RE: Distance Learning and Copyright

I doubt whether even the most avid proponents of distance learning would argue that it is a complete substitute for face to face learning. But it is Luddite in the extreme for professors with a vested interest in the status quo to dismiss it entirely. (though I am sure Prof Landau's comments are well-meant).
Unlike videotape and traditional correspondence courses, the Internet is capable of two-way interaction in real time.

Here in the UK, our Open University has a long and proud tradition of making higher education accessible to people whose circumstances otherwise prevent them from attending in person. It started using broadcasting and the mail; graduated to videotapes, and now uses all of these and the Internet.

Similarly, the University of the Highlands and Islands has been established to bring higher and further education to people in remote communities in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.

Distance learning isn't a threat to Prof. Landau's tenure or his pension;  but it can bring educational opportunities to many people across the world whose circumstances have hitherto excluded them.

But it isn't a pot of gold for cash-strapped universities either.

Edward Barrow
New Media Copyright Consultant
http://www.copyweb.co.uk/
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On Thursday, January 02, 2003 5:46 PM, Michael Landau [SMTP:mlandau[_at_]gsu.edu] wrote:
>
> In the age of euphemisms in which the garbageman is a "sanitation
engineer"
> and a sales clerk is a "customer service inventory expert" could
distance
> learning be the new name for "correspondence school?"
>
> Nothing beats face to face contact, especially at a time when people
spend
> very little time actually interacting with people in person and nearly
all
> of their time in front of computer screens, on cell phones, and in their
> cars.
>
> The technology to allow students to take courses away from school has
been
> around for a long time. Why is it that, in the past, very few
institutions
> gave their students a pile of videotapes to be watched at home in place
of a
> course, with instructions to call or write to the professor with
querstions?
> Why, because part of the learning experience is direct communication IN
> PERSON.
>
> The distance learning movement arose at a time when the Internet was
viewed
> as something that would forever change every aspect of every person's
life.
>
> With the collapse of almost everything except for Amazon, eBay, and some
> informational sites, itr should now be realized that the Internet is not
> the best thing since sliced bread. It is great for some shopping. It is
> great for quickly ontaining information, but it is not a substitute for
> most activities, including university education.
>
> HAPPY NEW YEAR !
>
>
> Michael Landau
> Profesor of Law
> Georgia State University
> Atlanta, GA 30303
Received on Fri Jan 03 2003 - 08:48:57 GMT