One of the myths listed that surprised me slightly was "virtual schools are about technology". I think it was initially surprising because I tend to think about all of the various technology tools I have been using in my own online classes and the focus that I put on technology. After giving this idea more consideration, it does make sense that technology is just the delivery system for the content and not the actual focus of the content for many online courses.
I don't believe I posted anything that was a myth in my initial post. There was another myth that I initially surprised me a little and that was "a student is more likely to cheat online". I don't think that students take online courses to cheat, but I think it would be more likely if there was a test offered online for a student to use their text book or the internet to find answers. I suppose this concern could be reduced by structuring tests to have time limits (with the hope that students wouldn't have time to look for answers in other places) or not having traditional, multiple choice tests and having projects instead. There are ways to structure an any online class in a way that will reduce the myths that may be believed about online courses.
You know, I found the myth "virtual schools are about technology" to be misleading. Of course as educators we know that we teach students content. However, the "how" part is significant enough that questions of methodology, of delivery, have been debated about as long as anybody has taught anything to anyone.
ReplyDeleteI find your ideas about how to reduce cheating opportunities to be spot-on. The majority of my Wayne State professors must agree with you because I have taken timed, open-ended, tests and quizzes along with submitting many application-type projects since I've been in the LIS program.
I agree that the "how" is a very debated topic. I think the "how" is ever changing and as educators, there is a great deal to be learned about the best ways teach.
DeleteI would say that is a good way of explaining it, that technology is just the delivery method for the E-learning curriculum.
ReplyDeleteAs it relates to the myth that " a student is more likely to cheat online" I can certainly agree with both you and Rebecca in this instance. I'm sure that students do not take online courses to cheat either. They take them because they are efficient and adaptable ways of learning. And Rebecca you are spot-on with your comment. Certainly, the WSU Professors I've encountered also have timed tests, quizzes etc which reduces value to that myth.
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