A Continuation...

...with technology in education (with hints from Matthew):

I know many teachers/professors now post their notes on "Blackboard." I know I have students ask all the time, "Are the notes going to be on Blackboard?" Then, these same teachers/professors wonder what attendance in their classes is so low--students don't have to attend because they just download (not even copy or note-take) the teachers' notes/lectures.

Now, go ahead, try and tell me how this improves education. I'll wait....

While I'm waiting, let's try a stab at on-line classes. I know, I know...get with the times. But where is the real interaction between students and teachers? It's sort of like getting a degree from one of those "colleges" on matchbook covers. (I also "like" the colleges that advertise giving college credit for "life experiences" or 4-year programs that can be completed in one year. There's some real quality for you!) Anyway, back to on-line classes.... Cheating and plagiarism are at all-time highs, with upwards of 80% actually admitting to cheating and/or plagiarizing. On-line classes certainly don't cut into those numbers. There were a half dozen or so teachers and at least one administrator where I worked who took the same on-line class from the Univ of Detroit. One day a week they'd all meet in one of the rooms, do their work together and submit it. Pretty good sign of quality and rigor, I'd say.

But the way the government is tearing apart the fiber of this country, it won't matter any way.

Anybody for a game of dodge ball???