| Subject: Re: On-line Teaching - f2f experience was Re: Introduction
From: EDTECH Editor-Eiffert edadmin5@mail.h-net.msu.edu Date: Tue, 23 Sep 2003 00:09:51 -0400 To: EDTECH@H-NET.MSU.EDU Newsgroups: bit.listserv.edtech From: Yvonne Singer ysinger@worldnet.att.net While attending Walden University (on-line school), I never met any professors face-to-face and talked to them on the telephone! I successfully communicated with them through e-mail! After eleven years of hard work as a student, I cannot understand why nobody will let me teach on-line classes! From: Bernie Poole poole+@pitt.edu At the college level we have many professors who have had no formal teacher training. This is not considered to be any sort of a handicap. Indeed, Education Division professors at many universities are looked down upon because they are considered to be poorly prepared for academe, notwithstanding their terminal (ie doctoral) degrees. Why this is so I shall never understand. However, pursuing a line of logic in support of Yvonne's plea to be allowed to teach online, it seems to me that a person such as Yvonne, who has had many years of first-hand experience as an online student, should be considered well qualified to teach online in the same way as my informally prepared colleagues are considered more than adequately prepared to teach off-line. We tend to teach (for better or worse) as we have been taught. What better preparation to teach online could there therefore be than to have experienced it for many years first hand? Can anyone point out the error in my logic? Bernie :)
Bernard John Poole, MSIS |
After endless searching the Asbury Park Press and Star Ledger, I realized that being a cake decorator was not an appropriate career choice. Therefore, I decided to find an advocator to assist me in obtaining a job. I have contacted Governor Gray Davis, NJ Psychological Association, Middlesex County Association of Psychologists, Governor James McGreevey, CBS 2: Shame On You, Employment Service Center Network, Federal Employment of People with Disabilities, Presidential Task Force On Employment of Adults With Disabilities, Fighting for the Rights of Employers With Disabilities, Disability Advocacy Resources, IDEA, NOD, Indeed, Community Options, Disability Rights Advocates, Advocate's Office, Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities, Disabilities Institute, AAPD, SFSU Disability Institute, ADA, New Jersey's Community Colleges, UCPNJ, TASH, APA, MOCEANS, Epilepsy Foundation of New Jersey, ARC, LIFT, and plenty more. To my dismay, some advocators already have wished me good luck while passing the buck to Uncle Chuck. If any organizations have any complaints about my personal experiences, they are welcome to contact me and explain how they assist people with physical disabilities.
Hi, Yvonne. Nice to hear from you. I can see that you certainly have the ability to do amazing things with your computer. In my department the problem would be that the full-time staff want to teach on-line courses and they have the first rights to do it. As far as teaching in a "regular" class first I didn't even know about that. I guess the issue is about knowing how to grade papers, create a syllabus, create exams and the like. I can't imagine that anyone would question your computer s kills, rather the concern would be with your teaching ability. With all you can do computer-wise wouldn't it make more sense to persue employment in that field? I'm confused about your focus on on-line teaching. Seems to me that it would make sense to try to find a job with a software company or at a website. I can imagine how frustrated you must be. I wish I can help but I don't know how. I can't go beyond the psychology department and right now our on-line courses are developed and staffed by the tenured and full-time faculty.
Hi all,
I have seen Yvonne's resume and it is a good one. I have corresponded with her at length. This shouldn't be happening. However, it is. I would just like to say to those who feel that people with disabilities do not want to work and are lazy and do not try hard enough, what do you expect here, folks? What do you want this woman to do? I dare anyone to come out and say she hasn't tried hard enough.
I challenge all you out there who think that we with disabilities have something wrong with us that makes it our fault if we don't get a job, to rise up and tell me and this lady to her face that there's something wrong with her.
Now, folks, if this isn't a clear demonstration of discrimination, I don't know what is. I don't know how much darker the writing on the wall can be here. Now, folks, if somebody has a constructive answer for this woman, I challenge you to give it. Let's do a little networking here folks, dig into your address books, your contact lists and see who you know and how they can help! C'mon folks, seems like Yvonne's done all she can do and more. Let's see if we can help her out! You don't have to reply to me, reply to Yvonne.
Ann P.