From: bechdol@rchland.vnet.ibm.com (Jeff Bechdol)
Subject: Re: Distance Education?
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1992 13:38:48 GMT
Reply-To: bechdol@vnet.ibm.com
Disclaimer: This posting represents the poster's views, not necessarily those of IBM
Organization: IBM Rochester
Keywords: DSS: Directed Self-Study, FAQ, POS

In article <717760326snx@Gilsys.DIALix.oz.au>, gil@Gilsys.DIALix.oz.au (Gil Hardwick) writes:
|> 
|> Given the appalling level of argument in this newsgroup, I am tempted
|> to offer short courses in Anthropology in an effort to build into the
|> group at least an informed standard. We might also make some good use
|> of this powerful medium of communication since it is freely available.
|> 
|> Please note: I am only thinking of a basic, layperson's level of
|> Anthropological understanding; NOT for accreditation and certainly not
|> implying that I would attempt to create a school of overnight experts
|> capable of carrying out fieldwork as anthropologists.

I think this is the best idea I've ever heard on the net!  It deserves its own
prefix (something like: Directed Self-Study, dss.anthropology, and other sci.*
could have a dss.*)...  we could keep FAQ-files (Frequently Asked Questions) and
POS-files (Plans Of Study)... (I love acronyms)... which would list recommended
books, videos, etc.  We could compose these POS-files from the curriculum of the
universities best known for that particular plan of study.

Moderators of the newsgroup would be the teachers of the biggest classroom in the
world.  Students progressing through a POS could help those just beginning, and
the moderators would ensure that mis-information is minimal.

 
|> Students would need to buy text-books, however, while assignments
|> can be returned directly via e-mail for grading. Otherwise, if any
|> academics or teachers out there are interested in forming a college
|> to supervise such a program I would be very interested to hear from
|> you also.
 
I'd be willing to buy the text-books.  I would even be willing to pay a small fee
for some single point of contact (for all the dss.* groups) who could order the
book and ship it to me... it could be a profitable BookStore Company.

I'm not interested in college credit or diplomas, just learning.  Learning is
free, it's the diploma that costs a fortune.  If interested in credit, a student
could always use the dss.* group as a means of studying for the exam to 'test
out' of some accredited courses.  Assignments could be short essays posted to the
dss group -- other students and moderators could comment.
 
 
|> Gil Hardwick                                      gil@Gilsys.DIALix.oz.au
|> Independent Consulting Ethnologist                            3:690/660.6
|> PERTH, Western Australia                                 (+61 9) 399 2401
|>    * * Sustainable Community Development & Environmental Education * *

We need to get some good ground rules for how a dss group works.  Gil, if you're
interested (or anyone else) in giving it a go, send me a note offline...

Added Disclaimer: I know nothing about Anthropology.

-- 
                                                                     Cheers,

                                                          Jeffery A. Bechdol
"What is essential is invisible to the eye."        IBM/ABS System Design II
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