"Instruction Evolves with Technology" Please respond to the following:
Historically, in colleges and universities, each instructor was able to create their own class. If there were ten (10) sections of , each section would have different books, learning outcomes, and assignments.
With the evolution of online learning, it became easier to create one master course and copy ten (10) sections of that course so that each instructor is teaching the same course with the same books, learning outcomes, and assignments. Select and complete one (1) of the scenarios below. Explain your response.
I am the Professor: I have been teaching Economics 101 at ABC University for fourteen (14) years. Nobody knows this content and how to teach it better to students than I do. I object to teaching a copied course created by someone else because...
I am the LMS Administrator: I am in charge of a total of 440 sections for the university. I don't have the resources to support each instructor creating their own class. I support using one (1) master course for Economics 101 because...
I am the President of the University: I am in charge of ensuring that we work together to respect each other's opinions and be collaborative in our decisions. May I suggest the solution below that could work for everyone...
Peer Response
I am Professor Riley and I have been teaching Economics 101 at ABC University for fourteen (14) years. Nobody knows this content and how to teach it better to students than I do. I object to teaching a copied course created by someone else because I am more than equipped to do it on my own. Students do not need complacency instead they need creativity in lessons to motivate their learning. Though textbooks and other resources will be used to offer support to students, I am more engulfed in lessons that connect with a more hands on approach. I believe that some of the best learning experiences offer a realistic approach.
Hands-on activities allow learners to connect to the content easier, and researchers have found convincing evidence in favor of active hands-on. For instance, studies documented "enhanced problem-solving, increased student interest, enriched learning environments, positive impacts on student understanding, enhanced independent learning skills, and increased comprehension, application, and evaluation skills" (Omelicheva & Avdeyeva, 2008, p. 603).
Furthermore, using a copied course would limit my creativity as a professor, preventing me from giving 100% of what I have to offer to students. Teachers need some freedom to not always teach to a test. Instead they should provide students with a "unique" learning experience that will assist them in their futures.
Reference:
Omelicheva, M. Y. and Avdeyeva, O. (2008) "Teaching with Lecture or Debate? Testing the Effectiveness of Traditional versus Active Learning Methods of Instruction" Political Science and Politics, 41, 603-607