Online class program draws mixed reactions
Posted: September 17, 2012 at 6:15 am
Brown community members expressed a mixture of excitement and wariness in response to the Universitys announcement that it will commence two online education pilot projects next year. Many lauded the decision, first announced Sept. 5 in an email from Dean of the College Katherine Bergeron, as an appropriate modernization and expansion of access to higher education, but some voiced concern that the courses could represent shoddy imitations of the classroom experience.
Next summer, the University will offer a few for-credit courses online only for Brown summer session students. The University will also join the online course platform Coursera, which offers free, not-for-credit classes to hundreds of thousands of people around the globe.
I think its very much in line with the kind of philosophy that we had with the New Curriculum and that Brown has sort of been a leader in, said Ira Magaziner 69 P06 P07 P10, an architect of the Universitys distinctive curriculum. Expanding access would, he added, put more educational control in the hands of students. Professor of Comparative Literature Arnold Weinstein, whose class COLT 1420T: The Fiction of Relationship will be one of the first three Brown classes offered on Coursera, considered the development in the context of the broader timeline of higher education, noting that in medieval universities, only professors were allowed access to libraries and books.
This is part of that same trajectory or story of increasingly empowered students, Weinstein said.
The instantaneous public relations boost that accompanies a Coursera partnership will benefit the University, said Provost Mark Schlissel P15. We can use the Coursera platform to, in effect, advertise the quality of Browns educational efforts to the broader world, he said. So were not thinking of Coursera as eventually becoming part of a Brown students education. Were thinking of it as a way to show the broader world what a Brown education is like. Others worried the resources necessary for such an endeavor would distract from the Universitys mission of serving students on campus.
I think it does distract away from those faculty members core involvement, if you will, with the curriculum at hand and with the students at hand, said Stephen Nelson, higher education expert and senior scholar in the Leadership Alliance at Brown. Theres no free lunch.
Not-for-credit courses To make time for Coursera preparations, each of the three involved faculty members will teach one fewer in-person class at Brown this year, though Schlissel said the University is providing each affected department with additional funding to compensate for the lost course. Weinstein said he would retire teaching The Fiction of Relationship after teaching it online.
But Professor of Computer Science Philip Klein, who will be transferring CSCI 0530: Directions: The Matrix in Computer Science to Coursera, said working with so many students on an online platform would help him identify teaching areas that require improvement more easily than if he were in a Brown classroom.
We have a chance to collect data at a much greater scale than ever before, and thats going to have a big impact on education, Klein said. Thats a really important thing for people to realize that Brown education will be improved as a consequence of this. But not everyone is convinced that the education through Coursera will measure up to Brown standards. Iman Jenkins 14 said she is worried about the loss of the student-teacher relationship in in-person lectures. Critics outside the University have previously raised concerns about Courseras system of peer-grading and about the platforms retention rate in many courses, fewer than half the students who sign up actually complete the class.
The Universitys decision to try out Coursera via a pilot program offers Brown the flexibility of investigating different methods of instruction, Bergeron told The Herald.
Read this article:
Online class program draws mixed reactions
- Master Keys to Success Video [Last Updated On: June 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 20th, 2011]
- Barbara Marx Hubbard, Conscious Evolution [Last Updated On: August 10th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 10th, 2011]
- Kolyma the Worst of the Gulag Archipelago [Last Updated On: August 21st, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 21st, 2011]
- WAR IN THE SHADOWS is one of the most extensive works on guerrilla warfare ever published [Last Updated On: August 21st, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 21st, 2011]
- Classic College Meets Online Education: Whither the Future of Higher Education [Last Updated On: September 22nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 22nd, 2011]
- Online Education at ASAE [Last Updated On: September 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 23rd, 2011]
- Online Education Experiences #1: Michael Satz [Last Updated On: September 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 23rd, 2011]
- Learning House: Your Online Education Partner [Last Updated On: September 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 24th, 2011]
- Online training made easy: MindFlash [Last Updated On: September 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 24th, 2011]
- The Stream - Chile's online protests [Last Updated On: September 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 25th, 2011]
- Online Degrees Online - 15 Benefits You Should Know! [Last Updated On: September 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 25th, 2011]
- School of Nursing Graduate Kathy Getchel on "Nurses Teaching Nurses" [Last Updated On: September 26th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 26th, 2011]
- Consider the Lemming [Last Updated On: September 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 27th, 2011]
- What Can You Do in 5 Weeks? Learn more about the Kaplan Commitment. [Last Updated On: September 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 27th, 2011]
- Kristina Ribali testifies for online education [Last Updated On: September 28th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 28th, 2011]
- Salman Khan: Let's use video to reinvent education [Last Updated On: September 30th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 30th, 2011]
- Free Online Class on Artificial Intelligence [Last Updated On: October 1st, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 1st, 2011]
- The Perfect Education full movie online free part 1 [Last Updated On: October 1st, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 1st, 2011]
- SkyPrep - Online training and testing simplified. [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2011]
- Secure Thinking When Online Video - Internet Security Awareness Training [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2011]
- Building a Langstroth Hive @ NC State [Last Updated On: October 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 5th, 2011]
- Best Practices in Online Education [Last Updated On: October 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 6th, 2011]
- Saco Hair Online | Blacklight Cut 2 [Last Updated On: October 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 6th, 2011]
- Final Notice: Financial News for Broke-Asses covers Education, the Wine Industry, and Online Poker [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2011]
- Easy to Use Online Learning Program [Last Updated On: October 8th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 8th, 2011]
- Ken Runkle studies international environmental public health [Last Updated On: October 8th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 8th, 2011]
- Online Education - Brookline College [Last Updated On: October 8th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 8th, 2011]
- Online Degrees, Online Colleges and Online Universities [Last Updated On: October 9th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 9th, 2011]
- Teaching A Global Medical School Pathology Course Online [Last Updated On: October 10th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 10th, 2011]
- Can online education help you find a job? Where can you find online college rankings? CNN reports. [Last Updated On: October 10th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 10th, 2011]
- How to fill out the FAFSA - Steps 1 - 7 [Last Updated On: October 11th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 11th, 2011]
- Saco Hair Online | DVD 5 Strict - Colour 1 [Last Updated On: October 12th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 12th, 2011]
- Online Learning and Self Development Part 2 [Last Updated On: October 12th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 12th, 2011]
- Online education market - Video [Last Updated On: October 13th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 13th, 2011]
- Going to School Online: Better Education, Lower Cost? - Video [Last Updated On: October 15th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 15th, 2011]
- Education Funding and State Budget Guidelines [Pennsylvania Newsmakers] - Video [Last Updated On: October 15th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 15th, 2011]
- Excel Lesson-01- Interface.avi - Video [Last Updated On: October 16th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 16th, 2011]
- Online VBA Classes from Chandoo.org - Topics and Details - Video [Last Updated On: October 16th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 16th, 2011]
- Online Education - Personal Experience - Video [Last Updated On: October 16th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 16th, 2011]
- Marks RV Garage Episode # 15 Internet TV Series by RV Education 101® - Video [Last Updated On: October 17th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 17th, 2011]
- Take what you learn, apply it in your work. A healthy approach to online education. - Video [Last Updated On: October 18th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 18th, 2011]
- Syrah (Shiraz) - UberEdge Wine Education - Video [Last Updated On: October 18th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 18th, 2011]
- Free Education Online - OCW Open Consortium - Video [Last Updated On: October 19th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 19th, 2011]
- Is Online Education for You? - Video [Last Updated On: October 19th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 19th, 2011]
- TYT - Extended Clip September 8, 2011 - Video [Last Updated On: October 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 20th, 2011]
- Bill Gates on in-person vs. online education - Video [Last Updated On: October 22nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 22nd, 2011]
- Jimmy Buffett office theme day at DLSI - Video [Last Updated On: October 22nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 22nd, 2011]
- Watch Rain Man (1988) Full Movie Free Online - Rain Man Full Movie Online Part 1 - Video [Last Updated On: October 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 23rd, 2011]
- TYT - Extended Clip September 9, 2011 - Video [Last Updated On: October 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 24th, 2011]
- Online Education - Video [Last Updated On: October 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 24th, 2011]
- The Education Continuum WARNER CHILCOTTED - Video [Last Updated On: October 26th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 26th, 2011]
- Watch Paranormal Activity 3 Full Movie Part 1/14 High Definition Online Stream - Video [Last Updated On: October 26th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 26th, 2011]
- Online Stock Market Education Learn Share Market Training Guide Tips Advice Basics Beginners Books 1 - Video [Last Updated On: October 26th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 26th, 2011]
- Network Marketing Training System in Brooklyn New York! - Video [Last Updated On: October 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 27th, 2011]
- Taking safefy seriously in the workplace on 2GB Sydney - Video [Last Updated On: October 29th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 29th, 2011]
- Intro to Online Advertising (for agencies) - Video [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2011]
- Loose Change 9/11: An American Coup - Full Length Movie - Video [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2011]
- MSW@USC and our Virtual Academic Center - Video [Last Updated On: November 1st, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 1st, 2011]
- Abortion Ancient [Last Updated On: November 1st, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 1st, 2011]
- Higher Learning: Online Education - Video [Last Updated On: November 2nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 2nd, 2011]
- Jagriti - bollywood super hit film - Video [Last Updated On: November 2nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 2nd, 2011]
- Learn English - (Audio Course) - Video [Last Updated On: November 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 6th, 2011]
- Online Education and Degrees - Video [Last Updated On: November 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 6th, 2011]
- PvP Training - TRGSA vs VCA (TRGSA Audio) - Video [Last Updated On: November 7th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 7th, 2011]
- Learn How to Trade Options Online Trading Education (GOOG) Breakout - Video [Last Updated On: November 10th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 10th, 2011]
- Marketing Degree Programs for Online Education - Video [Last Updated On: November 10th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 10th, 2011]
- Learning through the CK12 FlexBook Platform - Video [Last Updated On: November 10th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 10th, 2011]
- OC Transpo Bus Driver Loses It on Passenger - Video [Last Updated On: November 13th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 13th, 2011]
- Learn all about the Food Chain at www.gudli.com - Video [Last Updated On: November 15th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 15th, 2011]
- COUNTERFEIT MEDICINES ONLINE SALE INFECTION CONTROL HEALTH EDUCATION URDU HINDI - Video [Last Updated On: November 16th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 16th, 2011]
- 360 Property and Casualty Insurance Pre-License Online Education - Video [Last Updated On: November 17th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 17th, 2011]
- CARAMEL MUD CAKE - Video [Last Updated On: November 18th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 18th, 2011]
- Online Training in Drugs - Video [Last Updated On: November 19th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 19th, 2011]
- lynda.com series | Deke's Techniques: Rendering a portrait in type - Video [Last Updated On: November 19th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 19th, 2011]
- Future of education: instant knowledge. Business data, knowledge, strategy, innovation - Speaker - Video [Last Updated On: November 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 20th, 2011]
- Verified-Safe Online Advertising Testimonial - Video [Last Updated On: November 21st, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 21st, 2011]
- Online Training HDKM.avi - Video [Last Updated On: November 22nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 22nd, 2011]
- lynda.com tutorial | Up and Running with WebMatrix and ASP.NET—Displaying data with a chart - Video [Last Updated On: November 22nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 22nd, 2011]
- Royal Roads University - Video [Last Updated On: November 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 23rd, 2011]
- NG Tube Insertion - Registered Nurse Training - Video [Last Updated On: November 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 23rd, 2011]