Philip Hall .ca

Well, there's a new one there now. It's a subtle difference but thanks for noticing :-/

from another recent email:

This was interesting, although I initially wondered how
MIT cannot even construct a functional WWW page. I had to
copy the text to an editor to read it. {:-(

Anyway, this whole concept had me ponder conventional
teaching methodology. I can state from experience that
having infinite instructors, most whom have limited
enthusiasm and expertise, teaching similar curricula is
probably not the most effective for learning. People learn
in different ways, and I might guess that the traditional
classroom/lecture experience is satisfactory for the
majority, as that is why it has survived.

On the other hand, a video is not panacea for instruction.
In school, there were several occasions when I had video and
programmed learning experiences, and I can state that they
were memorable, and I might guess enthralling, but the
content they delivered may not have been that profound. I do
not think you could watch a 1/2 hour video on a complex
subject and comprehend the material. It's analogous to
reading an English or history essay versus a mathematics
lesson. The latter needs magnitudes more concentration and
effort to assimilate.

This may be the area where extra curricula instruction
both survives and fails. The student who seeks alternative
education such as Khan, is already probably having
difficulty. Schaum's, Coles Notes, Sparknotes, and other
vehicles have long sought to address these students. These
students may be seen as those who require extra or different
teaching methodologies, but the chance of these students
being motivated and having the concentration and intellect
required to succeed is reduced. Possibly, most students in
trouble already lack the skills and interest in the course
matter, and thus more material to study is not a viable
solution.

The solution may lay in motivating students, so that their
interest and understanding are maximised. Understandably,
this will be different for many, and this is where some
alternatives such as Khan may have some value. I do not
think most students have the discipline to succeed in self
directed study as Khan proposes, but it may be a superb
teaching tool.

ciao!
lin Baden

>Buenos Noches - I was checking out somethings here in Puerto tonight and
>came The linked interview with Salman Khan who is the founder of the Khan
>Academy. Wow what a powerful idea although education can not be total IT
>driven but i sure can do a lot. Interesting idea free education ...

>http://www.technologyreview.com/news/506356/qa-with-salman-khan/ ###

Very intriguing the Cycling for Libraries Unconference. I'm sure it was a terrific ride with all sorts of learning experiences from different angles. I am a cyclist and have been a professional librarian (law and engineering sectors) for long enough. Now into electronic records document management. As for "losing the profession", it continues to be more of how our skills and visions can be leveraged. It does demand creating new partnerships with unexpected stakeholders that one never experienced before. This is particular true in the corporate world or world of special libraries. Jean @ http://thirdwavecyclingblog.wordpress.com http://velo-city2012blog.com