From: <KWB107@PSUVM.PSU.EDU>
Subject: Re: BANCMC:  DEOS-L Various
Originator: bancmc-m@udevdiv.unibase.sk.ca
Reply-To: <bancmc-m@udevdiv.unibase.sk.ca>
Organization: Unibase Telecom Ltd.
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1992 15:03:04 GMT


  - - The original note follows - -

Date: 16 Nov 92 05:03:02 EST
From: JOHN SUMSER <75230.1412@CompuServe.COM>
Subject: Re: BANCMC:  DEOS-L Various

1.  It's wonderful to discover a community practicing what it preaches.
        DEOS-L is an exciting example of DE.  I prefer the term Distance
 Learning -- it emphasizes the most important piece of the equation.

        DE implies the "mugs and jugs" vision of learning.  Some teacher is a
 "jug" full of knowledge and is going to fill all of the little needy
"mugs".  DL implies respect for the learner.  It implies an active      and
agressive self determining role for the learner in the equation.

        What is important is the learning, not the teaching.

2.  Distance learning offers equity in access to educational resources.
 Applications abound in the coming years.  We will be reinventing
America.  The ruined inner cities, prisons, rural schools and a
military in transition form the key opportunities for DL.

3.  Our young process knowledge differently than their parents.  Self-
 selected video and Nintendo have effectively replaced Sesame Street    in our
pre-pre-school population.  My seven year old routinely
practices differential equations and the intuitive modeling of
dynamic systems...He plays Sim City on Nintendo.

        The school system bores him to tears...He is using a computer to
 learn long-division.  The subject will remain completely irrelevant    to all
of his peers.  His teachers (and they are among the best in     the
profession) all complain about the behavior problems of this    generation.
The kids are being hobbled because they process larger  quantities of data
faster than their elders.

        DL offers my son and his peers the opportunity to control their
 learning.  It offers a level of freedom and respect unavailable in
contemporary schools.  The Third Wave children are in the schools.

4.  Re DEOS-L #30, #35, #36, #33
        The ugliest form of racism is the subtle paternalism expressed as a
 concern for the welfare of others.  Even the terms "1st world" and     "3rd
world" show the distorted perspective which assumes one culture         is
superior to another.  Freedom of choice coupled with freedom of         access
is the key to development of responsible democracy.

        We do not know what is best for other cultures.  We must respect
 their right to choose.

5.  Re:  DEOS-L #35 (Theo Stone)

        Check out the Military's instructional development process
        (Mil-Std 1379 and derivatives)  A process for Media selection based
        on learning objectives is defined in minute detail.

        Also of interest is the learning style tracking in DL management at
         the US Air Force Academy.  Contact their instructional Systems
 Department.  All students are on a LAN and do homework out of a        common
database.  Course work is stored for refernce in folow on       courses and
remedial work is cross-referenced from the advanced     course back to the
fundamentals.  It's an exciting system.

6.  Re:  DEOS-L # 29, #21, #34, #38

        a.  Vive La Differance (All of them)  Celebrate and use them!
        b.  DL can account for personality and brain function differences.
    Effectiveness will be enhanced if the facts are freed from
politics.
        c.  Improve and increase access to learning...Facillitate.

7.  Re:  DEOS-L #41 (Patti Glass)

        The Clinton administration offers extyraordinary opportunity.  Seize
 it.  Find out the names of administration members with an interest in
education and learning.  Write them.  DL can help this administration   with
its mission.  Help them.  Make yourself available with effective        ideas.


Newsgroups: alt.education.bangkok.cmc