. If you check the "lab" sciences offered thru MSVCC, you'll find things like general bio or anatomy & phys. These are mostly observational type labs & are intended for nonmajors anyway. Some physical science classes -- the nonmajors flavor -- will probably work online with some creative activities devised by the instructor. (I've never taught physical sciences, so I used the work "probably" in the preceding sentence.)

Classes for majors, obviously & labs with a strong experimental orientation are best suited for the traditional classroom/lab setting, IMO.

Hybrid courses where the "lecture" component is mediated online & the lab is held on-campus offer a lot of potential scheduling benefits both for students & teachers. This may really be the "best of both worlds."

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Otherside

Date:
Permalink Closed

quote:
Originally posted by: Invictus
"

I think we are. If you check the "lab" sciences offered thru MSVCC, you'll find things like general bio or anatomy & phys. These are mostly observational type labs & are intended for nonmajors anyway. Some physical science classes -- the nonmajors flavor -- will probably work online with some creative activities devised by the instructor. (I've never taught physical sciences, so I used the work "probably" in the preceding sentence.)

Classes for majors, obviously & labs with a strong experimental orientation are best suited for the traditional classroom/lab setting, IMO.

Hybrid courses where the "lecture" component is mediated online & the lab is held on-campus offer a lot of potential scheduling benefits both for students & teachers. This may really be the "best of both worlds.""


I understand. Thanks for the clarification.

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beancounter

Date:
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I have confirmation for a department chair that preview numbers are definately down and that student quality is being sacrificed in an attempt to keep enrollment numbers up.  Everyone needs to understand that this is a very important issue.  Reduction in either student numbers or quality could be a serious blow to the current administration.  This issue should not be ignored.  It might even influence the board

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flyingundertheradar

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I know one department has 38 students listed as attending Preview this Thursday with 12 of those needing 99 courses.  This is approximately 31-32%.  That is frightening.  What bothers me more is traditionally the academically less talented students wait to enroll.  Have any of you noticed you don't hear from your probation/probation continued/suspension students until the first week of school.  Of all students who need to be in class the first week it is those.

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Emma

Date:
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quote:
Originally posted by: flyingundertheradar
"I know one department has 38 students listed as attending Preview this Thursday with 12 of those needing 99 courses.  This is approximately 31-32%.  That is frightening.  What bothers me more is traditionally the academically less talented students wait to enroll.  Have any of you noticed you don't hear from your probation/probation continued/suspension students until the first week of school.  Of all students who need to be in class the first week it is those."
on another thread, I voiced my concerns about the enrollment numbers, the methods that the administration was using to address the obvious decrease, and the unevennes of faculty pay raises -- Houston, we have a problem.

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USM Sympathizer

Date:
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quote:

Originally posted by: beancounter
"I have confirmation for a department chair that preview numbers are definately down and that student quality is being sacrificed in an attempt to keep enrollment numbers up.  Everyone needs to understand that this is a very important issue.  Reduction in either student numbers or quality could be a serious blow to the current administration.  This issue should not be ignored.  It might even influence the board"


It might be helpful if someone with better access to the facts than I have could write a letter either to the IHL or to the HA, or to both, alerting them about this trend.  Perhaps the HA could do a story.  If people in Hattiesburg and the surrounding area realize that SFT's reign has led to a decline in quality enrollment, some of them might begin to rethink their support of him.



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Mental Gidgit

Date:
Permalink Closed

quote:
Originally posted by: USM Sympathizer
"It might be helpful if someone with better access to the facts than I have could write a letter either to the IHL or to the HA, or to both, alerting them about this trend.  Perhaps the HA could do a story. "

Indeed! Just as soon as those future students see a letter in HA about this, they are most definitely going to rush right out and start registering. LMAO!


If you do do this, I hope you get better sources than the silly speculation that we have had on this board.



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