http://www.edugeekjournal.com/2009/10/26/the-realistic-long-term-sustainability-of-online-learning/ Proud Sponsor of Your Future Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:41:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.edugeekjournal.com/2009/10/26/the-realistic-long-term-sustainability-of-online-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-1817 Matt Crosslin Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:07:01 +0000 http://www.edugeekjournal.com/?p=473#comment-1817 I forgot to mention that the X-factor teacher that you are speaking of was what Rushkoff was holding up as the example of a good teacher. As I think about it, that would probably be a much larger problem we have in education - confusing entertaining teachers with solid, engaging teaching. That has been going on for a while, I would think. I forgot to mention that the X-factor teacher that you are speaking of was what Rushkoff was holding up as the example of a good teacher. As I think about it, that would probably be a much larger problem we have in education – confusing entertaining teachers with solid, engaging teaching. That has been going on for a while, I would think.

]]> http://www.edugeekjournal.com/2009/10/26/the-realistic-long-term-sustainability-of-online-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-1816 Chris Tue, 27 Oct 2009 02:34:27 +0000 http://www.edugeekjournal.com/?p=473#comment-1816 Matt, very interesting. You seem to be setting up a distinction between an X-Factor that cannot be taught (the 'excellent' live teacher) and the teacher-with-skills (a potential online teacher). I'm not sure I agree for a few reasons. I think X-factor teachers, the guys and gals with outsized personalities who are "entertainers" and who seem to bust at the seams of any limitation, are not necessarily the best teachers. They may be the most entertaining, sometimes, but not aways the most effective teachers. They have an X-factor, a 'personality', one that cannot be taught to others, but they are not the be all, end all, pedagogically speaking. I also think that more hybrid instructors are emerging all the time, who combine the best of both worlds, and collapsing a distinction between live and online instruction and types of instructors. But I take your point, and I've experienced it myself as a teacher: online classes have taught me discipline, focus and steadiness. In my online classes, I stick to the plan better without necessarily having to give up my spontaneity. In my live classes, if I'm tired, or having a bad day, I can slip into bad habits like getting off of topic or not being as serious as I should. Matt, very interesting. You seem to be setting up a distinction between an X-Factor that cannot be taught (the ‘excellent’ live teacher) and the teacher-with-skills (a potential online teacher). I’m not sure I agree for a few reasons. I think X-factor teachers, the guys and gals with outsized personalities who are “entertainers” and who seem to bust at the seams of any limitation, are not necessarily the best teachers. They may be the most entertaining, sometimes, but not aways the most effective teachers. They have an X-factor, a ‘personality’, one that cannot be taught to others, but they are not the be all, end all, pedagogically speaking. I also think that more hybrid instructors are emerging all the time, who combine the best of both worlds, and collapsing a distinction between live and online instruction and types of instructors. But I take your point, and I’ve experienced it myself as a teacher: online classes have taught me discipline, focus and steadiness. In my online classes, I stick to the plan better without necessarily having to give up my spontaneity. In my live classes, if I’m tired, or having a bad day, I can slip into bad habits like getting off of topic or not being as serious as I should.

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