re: Carol's comments
Julia Keefer (keefer@is3.nyu.edu)
Thu, 9 Apr 1998 05:32:34 -1000
Hi Everyone. I was very impressed with the intellectual thrust of Steve's
presentation. I think there should be a congress to legitimize, evaluate
and review online education but I'm wary of his definition of a
"profession based on cumulative knowledge of full-time professionals." In
traditional meatspace academe there is a prejudice against adjuncts as if
they do not have the intellectual equipment to be full-time. I have
chosen to be an adjunct for many years in order to enhance my academic
knowledge with diverse work and community experience. I have the
traditional qualifications of a Ph.D., a few Masters degrees, innumerable
licenses and certifications, and multidisciplinary publications. The
present criteria for review in traditional academe are rigid and
specialised, yet Steve discusses the need for cognitive flexibility in
understanding the multiculturalism of the global community.
Consequently I think the international congress to professionalize
and legitimize online teaching should be flexible enough to include
part-time professors who make substantial and creative contributions. I
also feel that online teaching is enhanced by a synthesis of the triad of
meatspace, deepspace and cyberspace and that it is okay to travel between
the realms, literally and figuratively.
Steve's description of the dilemmas of Japanese education are
fascinating and I look forward to the "co-creation of Westerners and
non-Westerners." Best wishes, Evergreen