Comments on: New report on the effectiveness of online learning http://www.pennedutech.org/new-report-on-the-effectiveness-of-online-learning/ University of Pennsylvania Thu, 01 Apr 2010 00:50:49 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: John MacDermott http://www.pennedutech.org/new-report-on-the-effectiveness-of-online-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-101 John MacDermott Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:05:56 +0000 http://www.pennedutech.org/?p=253#comment-101 I agree completely with Marni's comment. When faculty (and those who support them) enter into the new endeavor of teaching online, they are more receptive to trying new technologies and pedagogies. People start thinking "out of the box" because they are no longer teaching in a box (that is, a traditional classroom). Most of the tools that people use for teaching online are also available to those teaching traditional courses. The big difference is that online teachers are more likely to use the tools. -John I agree completely with Marni’s comment. When faculty (and those who support them) enter into the new endeavor of teaching online, they are more receptive to trying new technologies and pedagogies. People start thinking “out of the box” because they are no longer teaching in a box (that is, a traditional classroom). Most of the tools that people use for teaching online are also available to those teaching traditional courses. The big difference is that online teachers are more likely to use the tools.

-John

]]> By: Marni Baker Stein http://www.pennedutech.org/new-report-on-the-effectiveness-of-online-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-100 Marni Baker Stein Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:59:12 +0000 http://www.pennedutech.org/?p=253#comment-100 What a wonderful post John - thanks for sharing! I agree with your conclusion above...that is, that sound instructional design and innovative, responsive pedagogy are the root cause of any positive impact of the effectiveness of instruction regardless of the context. However, there might just be something about teaching online, especially with the new and expanding set of tools to promote interactivity and social learning, that is inspiring instructors to reexamine their every day conception of being and doing in the classroom. I believe that, for many educators, the new environment is actually encouraging a shift (or shifts) in pedagogical philosophy and in our understanding of teaching and learning in the higher ed domain. What a wonderful post John – thanks for sharing! I agree with your conclusion above…that is, that sound instructional design and innovative, responsive pedagogy are the root cause of any positive impact of the effectiveness of instruction regardless of the context. However, there might just be something about teaching online, especially with the new and expanding set of tools to promote interactivity and social learning, that is inspiring instructors to reexamine their every day conception of being and doing in the classroom. I believe that, for many educators, the new environment is actually encouraging a shift (or shifts) in pedagogical philosophy and in our understanding of teaching and learning in the higher ed domain.

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