Distance Learning for all ::

Several conversations recently have me thinking about the way in my Carey teaching we blend distance and onsite classes. Instead of teaching the two groups of students as if they were two classes I seek to integrate them as much as possible. E.g. getting onsite students (as well as distant ones) to participate in online discussion).

Stephen pointed me to a post on the interestingly titled Abelard's Ghost blog: "All Learning is Distance Learning".

The author says things with which I pretty much agree, (though why would one wish to be identified with an adulterer even if he was a brilliant one... I think I'd rather be Anselm's ghost... now there's a new meme we could try which dead theologian would you like to be, and why...) I'd add a couple of things off the top of my head:

1. the chance to think (even if seldom used much, and even if most posts do not read as if they are the result of reflection) before shooting off diminishes the knee jerk response and increases real learning
2. the opportunity to have more diversity of context (in my class a missionary in Asia) facilitates learning, it is not only the teacher saying things (teachers want to change you) but a fellow student too (and their experiences are real, the teacher's were years ago, since then they have lived in a smooth ivory tower;)

Can lead to real deep change and learning. ¶ 6:24 AM [to Del.icio.us]

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