Jim Hutton

Jim Hutton

About me

Activity

A student raises the question to you: If your final examination is 1) comprehensive, 2) reliable, and 3 valid, why do I need to participate in the discussions or group work?
I have always done this "on ground." At least the students have met each other. Group meetings are most often on campus and involve more than two. My fear would be a very small, or just two, meet at someone's home or an unsafe location. I would just post some warnings for meetings from Online classes. There are a lot of nuts out there on the Internet.
It has been suggested that students who live close to each other be encouraged to meet and discuss class work and possibly projects. Do you consider this totally safe and what would you advise students who may want to try this ?
Discussion Comment

This goes back to the student teacher ratio questions. I think if ALL things are equal, learning objectives, approximately identical materials, class sizes, and learning objectives, I believe online and classroom should be managed and compensated similarly. I do hold that a GOOD Online teacher "works" more hours with the same number of students. However, he or she has a much more flexible schedule, no driving/travel time, and heck--one can check email with morning coffee in hand on the back porch! Tutoring "slow" learners is a completely different question. Outside of reasonable "office" or "virtual office" hours, I do not… >>>

Discussion Comment

You are correct. In the "perfect" world, the course objectives, thus outcomes, should be the same regardless of the modality of delivery. In the early days, way back in the 1990s, regulators wanted assurance that the "hours" online were at least similar to on ground. This proved difficult to measure and prove. Now, I believe, the focus in on demonstrating outcomes through online assessment methods. As you know, in a classroom setting, student A does not really need all four hours of "lecture" in a week, while student B does not "get" the materials in the four hours even with… >>>

Discussion Comment
Since the beginning of online, the conversion of "typical" courses with the age old contact to credit hour conversion, has been a problem for college and regulators. I hope ALL online players will not try to make online a short cut to a degree or career.
Discussion Comment
When we leave the “ground” world of "contact hour" measurement, what other assurances are there to ascertain appropriate course rigor?

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