I think that compared to the majority of students, I've had a fairly digital-based education. Thus far, I've taken 13 online courses and I plan to take one more this semester, for a total of 14. That is 44% of the total number of courses I have taken/am currently taking.
At first I found online courses difficult, because when I wasn't regularly attending a lecture, it was easy to fall behind...way behind. Once I got used to the difference in learning style, I came to really enjoy online courses. The style fits well with my personality. They also seem quite modern, since everything is conducted online.
When considering traditional courses, at first I didn't think they were modern or technologically advanced at all. But then I realized that my opinion was formed on my own obliviousness. It is so easy to take things for granted, when you've never known any other way. Considering when my mom or my grandparents went to university, they didn't have access to things like Primo, JSTOR, Google, Wikipedia, or ebooks. I use all of those things on a practically daily basis when researching for a school project. Obviously, then, digital tools are very integrated and important to my education. At the same time, this sort of approach isn't necessarily promoted, and a student could easily do research the old fashioned way. Of course, it's just assumed now that students will do the former.
Many courses also make use of Courselink, another digital approach in education. I love when a professor uses courselink well - posts regular news updates, the course outline, assignment instructions, powerpoint slides, etc. It can be frustrating when some professors don't seem to understand how to work Courselink or don't use it, however.
I have also had some courses make use of digital media within the course content. One course had a discussion on public history in relation to historical video games. During that lecture we were encouraged to play the game Outbreak 1885. Another course had all of the readings online in PDF format. A few courses showed videos related to course content. An art history course I took last summer involved a lot of hands on photography work, including uploading submissions to Flickr. The professors of a few courses have had blogs available for students to read. In one course I viewed the website hastings1066.com to interact with the Bayeaux Tapestry and in another I completed a research essay based on The Survey of Scottish Witchcraft.
So now that I have really had time to think about it, digital tools and approaches comprise a large part of my university education. I think that this is commendable. At the same time, I think that these tools and approaches could use some sophistication.
Professors could be instructed more in how to utilize Courselink. Online articles or ebooks could be used more often in courses instead of traditional, costly textbooks. The library website could be made more easily accessible and more sources could be digitized (especially things from the special collections which are public domain). Technology in classrooms could be upgraded. Another major issue is the general assumption that online information is not as reputable as print information. Although work is being done to reverse this attitude, it still seems to be a widely accepted attitude.
Considering how far the university has come since 5, 10, 20 years ago, it seems obvious to me that things will continue on in the right direction. In the 21st century, digital information plays a huge role in all aspects of life, from education to social interaction to government and politics. It would be a mistake not to implement new tools and technologies in order to educate and prepare students for a modern world.
At first I found online courses difficult, because when I wasn't regularly attending a lecture, it was easy to fall behind...way behind. Once I got used to the difference in learning style, I came to really enjoy online courses. The style fits well with my personality. They also seem quite modern, since everything is conducted online.
When considering traditional courses, at first I didn't think they were modern or technologically advanced at all. But then I realized that my opinion was formed on my own obliviousness. It is so easy to take things for granted, when you've never known any other way. Considering when my mom or my grandparents went to university, they didn't have access to things like Primo, JSTOR, Google, Wikipedia, or ebooks. I use all of those things on a practically daily basis when researching for a school project. Obviously, then, digital tools are very integrated and important to my education. At the same time, this sort of approach isn't necessarily promoted, and a student could easily do research the old fashioned way. Of course, it's just assumed now that students will do the former.
Many courses also make use of Courselink, another digital approach in education. I love when a professor uses courselink well - posts regular news updates, the course outline, assignment instructions, powerpoint slides, etc. It can be frustrating when some professors don't seem to understand how to work Courselink or don't use it, however.
I have also had some courses make use of digital media within the course content. One course had a discussion on public history in relation to historical video games. During that lecture we were encouraged to play the game Outbreak 1885. Another course had all of the readings online in PDF format. A few courses showed videos related to course content. An art history course I took last summer involved a lot of hands on photography work, including uploading submissions to Flickr. The professors of a few courses have had blogs available for students to read. In one course I viewed the website hastings1066.com to interact with the Bayeaux Tapestry and in another I completed a research essay based on The Survey of Scottish Witchcraft.
So now that I have really had time to think about it, digital tools and approaches comprise a large part of my university education. I think that this is commendable. At the same time, I think that these tools and approaches could use some sophistication.
Professors could be instructed more in how to utilize Courselink. Online articles or ebooks could be used more often in courses instead of traditional, costly textbooks. The library website could be made more easily accessible and more sources could be digitized (especially things from the special collections which are public domain). Technology in classrooms could be upgraded. Another major issue is the general assumption that online information is not as reputable as print information. Although work is being done to reverse this attitude, it still seems to be a widely accepted attitude.
Considering how far the university has come since 5, 10, 20 years ago, it seems obvious to me that things will continue on in the right direction. In the 21st century, digital information plays a huge role in all aspects of life, from education to social interaction to government and politics. It would be a mistake not to implement new tools and technologies in order to educate and prepare students for a modern world.
Interesting insights. Some thoughts:
ReplyDeleteThanks for the connections to other DH projects you have made use of
How has on-line learning changed your learning?
What are you thinking about when you write: "I think that these tools and approaches could use some sophistication."?
Why do you think online sources are considered less reputable?