First TeleMed, Now TeleEd

I had been signed up for a couple of her classes this Spring, but the Wuhan Flu caused her to re-imagine them as Zoom meetings. As a rule, I don’t Zoom, but this sounded like an interesting experience, so I signed up for her ID Theft course, which I took last week.

The content, as usual, was terrific (I always learn something new in her classes), and she did a great job of teaching it (of course). But just as with my recent teledoc appointment, I was underwhelmed with the whole experience. For one thing, even with the chat feature (which allowed for at least some interaction), there was just solemnizing missing. Also, and this may well be long-established, the state has made this form of education delivery unnecessarily burdensome:

For example, in-person classes require only that one show up and stay for the class; there is no requirement that one actually pay attention (now, it would be rude not to, but there’s no rule requiring that). Also, one signs in and out of the class only at the beginning and end; there is no requirement to sign in and out at each 10 minute break.

How does this differ under the TeleCE model?

Well, each hour one is required to respond to 3 polling questions (and these have noting to do with the course, only to prove that you’re still there). And one must sign out at each break, and then back in when class resumes. Yes, these are little things, but one gets to sense that the state, in its infinite wisdom, has decided to be as petty a possible in permitting us proles to use this advanced, almost magical technology.

Anyway, Becky and Co did their usual terrific job, especially impressive given the circumstances. As for moi, pretty sure I’ve now participated on both first, and my last, TeleEd course.