Tuesday, May 3, 2011

The Battle Over Online Education Continues

UC-AFT has put together a web page with links to several articles regarding the UC push for online education. We have also outlined some of the ways we are seeking to use the collective bargaining process to restrict the use of distance education and to protect the rights and jobs of lecturers. Since we are currently bargaining the Unit 18 contract, we have the opportunity to engage the administration in a discussion of how the move to online courses will affect faculty workload, intellectual property, merit review, and promotion.

While it is clear that UC is trying to cut costs and generate profits by moving large enrollment courses online, we know that most research university online programs have failed because of the high cost and poor student retention. Distance Education also waters down the prestige of a university degree; after all, why should someone pay $40,000 to sit at home in front of a computer.

Of course, one of the risks of moving classes online is that the faculty can become subject to surveillance and political intimidation. This threat has just become reality at the University of Missouri where an instructor has lost his job after a video of his class appeared to show him advocating violence in labor activism. According to the Inside Higher Ed story, the infamous Right-wing blogger, Andrew Breitbart, the same person who brought down ACORN and Shirley Sherrord, obtained the video from a student who copied it off of the university’s online course management system. The video was then reedited, and although university officials acknowledged this manipulation, they still forced the non-tenure-track instructor to resign.

We see in this example the failure of academic freedom to protect instructors and students, and we also learn here how online courses open faculty to public scrutiny and political witch hunts. In this particular case, students were motivated by a conservative group to post video of their teachers endorsing unions and other forms of labor activism. This example is similar to what happened at UCLA a few years ago when a conservative alumni group offered money for students who recorded their professors saying anti-American or anti-Israel things. Not only is Big Brother watching, but with new digital media, little brother also has access to our private words and actions.

Online courses then not only get rid of the need for “bricks and mortar,” but they also remove any sense of education as a protected sphere. Since anyone can now copy and edit digital recordings, online lectures and course material become subject to political manipulation. While the UC faculty will be assured that privacy protections will be in place for online courses, these safeguards will be easily transgressed by any high-tech political hack.

In related news, UC Berkeley is contemplating putting student evaluations online, and this move will also render faculty vulnerable to outside political manipulation. As we have seen at UCLA, disgruntled students can try to sabotage their professors by claiming that these teachers are Left-wing ideologues, and once these evaluations go online, you cannot control whose hands they end up in. Online student evaluations also turn teaching into a market where students search for the easiest classes or the most entertaining lectures.

It should be clear that faculty and students should resist this move to place all of our views and experiences online.

26 comments:

  1. check out this latest:
    http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-05-02/u-s-joins-whistleblower-suit-against-education-management.html

    there will be another battle between for profits and non profits and the students may come out winners in that battle - hopefully - it will force both sides to deliver quality education and real career counseling- that is the only light being seen on this front.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Online education is accessible and flexible than the other mode of study, makes people doubt the education system. However, the point that students must pay tuition and study two hours a day is enough to satisfy inquiring minds. And the best part is that the study online, there are expenses such as housing are an important part of the "royalties."

    ReplyDelete
  3. This is really a good things to read on about battling over online education to traditional ones

    ReplyDelete
  4. Online education will be add on to the present corporate education system, which in tern improve some quality in this field but to protect teachers, university's and students from privacy and other law related issues which are rises by external forces will be prosecuted by a new law which can only solve the problem.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Online education is great because it allows older and busier students to learn at their own pace. Many people appreciate the flexibility of being able to learn from the comfort of their own computer. In regards to political intimidation, I am sure that protections can be put in place that will ensure the safety of teachers.

    ReplyDelete
  6. There are people that still go for the traditional education and there are that opt to choose online learning. One thing is its flexibility. Rather than attending the same classes at the same time on the same days of the week, online courses are structured in a way that it allows me to complete work at my own pace.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Well, as the battle continues, other people see e learning training course to offer more opportunities to them even to those people who cannot afford to enroll in universities and other college schools

    ReplyDelete
  8. I think it still going to be continued..Since the demand for online education is getting more..

    ReplyDelete
  9. Yes this is a battle that will never finish. And the speelautomaten students are there to suffer the consequences

    ReplyDelete
  10. discussion about online education continue but still it is developing with huge steps as a lot of traditional and new universities are offering online courses

    ReplyDelete
  11. http://www.burbagssale2013.com/ Burberry Outlet
    http://www.airmaxshoesfactory.com/ Air Max Shoes
    http://www.coachblackfriday2014.com/ Coach Black Friday
    http://www.coach-storeoutletonline.com/ Coach Black Friday
    http://www.coachcoachoutlet.com/ Coach Cyber Monday
    http://www.coachxfactory.com/ Coach Factory
    http://www.coach-factoryoutletonline.net/ Coach Outlet Factory
    http://www.coach-outletonlineusa.com/ Coach Outlet USA
    http://www.coach-pursesfactory.com/ Coach Purses Factory
    http://www.coachpurseusa.com/ Coach Purses USA
    http://www.coach-storeoutlet.com/ Coach Store Outlet
    http://www.coach-pursesonline.com/ Coach Purses On Sale
    http://www.monsterbeatsbydres.com/ Monster Beats Outlet
    http://www.louis-vuittonblackfriday.com/ Louis Vuitton Outlet
    http://www.lv-guccishoesfactory.com/ Louis Vuitton Factory
    http://www.marcjacobsonsale.com/ Marc Jacobs On Sale
    http://www.mcmworldwides.com/ MCM Outlet
    http://www.mcmoutlet-jp.com/ MCM 店铺
    http://www.oakleysunglassesfactory.com/ cheap oakley sunglasses
    http://www.michaelkorsmas.com/ Michael Kors Outlet
    http://www.michaelkors.so/ Michael Kors Outlet
    http://www.michaelkorsfactory-store.com/ Michael Kors Factory
    http://www.michaelkorsoutletr.com/ Michael Kors Outlet
    http://www.michael-korsfactoryonline.com/ Michael Kors Factory Online
    http://www.newcoachfactoryoutlet.com/ Coach Factory Outlet
    http://www.north-faceoutletonlines.net/ North Face Outlet Online
    http://www.polo-outletstore.com/ Polo Outlet Store
    http://www.ralph-laurenhome.com/ Ralph Lauren UK
    http://www.saclongchamppairs.com/ Sac Longchamp Pairs
    http://www.tcoachoutletonline.com/ Coach Outlet Online
    http://www.the-coachfactoryoutlet.com/ Coach Factory Oultet
    http://www.barbour-jacketsoutlet.com/ Barbour Jackets Outlet Online
    http://www.canada-gooser.com/ Canada Goose Outlet
    http://www.guccishoesuk-2014.com.net/ Gucci Outlet Online
    http://www.michaelkorsstates.com/ Michael Kors Outlet
    http://www.moncler-clearance.com/ Moncler Clearance
    http://www.moncler-jacketsoutletonline.com/ Moncler Jackets Outlet Online
    http://www.northsclearance.com/ North Clearace Outlet
    http://www.polo-ralphlaurensoutlet.com/ Polo Ralph Lauren Outlet Online
    http://www.woolrich-clearance.com/ Woolrich Clearance
    http://www.cvshopfactory.com/ shop.coachfactory.com
    http://www.mksfactoryoutlet.com/ Michael Kors Factory Outlet
    http://www.zxcoachoutlet.com/ Coach Outlet Online USA
    http://www.thebeatsbydre.net/ Beats by Dre
    http://www.newoutletonlinemall.com/ Coach Purses Outlet Online
    http://www.clickmichaelkors.com/ Michael Kors USA

    ReplyDelete
  12. More of the education needs to be done and also there are different aspects which are nearly considered to be so important that if we really been able to understand more good will be for us. reword my essay

    ReplyDelete
  13. If you like Craigslist, you'll love this website. SearchTempest.com compiles search results from any and every city in Craigslist's database. Users have full control over where results come from. stage amerika

    ReplyDelete
  14. It's very difficult to stumble upon the right essay service for your college needs. That's why reddit lovers prefer https://www.reddit.com/r/HomeworkCentral/comments/f6qgw8/how_to_choose_the_right_essay_writing_service_on/

    ReplyDelete
  15. When you have invested in a Klick Data Learning Management System (a KLMS as we call it) you have a lot of powerful tools to use for the benefit of the organization and the staff's skills. Klick Data is the Best and User Friendly Learning Management System.

    ReplyDelete
  16. When you have invested in a Klick Data Learning Management System (a KLMS as we call it) you have a lot of powerful tools to use for the benefit of the organization and the staff's skills. Klick Data is the Best and User Friendly Learning Management System.

    ReplyDelete
  17. The word education comes from a French root that means to lead out of ignorance. Memory Genius Leaders lead from a platform of knowledge-their personal and professional logos; and they lead the organization to knowledge-knowledge of the logos, knowledge of the vision, knowledge of the best business practices, and knowledge of the best ways to build relationships of trust and respect in homes and communities. video to mp4

    ReplyDelete
  18. Since evidence has recently come to light that the clear, disposable water bottles have toxic substances that may affect the water inside, just carry an opaque sports bottle with iced water inside. 먹튀 커뮤니티

    ReplyDelete
  19. Give priority to such answers first and make them the beginning of your answer sheet. It puts a good impression on the examiner. Write the answers in a very good handwriting. Avoid cutting and lot of rubbing. HPBOSE 10th Model Paper 2021

    ReplyDelete
  20. Accessing your West Bengal payslip is no longer a mammoth task as was the case a couple of years back. This is after the finance department; State Government of West Bengal introduced the Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS). Rather than visiting the relevant offices, government employees only have to access the WBIFMS portal WBIFMS Login Pay Slip 2021 and check every piece of information they need regarding their salary. Well, this is a step in the right direction as it saves them both time and money. But just as is the case with any other service portal, you need to understand what it takes to leverage the WBIFMS portal. Fortunately, we are here to offer a helping hand. Here are some of the things you need to know when looking forward to getting the most out of the WBIFMS Login portal hassle-free.

    ReplyDelete
  21. There are newspapers companies who have only online news-papers but also provide limited publishing or hard copies. These news-papers are called hybrid news-papers. https://epaperpdfhub.com/english/the-hindu-newspaper/

    ReplyDelete
  22. This alone will allow you to quickly see at least in a general way, what the particular essay style entails and needs and will allow you to quickly pick things up and become a good essay writer for that style. essay writing service reddit

    ReplyDelete
  23. EPFO department takes 12% of all salaried employees throughout their work life with new EPF calculation and give it back during their retirement as a big corpus of money, and the formula is simple that government and your employer helps you to save small chunks of money which in turn becomes surplus of money that can function as your retirement fund. online epf withdrawal india While you provide 12% of your basic salary, your employer will also provide a small percentage every month from their side which adds to your retirement fund directly, and this does not mean that you will only be able to withdraw money at retirement but you can actually withdraw the PF money during various circumstances and reasons.

    ReplyDelete
  24. The study is also retrospective in nature because it looked at survey data that was already provided by the American Cancer Society. בודק qa שכר

    ReplyDelete