Comments on: Six priorities for Canadian e-learning in 2010 http://www.tonybates.ca/2009/12/20/six-priorities-for-canadian-e-learning-in-2010/ Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:31:20 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Mr Bates goes to Ottawa: or increasing access to post-secondary education « Tony Bates http://www.tonybates.ca/2009/12/20/six-priorities-for-canadian-e-learning-in-2010/comment-page-1/#comment-48925 Mr Bates goes to Ottawa: or increasing access to post-secondary education « Tony Bates Mon, 21 Jun 2010 03:18:00 +0000 http://www.tonybates.ca/?p=2939#comment-48925 [...] a virtual national centre for digital learning (some of its possible functions are included in the following [...] [...] a virtual national centre for digital learning (some of its possible functions are included in the following [...]

]]> By: What should the Canadian government do to increase access to post-secondary education? « Tony Bates http://www.tonybates.ca/2009/12/20/six-priorities-for-canadian-e-learning-in-2010/comment-page-1/#comment-46662 What should the Canadian government do to increase access to post-secondary education? « Tony Bates Mon, 07 Jun 2010 05:08:28 +0000 http://www.tonybates.ca/?p=2939#comment-46662 [...] readers of this site will know what my views are on this (see Six priorities for Canadian e-learning in 2010). I will be arguing that campus-based institutions need to provide more flexible delivery of their [...] [...] readers of this site will know what my views are on this (see Six priorities for Canadian e-learning in 2010). I will be arguing that campus-based institutions need to provide more flexible delivery of their [...]

]]> By: A new year, a new look « Edmusings http://www.tonybates.ca/2009/12/20/six-priorities-for-canadian-e-learning-in-2010/comment-page-1/#comment-24102 A new year, a new look « Edmusings Tue, 12 Jan 2010 21:39:04 +0000 http://www.tonybates.ca/?p=2939#comment-24102 [...] there were digital learning and open content research and development centres and initiatives as proposed by Tony Bates. That would be an exciting [...] [...] there were digital learning and open content research and development centres and initiatives as proposed by Tony Bates. That would be an exciting [...]

]]> By: Tony Bates http://www.tonybates.ca/2009/12/20/six-priorities-for-canadian-e-learning-in-2010/comment-page-1/#comment-23109 Tony Bates Tue, 29 Dec 2009 04:44:35 +0000 http://www.tonybates.ca/?p=2939#comment-23109 Thanks, Bob and Tom, for your thoughtful comments. I agree that there are many different ways for university faculty to become well trained to teach, and experience in teaching is very important. Some faculty manage to teach extremely well with no formal training, but I would argue that they are an exception rather than the general rule. The issue for me is the need for faculty to understand modern educational theory, and without some form of compulsion this is unlikely to happen for the majority of university instructors. Hence my desire to ensure that at least all faculty before they are offered tenure have some form of accredited pre-training in teaching. This could take many forms, and would work best if it was run by the universities themselves, but they are not going to make this mandatory without some external pressure that would apply to all universities within a jurisdiction. This would incidentally be a minimal requirement. Teaching is like many occupations - it requires lifelong learning. Thanks, Bob and Tom, for your thoughtful comments.

I agree that there are many different ways for university faculty to become well trained to teach, and experience in teaching is very important. Some faculty manage to teach extremely well with no formal training, but I would argue that they are an exception rather than the general rule.

The issue for me is the need for faculty to understand modern educational theory, and without some form of compulsion this is unlikely to happen for the majority of university instructors. Hence my desire to ensure that at least all faculty before they are offered tenure have some form of accredited pre-training in teaching. This could take many forms, and would work best if it was run by the universities themselves, but they are not going to make this mandatory without some external pressure that would apply to all universities within a jurisdiction.

This would incidentally be a minimal requirement. Teaching is like many occupations – it requires lifelong learning.

]]> By: Tom Carey http://www.tonybates.ca/2009/12/20/six-priorities-for-canadian-e-learning-in-2010/comment-page-1/#comment-23101 Tom Carey Tue, 29 Dec 2009 00:01:39 +0000 http://www.tonybates.ca/?p=2939#comment-23101 Re priority #1: I agree with the goal, but there are probably many routes to get there of which required training for new instructors is only one. I am a bit wary of anything which could be interpreted as implying that only new faculty need such preparation (and only when they are at their most vulnerable career stage...). We are working on a new program in the U.S. to enable faculty teaching to be more professional, innovative, research-informed and collaborative - the "more" is meant to imply that all of us can further develop our capabilities as teachers. Another obstacle to achieving your priority #1, at least in Ontario, is the fact that a number of our community colleges already do this [e.g., http://www.mohawkcollege.ca/Explore/QualityResearch/CTL/programsWorkshops/cedp.html]. A parallel program for our universities will need to look distinctively different in order to gain acceptance :). Re priority #1: I agree with the goal, but there are probably many routes to get there of which required training for new instructors is only one. I am a bit wary of anything which could be interpreted as implying that only new faculty need such preparation (and only when they are at their most vulnerable career stage…). We are working on a new program in the U.S. to enable faculty teaching to be more professional, innovative, research-informed and collaborative – the “more” is meant to imply that all of us can further develop our capabilities as teachers.

Another obstacle to achieving your priority #1, at least in Ontario, is the fact that a number of our community colleges already do this [e.g., http://www.mohawkcollege.ca/Explore/QualityResearch/CTL/programsWorkshops/cedp.html. A parallel program for our universities will need to look distinctively different in order to gain acceptance :) .

]]> By: Tom Carey http://www.tonybates.ca/2009/12/20/six-priorities-for-canadian-e-learning-in-2010/comment-page-1/#comment-23099 Tom Carey Mon, 28 Dec 2009 23:49:58 +0000 http://www.tonybates.ca/?p=2939#comment-23099 Tony, you will want to have a look at the recent research report commissioned by the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario on the Forces Reshaping Higher Education in Ontario [http://www.heqco.ca/SiteCollectionDocuments/Academic%20Transformation%20ENG.pdf], which examines the option of an Open University in Ontario on pages 152 and 198. If something like this were to develop, there are clear implications for your priorities #2 and 33. [The report has attracted some media attention, but more for the recommendations about a more differentiated system to address the access needs and financial constraints.] Tony, you will want to have a look at the recent research report commissioned by the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario on the Forces Reshaping Higher Education in Ontario [http://www.heqco.ca/SiteCollectionDocuments/Academic%20Transformation%20ENG.pdf], which examines the option of an Open University in Ontario on pages 152 and 198. If something like this were to develop, there are clear implications for your priorities #2 and 33. [The report has attracted some media attention, but more for the recommendations about a more differentiated system to address the access needs and financial constraints.]

]]> By: Bob Fournier http://www.tonybates.ca/2009/12/20/six-priorities-for-canadian-e-learning-in-2010/comment-page-1/#comment-23079 Bob Fournier Mon, 28 Dec 2009 16:21:22 +0000 http://www.tonybates.ca/?p=2939#comment-23079 Hi Tony, great article, very interesting. I have mixed feeling about your Item 1. On the one hand a certificate in teaching at the university level has great merit, on the other hand I wonder if it wouldn't just add more insular thinking for academics. I have and MSOD from Pepperdine and 30+ years of working as a trainer and change consultant to governments, not for profits, and private enterprise corporations and I think that experience helps me far more in facilitating learning for students than in being the all-knowing academic expert. I have lived my courses' content, no certificate replaces experience. That said, if you combine some form of experience outside academia with a certificate I think you would build a great hybrid educator who understands both parts of the education equation. P.S. Tried to subscribe to your email updates but got a message saying that feature is not/not enabled. Hi Tony, great article, very interesting.
I have mixed feeling about your Item 1. On the one hand a certificate in teaching at the university level has great merit, on the other hand I wonder if it wouldn’t just add more insular thinking for academics. I have and MSOD from Pepperdine and 30+ years of working as a trainer and change consultant to governments, not for profits, and private enterprise corporations and I think that experience helps me far more in facilitating learning for students than in being the all-knowing academic expert. I have lived my courses’ content, no certificate replaces experience. That said, if you combine some form of experience outside academia with a certificate I think you would build a great hybrid educator who understands both parts of the education equation.
P.S. Tried to subscribe to your email updates but got a message saying that feature is not/not enabled.

]]> By: Vince Cyboran http://www.tonybates.ca/2009/12/20/six-priorities-for-canadian-e-learning-in-2010/comment-page-1/#comment-23014 Vince Cyboran Sat, 26 Dec 2009 21:01:12 +0000 http://www.tonybates.ca/?p=2939#comment-23014 Tony, Great list! Just an FYI: we here at Roosevelt University (Chicago,in the States) are developing an Online Teaching in Higher Education post-graduate certificate. It will be completely online, use a cohort model, and will probably start up in Fall of 2010. Your list helps me to justify this certificate program to our administration. We have the same needs here in the States. All the best, Vince Cyboran Tony,

Great list! Just an FYI: we here at Roosevelt University (Chicago,in the States) are developing an Online Teaching in Higher Education post-graduate certificate. It will be completely online, use a cohort model, and will probably start up in Fall of 2010. Your list helps me to justify this certificate program to our administration. We have the same needs here in the States.

All the best,

Vince Cyboran

]]> By: Canadian E-Learning Wish List http://www.tonybates.ca/2009/12/20/six-priorities-for-canadian-e-learning-in-2010/comment-page-1/#comment-22878 Canadian E-Learning Wish List Thu, 24 Dec 2009 14:02:17 +0000 http://www.tonybates.ca/?p=2939#comment-22878 [...] Six priorities for Canadian e-learning in 2010 | e-learning & distance education resources | Tony Bates | 20 December 2009 [...] [...] Six priorities for Canadian e-learning in 2010 | e-learning & distance education resources | Tony Bates | 20 December 2009 [...]

]]> By: Jon K. http://www.tonybates.ca/2009/12/20/six-priorities-for-canadian-e-learning-in-2010/comment-page-1/#comment-22844 Jon K. Wed, 23 Dec 2009 16:36:35 +0000 http://www.tonybates.ca/?p=2939#comment-22844 I'm surprised about the vocal support for #2-4, not because they aren't good ideas (they are) but because your #1 priority is so very fundamental. We expect our elementary and secondary school teachers to have this fundamental education about how to teach, but we aren't expecting higher education institutions to require this? At my institutions new full-time and part-time profs go through a two day intensive tutorial, but it's not ideal. I'm sure other institutions do similar things - but this session could be used to further invest time in technology based techniques (further pushing "innovative" teaching ideas) if everyone had a basis in pedagogy, learning theories and approaches. #5 of your list really interests me, because I think that there needs to be some sort of initiative/guidance at a Federal level. I agree that Ontario in general is waaay behind what's happening out west, which might be in part to the history of distance education that the western provinces. I’m surprised about the vocal support for #2-4, not because they aren’t good ideas (they are) but because your #1 priority is so very fundamental. We expect our elementary and secondary school teachers to have this fundamental education about how to teach, but we aren’t expecting higher education institutions to require this?

At my institutions new full-time and part-time profs go through a two day intensive tutorial, but it’s not ideal. I’m sure other institutions do similar things – but this session could be used to further invest time in technology based techniques (further pushing “innovative” teaching ideas) if everyone had a basis in pedagogy, learning theories and approaches.

#5 of your list really interests me, because I think that there needs to be some sort of initiative/guidance at a Federal level. I agree that Ontario in general is waaay behind what’s happening out west, which might be in part to the history of distance education that the western provinces.

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