Using Avian Flu to Justify Distance Learning
In my presentation at the CALI Conference last month (screencast/podcast), one of my arguments for creating a digital repository of course materials was avian flu.
I took some jibes for that from some quarters, but I have been running across other articles on the web that support my position.
The blog Lanny on Learning says…
"…This type of thinking might very well encourage a lot of instructorswho otherwise wouldn’t consider this sort of thing to start thinkingabout podcasting or vidcasting, or perhaps taking audio and video clipsand embedding in Web site that might include text based materials orother type of content that instructors might display during class…"
That was my exact point. Crisis = Opportunity for selling digitization and distance learning ideas to otherwise reluctant faculty and institutions.
On the University of Louisville’s website, there is an article called "Preparing you for emergencies: Preparing for Avian Flu" with this quote…
"…University students may have the opportunity to continue their classesthrough distance learning. Encourage college aged children to takeadvantage of any opportunity for distance learning…"
Yes, university students may have that opportunity, but only if university faculty get with the program in time.
Finally, even the State Department of the US Government seems to agrees with me. Chapter 14: Pandemic Threats (Avian Flu, etc.) is a preparedness checklist with this item on it…
"…Virtual School/Distance Learning plan in place…"
Yes indeed!
If you search Google for "avian flu" and "distance learning" together, you will find plenty more examples.
I really do not mean to belabor this point. In my keynote talk, I was using this idea to demonstrate that "nimble" organizations are more able to deal with crisis and although we shouldn’t structure all of our planning around crisis, avian flu is just another reason to become nimble by having our course materials in an easily accessible digital repository where they can be remixed for many purposes. Crisis is just one of them.
