Chapter 7 review

Chapter 7 of Effective Teaching with Technology in Higher Education discusses the approaches to the design of technology-based learning. This chapter starts with a quote…
“As you design online courses and programs, you will find that the more you replicate the traditional campus model online-creating what we have called the “bolt on” model-the more your costs will resemble or exceed traditional campus costs. The point is that high (or low) costs are not intrinsic to online learning; they are a result of the design choices that each institution makes.” –Heterick and Twigg (2001).
I love this quote because I rationalize that the general public sees distance education in terms of low cost and quality. Where as in actuality it is a mode that needs to be further exploited to raise the education standards for all people and for learning institutions, the cost are a side thought in development. Statistically it is more expensive because a larger teams of experts are needed in addition to the academic development it then employee IT professionals and may need a larger technical support department in the long run just to allow education to take place over virtual means. I do cringe when I hear people belittle online education although I do empathize with hiring managers that suddenly have to wade through applications and resumes of online school graduates and have to determine the good from the diploma mills.
Another idea discussed are the Neats and Scruffies these are two terms I had never seen in any text book they refer to faculty that develop programs the Neats being very planned and rigid and the Scruffies being more intuitive and open ended. I am not sure how these terms apply to my educational experience but in the following weeks I want to examine this concept further. I am defiantly a Scruffie! Ok well onward march. More to come