10 Reasons for NOT doing Web-based Instruction Ten Reasons for NOT doing Web-based instruction (And ten responses.) 10. The computer people are responsible for this sort of thing. 9. The Web is only a fad! 8. We already do correspondence courses, audio, and video teleconferencing. 7. It lacks the human touch. 6. There is no security for assignments and examinations. 5. Students don’t have access -- They won’t use it. 4. We can’t afford it. 3. The Internet is not interactive enough. 2. It smells of cost-cutting & “reengineering”. .We’re studying it. By Rory McGreal

The computer people are responsible for this sort of thing 10 Reasons for NOT doing Web-based Instruction 10. The computer people are responsible for this sort of thing 10. The computer people are responsible for this sort of thing The reality is that educators cannot afford to let the “techies” take the lead in developing courses using technology. We must ensure that solid instructional design principles take priority over technical glitz. They need to be led

It is not going to go away 10 Reasons for NOT doing Web-based Instruction 9. It’s only a fad! It is not going to go away 9. The Web is only a fad! The Web is not going to go away. It has experienced phenomenal growth and many different spheres of economic activity are migrating to the Web. It is now part of everyone’s life whether they care to admit it or not, whether they use it or not.

10 Reasons for NOT doing Web-based Instruction 8. We already do correspondence courses, audio, and video teleconferencing 8. We already do correspondence courses, audio, and video teleconferencing It’s NOT enough! Professionals who have been in DE for a while can get into a rut and they are often more unwilling to change than newcomers. They cannot afford to stand still and not experiment with the Web. It’s NOT enough!

It lacks the human touch 10 Reasons for NOT doing Web-based Instruction 7. It lacks the human touch There can be more human contact online than in the classroom 7. The Web lacks the human touch. More recent research shows that there can be more human contact online than in the classroom. Check out Is distance learning any good? At the TeleEducation NB Web site: http://teleeducation.nb.ca/

There is no security for assignments and examinations 10 Reasons for NOT doing Web-based Instruction There is no security for assignments and examinations 6. 6. There is no security for assignments and examinations. How do you check on campus? There are more places to buy term papers and examination copies around campuses than any other location. Students sitting in large examination rooms can be just as anonymous as DE students. How do you check on campus?

Students don’t have access -- They won’t use it 10 Reasons for NOT doing Web-based Instruction 5. Students don’t have access -- They won’t use it Ask again -- The competition is delivering courses 5. Students don’t have access. They won’t use it. Ask again -- The competition is delivering courses. The growth in ownership of personal computers is highest among students. The costs are constantly going down. There are now more than 600 institutions delivering over 10 000 courses on line. Check out the TeleCampus Online Course Database: http://telecampus.edu

Can you afford NOT to do it? 10 Reasons for NOT doing Web-based Instruction 4. We can’t afford it Can you afford NOT to do it? 4. We can’t afford it. Can you afford NOT to do it? How much will it cost you if you do not change and adapt to the world around you?

The Internet is not interactive enough 10 Reasons for NOT doing Web-based Instruction 3. The Internet is not interactive enough Unlike our on-campus lectures with 800 students 3. The Internet is not interactive enough. Unlike on-campus lectures with 800 students and more. The level of interactivity in a course is not determined by distance, but rather by the class size and the course structure. There is growing evidence that there is more interactivity in online courses than on campus where significantly less interactivity takes place than anyone would care to admit.

It smells of cost-cutting & “reengineering” 10 Reasons for NOT doing Web-based Instruction 2. It smells of cost-cutting & “reengineering” If costs aren’t cut we will be! 2. It smells of cost-cutting & “reengineering” If costs aren’t cut we will be! Why is it wrong to make our instructional and learning delivery systems more efficient and cost-effective? We now need to educate and train more people for longer periods. We need to make our educational dollars stretch as far as possible. Is there any evidence that more spending improves student achievement?

We’re studying it READY! 1. FIRE! AIM! 10 Reasons for NOT doing Web-based Instruction 1. We’re studying it READY! FIRE! 1. We’re studying it. Ready! Fire! Aim! The worst reason for not doing anything is tacit support followed by inaction. Studying the issues is just an excuse for delay. Just do it! Learn from your mistakes as you develop and deliver the course. AIM!

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