[LINK] the net, higher ed, and change

[David Lochrin]

On Thursday 11 June 2009 12:38, Tom Worthington wrote:
> I announced last year I was not giving any more lectures at the
> Australian National University
> <http://www.tomw.net.au/blog/2008/08/my-last-lecture.html>.
> [...]
> The ACS then asked me to design a Green ICT course using the Moodle 
> Learning Management system
> <http://www.tomw.net.au/blog/2008/10/e-learning-course-on-green-it.html>.
> 
> What was more important than the software were the teaching techniques
> pioneered by Dr. David Lindley, Academic Principal of ACS Education.
> [...]
> 
> My aim would be to have a university with courses which could be partly
> online and partly face-to-face, with students choosing the mode, as
> required. If the student feels the need and is able, they could attend
> the campus, otherwise they would work remotely.  [...]

Yes Tom, but what does it all actually ~achieve~ over the traditional university culture, and what is lost?  You described what might be done and the technology (Moodle) involved, but not the costs & benefits.

I received a traditional education at Sydney University, and believe me it involved far, far more than reading course notes.  I suggest that a "degree" obtained by sitting at home in front of a terminal is at best a vocational training course, not an education.

David