In their favor, distance-learning technologies can conceivably bring all the data in the world to the student, a feat never before possible … But this is not enough. What about the analytical requirements? … What about discussion? What about writing exercises? What about being able to share the instructor’s expertise on an individual basis? These elements cannot be ignored … This type of problem might be overcome, but there still would remain lost the peculiar aesthetic of a classroom and the productive environment it fosters when the classmates are not two-dimensional.
Predictor: Gellis, Cathy
Prediction, in context:In a 1995 essay, Cathy Gellis writes about teaching classes through distance learning:”In their favor, distance-learning technologies can conceivably bring all the data in the world to the student, a feat never before possible. In addition, it can bring the teachers and their knowledge to the student. Lecturers can be ‘shared’ by far more students than would have been able to enjoy the benefits of their teaching had they been restricted to teaching only as many people as could be in his or her presence. But this is not enough. What about the analytical requirements? Simply to hear lecturer is not always appreciably better than to just read, or be exposed to raw data. Distance-learning technologies can provide more visceral information through sound and video, but the crucial ingredient is still missing. What about discussion? What about writing exercises? What about being able to share the instructor’s expertise on an individual basis? These elements cannot be ignored … in the instance of our class, these elements were not overlooked. Technology … at times incurred problems that inhibited other educational aspects … Eventually, however, this type of problem might be overcome, but there still would remain lost the peculiar aesthetic of a classroom and the productive environment it fosters when the classmates are not two-dimensional.”
Date of prediction: January 1, 1994
Topic of prediction: Getting, Sharing Information
Subtopic: E-learning
Name of publication: Essay
Title, headline, chapter name: Distance-Learning Essay #3
Quote Type: Paraphrase
Page number or URL of document at time of study:
http://www.csua.berkeley.edu/~cathyg/infotech_writing/dlearn03.html
This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Anderson, Janna Quitney