What comes to mind immediately after reading the papers presented by Moller, Foshay and Huett (et al) is how I can use the ideas within my own limited industry. Teaching in a prison does not promote the educational technology that is readily available in the outside world. However, there are instructional opportunities that can be utilized and possibly evolve within the confines of the supposedly “traditional” classroom.
I would choose to concentrate on the ROI of my graduates. The bottom line here is the successful completion of the mandated GED program for each individual. Running a CAI Lab precludes any real whole group instruction or class project type of work. It does however encourage the individual strengths and potential in the students.
This type of learning can be compared to higher education for the non-traditional student – which as Moller, et al point out, “ …become an increasingly large segment of the student body at the post-secondary level.” And further, “a principal motivator is the relatively unfamiliar force of completion.” These students face this very thing when they are back in the world competing for jobs, and need basic skills to even be in the running. Such is our economy situation presently.
It has been a recent problem with accreditation and recognition of school performance. Distance Education could possibly make a very great impact in helping these students from alternative learning situations, to achieve (as Moller points out) “new ways of using technology (that) have to be employed and understood by educators and merely ‘recreating the present in a more efficient manner (which) seems wasteful when the status quo is of questionable effectiveness (1998, p. 121).” {I chose to paraphrase this section- for my own purposes of explanation}.
Distance Education IS very different from F2F instruction. I think that, if the administration would make a “beta run” with some post-secondary classes within the current system, that the results could be very meaningful and much of the security concern could be eliminated.
Do you teach in a face to face environment? Are there any distance learning opportunities now through distance learning mainstream affiliates? I ask these questions because I am trying to understand your current day to day workload. When you refer to strengths and potential of the student, it reminds me of the notion that all children want to learn no matter their situation.
ReplyDeleteWanda
Chris, you are doing a great job and your blog posting provided a lot for me to think about.
ReplyDeleteI have always been under the impression the learning environment in prison was more open to distance learning. When I think about educational technology I quickly flash to the ability to connect to a large population. I would guess the one on one classroom setting is not option one at your workplace. I would hope the educational opportunities of distance learning would provide the inmates the opportunities to embrace the possibility of establishing a new life. This ambition is similar to the goal other non-traditional students share when they enroll in college.
How is distance learning different? The major difference is the lack of a physical proximity. Time commitment, resources, and the necessary end requirements for passing have absolutely no changes. If you add synchronous communication to a distance classroom, you would have a similar learning environment. Of course, this is just my humble opinion.
Please click on the following link to read about what others are saying about education behind prison walls.http://prisonphotography.wordpress.com/2010/09/18/higher-education-in-us-prisons-symposium/
Chris - as we chat in the morning over skype, you remind me about how beneficial DE could be in your unique learning situation. Similar to small rural towns in Texas, DE could broaden the horizon beyond just what one or two individuals and teach in your setting. What content areas do you think you'd see 'your guys' ask for if the sky was the limit?
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing!
~ Dr. Smolka