Interesting point, Sam. A couple of things that occur to me:
1. I would suggest that whether you do your courses online or in person, a good advanced education degree is still disruptive. The key issue for both the student and the school is finding out where the disruption has been relocated, and deciding if the reduction in one kind of disruption (say, leaving the job and moving to a different place) compensates for another kind of disruption (say, investing in the appropriate equipment, dealing with the time-management issues, etc.).
2. Offering online education is going to place interesting demands on our language. I was struck by the following:
> WHY SHOULD I GET MY MASTER’S DEGREE FROM KENT STATE?
> There is no better place than Kent State University.
I realize that KSU is using the term "place" in the sense of its talent, its experience, its virtual resources, all of which are presumably accessible to an online student. But it still looks a bit odd in an advertisement, because "place," for me, anyway, connotes a physical location. It suggests that Kent State University is a really great place that you'll never see.
When you think of how often we rely on our physical location in our promotional materials--avuncular professors pointing over a student's shoulder at something profound in a book while sitting under a spreading oak with students playing frisbee behind them in a venerable quadrangle--or students hooking themselves up like the Borg to fabulous labs named after someone or other--distant education is going to make us rethink a lot of things.
Now, if I could just get that annoyingly-persistent "Green Acres" theme out of my head...........
Cheers,
Grant
On 06/09/11, Samuel E Trosow <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> > Earn your master’s degree without disrupting your life, without leaving your current job and
>
>
> > relocating, and without physically sitting in a classroom.
>
>
>
> How exciting. No disruption. No travel. No muss, no fuss, and best yet...... no classrooms!
>
> But getting a good advanced graduate education is often disruptive to one's life. It's a choice people have to make.
>
> And sitting in a classroom just might be a good thing.
>
> This sort of ad reminds me of the Green Acres episode where Eb sent away to a mail order house to learn how to become a barber my mail. He really needed to go to a barber shop and have someone give him some real feedback. Or maybe he just wasn't suited to become a barber. Didn't matter, the mail order company got his money (and Oliver got a bad haircut).
>
> This is not to say that distance offerings might not be well-used to enhance the MLIS curriculum in some targeted situations. But to celebrate a "no classroom" education seems a bit counter productive these days given the nasty political environment that we are facing. Stop chasing after the likes of SJSU and Drexel and stick to what you at Wayne State do best, which is training librarians for Michigan and beyond.
>
> Sure, use some distance-ed where appropriate, but can we please get some perspective?
>
> Sam Trosow, UWO
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Cunningham, Flo" <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: Thursday, June 9, 2011 6:20 pm
> Subject: eDegree: the online MLIS - virtual open house June 15
> To: [log in to unmask]
>
>
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>
>
>
> > Kent State announces “eDegree,” a completely online M.L.I.S.!
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> >
>
> >
>
> > Earn your master’s degree without disrupting your life, without leaving your current job and relocating, and without physically sitting in a classroom.
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> >
>
> > The School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) at Kent State University is offering a new, innovative way to complete a Master of Library and Information Science (M.L.I.S.) degree. The eDegree program is Web-based -- all courses will be completed online.
>
> >
>
> > Join us for a live, interactive online open house on Wednesday, June 15, at either noon or 6 p.m. to learn more about eDegree. Greg Byerly, Ph.D., and eDegree Administrative Clerk Mary Paschen will briefly describe the program and then answer your questions.
>
> >
>
> > To participate, send an email to [log in to unmask](java_script:main.compose(), and you’ll receive a link to connect to the presentation.
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > eDegree FAQs
>
> >
>
> > WHY SHOULD I GET MY MASTER’S DEGREE FROM KENT STATE?
>
> > There is no better place than Kent State University.
>
> >
>
> > The Kent State School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) has one of the largest library and information science graduate programs in the country, with nearly 700 graduate students. It is accredited by the American Library Association (ALA) and is ranked in the top 20 by U.S. News and World Report, and its youth librarianship program is ranked 13th.
>
> >
>
> > WHAT ARE THE AVAILABLE SPECIALIZATIONS?
>
> > The eDegree currently offers four specializations for your online degree.
>
> >
>
> > · Children and Young Adult Librarianship
>
> > · Public Librarianship
>
> > · K-12 School Library Media Specialist
>
> > · Museum Studies – NEW!
>
> >
>
> > WHAT ARE THE TIMEFRAME & SCHEDULE?
>
> > The eDegree is designed for your convenience and to meet your schedule.
>
> >
>
> > Due to the structured nature of the program, students entering the eDegree program must begin in the fall semester. Applications for Fall 2011 are now being accepted on a space-available basis. Interested students should apply as soon as possible.
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> >
>
> > Students can complete the online coursework required for their specialization (e.g., museum studies) within the MLIS degree either through the Two-Year Option or the Fast Track Option (12-15 months).
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> >
>
> > The courses are offered during Kent State’s scheduled semesters and vary in terms of length (e.g., some may be 10-week classes, while other may run 15 weeks). You will know the schedule of courses from the time you begin the program to graduation.
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> >
>
> > Courses will not “meet” at a specific time each week. However, some professors may choose to require a synchronous presence on some occasions during the course, but these will be scheduled in advance.
>
> >
>
> > HOW DO I GET MORE INFORMATION?
>
> > For additional information and to apply, go to the SLIS website (www.slis.kent.edu(http://www.slis.kent.edu)) and click on eDegree program. Or, contact Mary Paschen, eDegree Adm. Clerk, at [log in to unmask](java_script:main.compose().
>
> >
>
> > (Note: eDegree replaces the School’s “12-12-12 Distance Learning Degree” program.)
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> >
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> >
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>
>
>
--
-------------------
D. Grant Campbell
Associate Professor
Faculty of Information and Media Studies
University of Western Ontario
London, Ontario
N6A 5B7
519-661-2111 ext.88483
