Contents by
Section: December 1997
with
Chris Maitland
After recently attending two technology conferences--one focusing on
distance education for higher education and the other on the use of technology
in K-12 classrooms--I was struck by the difference in the way the two sectors
are approaching technology issues. In higher education, the
approach is to hire part-time faculty for distance education courses, pay them
lower salaries, and offer them no professional development. In one community college in
Arizona, the faculty, reportedly, are hired based on the kind of computer
equipment they own and the speed of their modems, rather than their teaching
ability. Then they're required to attend orientation sessions for teaching
on-line for no compensation. In the K-12 sector, there
is an emphasis on professional development: Teachers are trained to use
technology in the classroom. Too often, at the higher ed
level, administrators are unwilling to invest in professional development and
provide resources for part-time faculty. But if our colleges and
universities are to offer high quality distance education courses, they need to
invest in professional development and training for all faculty. Christine
Maitland is an NEA staff higher education coordinator
Chris Maitland is an NEA staff higher education coordinator.
