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[chicago_48]

http://chronicle.com/blogs/wiredcampus/online-education-is-everywhere-whats-the-next-big-thing/32898

This could happen.  We could see more and more universities/colleges doing without instructors.  But somehow I don't think it will happen en masse, because we have some dumb students.  Not everyone is an Einstein and can work on their own.

[canuckois]

http://chronicle.com/blogs/wiredcampus/online-education-is-everywhere-whats-the-next-big-thing/32898

This could happen.  We could see more and more universities/colleges doing without instructors.  But somehow I don't think it will happen en masse, because we have some dumb students.  Not everyone is an Einstein and can work on their own.

Oh, I don't know.  We could probably do without educators who say things like this, for example.

[zharkov]

Before coming to Southern NH, the president (LeBlanc) ran a very small progressive liberal arts college in Vermont, Marlborough College.  Bright and self-motivated students basically learn under the guidance of faculty acting as mentors. 

Referencing LeBlanc's Next Big Thing paper, could bright and self motivated students succeed in the sort of "faculty barely there outcome assessment driven" online model he suggests?  Many I'm sure would.  But the other 90 pct of students who go to college?  I'm skeptical.  But it sounds like a nice pilot project.

PS: I don't work for either of these institutions.   

[egilson]

Darn. I thought this was going to be another thread about the CalState professor trafficking meth.

[csguy]

online discussions could be monitored by subject experts. ... The university’s staff could then grade the assessment and assign credit.

and these people are working for free?

For some courses and students this may be workable. The article doesn't touch on the considerable cost of developing good online material and the issues of student motivation and study habits that Zharkov alludes to.

Is this fundamentally that different from the current model of having faculty prepare courses and deliver lectures to large audiences and having TA's (subject matter experts) lead discussion sections and grade assessments?

[zharkov]

I've been reading about innovative student-centered independent study approaches that were around in the 60s and 70s.  (What goes around?)   One thing I found is that faculty reported that it is two or three times as much work mentoring students doing self directed studies than just teaching regular classes. 

I also have taught an online HS class that used a canned curriculum, thus my work was mostly assessing student work.  But the school allowed students to pace themselves, which made it a ton of work, assessing assignment that would typically be done at the same time, but spread throughout the term instead.  So I had to keep checking the instructor's manual, since I'd forget the answer myself after a few weeks went by.  (Think quantitative problem sets, not multiple choice or TF answers.) 

(Those interested in the history of higher ed may want to investigate the neat things done at Grand Valley State and Nasson College's New Division. in the 60s/70s.)

[chicago_48]

I also have taught an online HS class that used a canned curriculum, thus my work was mostly assessing student work.  But the school allowed students to pace themselves, which made it a ton of work, assessing assignment that would typically be done at the same time, but spread throughout the term instead.  So I had to keep checking the instructor's manual, since I'd forget the answer myself after a few weeks went by.  (Think quantitative problem sets, not multiple choice or TF answers.) 

(Those interested in the history of higher ed may want to investigate the neat things done at Grand Valley State and Nasson College's New Division. in the 60s/70s.)

Can you tell me how you got the online HS teaching gig?  What qualifications?  What state?  Thanks.

[zharkov]

I also have taught an online HS class that used a canned curriculum, thus my work was mostly assessing student work.  But the school allowed students to pace themselves, which made it a ton of work, assessing assignment that would typically be done at the same time, but spread throughout the term instead.  So I had to keep checking the instructor's manual, since I'd forget the answer myself after a few weeks went by.  (Think quantitative problem sets, not multiple choice or TF answers.) 

(Those interested in the history of higher ed may want to investigate the neat things done at Grand Valley State and Nasson College's New Division. in the 60s/70s.)

Can you tell me how you got the online HS teaching gig?  What qualifications?  What state?  Thanks.

Each state is naturally different about qualifications to teach HS, but for the state in question, my PhD enabled me to teach with alternative qualification or some deal like that.  (The school took care of that, and I suspect a master's in the field would be OK, too.)   The pay was not that great and the stipend was per student....  something like $200 per student who completed the course?  Not all completed it, so it was somehow prorated.  I did it more for as a service project and to see how online HS worked.  (I will PM you some details.)

[lost_angeleno]

Next big thing: a return to demanding courses and serious standards?
Not holding my breath.