University of California teachers’ union aims to block online classes

Re:University of California teachers’ union aims to block on... by rshm on Wednesday October 12, 2011 @03:57PM (#3104287)

I think it us unfair to see the education system only from economic standpoint. Every one regardless whether they are poor are reach needs to have access to education. Technology bridges the gap caused by economic status by offering classes to mass audience (Stanford) as well as for people who cannot attend class because they are in some other part of world.

IMO, the competition needs to be based on quality. If institutions offer a quality education, people will recognize that and choose that instead of online system.

Over the time both class room based as well as technology based classrooms are bound to get better.

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Re:University of California teachers’ union aims to block on... by amartya916 on Wednesday October 12, 2011 @04:37PM (#3104482)

"If institutions offer a quality education, people will recognize that and choose that instead of online system."

Absolutely on the dot.

As an aside, there are intangibles associated with actually going to a University, e.g. interacting with people in person (serendipitous learning), that online classes cannot undermine.

I see online classes as a excellent supplement to what's being taught in class and in cases where in-class learning is not an option for an individual (monetary, time or location based constraints). It is such an exciting time to be around; we can witness exactly how social networking and online education can interplay vis-a-vis in-person, in-class learning.

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