But you are right that the issue itself has been raised, and its the details
that have to get worked out. This was more of a motivational forward than a
persuasive one.
-Eric Hoffman
Herbert Rubin wrote:
> On Mon, 20 Jul 1998, Eric Hoffman wrote:
>
> > (Please forgive the cross-posting)
> >
> > I just received this letter, and thought it relevent and important
> > enough to pass on to all of you. (Notice: the author cc'd Pres
> > LaTourette ;-)
> >
> > Feedback?
> >
> > -Eric Hoffman
> >
>
> Eric,
>
> I thought we shared a working assumption that there is demand out there
> for e-courses. The questions that tfas are working revolve around how to
> structure such courses in ways that mesh with our broader academic
> mission. And, my questions, mostly posted on tompaine, are how to
> compensate faculty for the incredible time that a respectable e-course
> requires.
>
> What you are saying and saying again -- is that people find such courses
> convenient. There is no disagreement here. What we are working on are
> methods to (a) reconcile these courses with current offerings (b) not
> allow the e-courses to deteriorate into a Phoenix U model and (c) allow
> them to be taught by faculty who at the same time will have sufficient
> hours to do their research, teach f 2 f courses, and get some sleep once
> in a while.
>
> You're saying something is good and is needed so let's do it now. I'm
> saying, just show me how to bring it about: how do we find the time to
> prepare such courses? How to we prevent (or do we prevent) what happened
> with the engineer? who seemed to spend 40 hours a week on a ten person
> class? Can we get into place in this university rules that full time
> faculty will teach such courses, or do we want the university to buy
> canned courses and then have low paid people monitor the e-discussions?
> It's these practical questions we must work out, not whether some older
> student would find it easier to click and point from home then to traipse
> out to the corn field we all share.
>
> Herb
>
> ********************************************************************
> "A community will evolve only when the people control their means of
> communication." Fanon
>
> ********
> Herbert J. Rubin 815-753-6424
> Sociology hrubin@sun.soci.niu.edu
> Northern Illinois University DeKalb, Illinois 60115
> *********************************************************************