Earthtalk

Expanding the use of massive open online courses (MOOCs) by universities will save money but at a high cost (news article, April 30).  Here is what will be lost in such a cookie cutter mode of instruction:  the casual banter between professor and students during the several minutes before a class begins; the spontaneous questions and debates during class and the exploration of unscripted topics; the opportunity after every class for students to ask questions or simply converse with their professor.  Also gone will be the ability of professors to tailor their course materials, and how they are presented, in a way that takes best advantage of their talents and expertise.   Professors already can communicate with students via email and blogs, can choose from thousands of websites to incorporate into their courses, create their own websites, and post materials on platforms like  Blackboard.
        Other than universities saving money, there seems to be little to gain and much to lose by the wholesale conversion of courses to MOOCs.   The lower cost to students will serve to provide state legislators cover as they continue to slash spending on education.   Most importantly, the result will be a two-tiered system where the poor get MOOCs and the rich get professors.

Unpublished letter to NY Times

March 1, 2013