"OK OK...Nuther example..Here I am sitting in a C programming labby
type class....
The teacher tells us we have a quiz today. We are sposed to code a
small program based on the Hanoi Tower."
What Darlene and Janet are speaking to is the requirement that we
rethink the way we go about "teaching" when we choose to use
computers, networks, the Internet, and technology. The same as
employers are going to have to rethink the nature and payment for
work.
This new world is about cooperation and collaboration, not
competition. Especially in a writing classroom where for years now we
have been teaching collaborative process writing. The world of work
is no longer about getting paid to warm your seat for 8 hours a day
five days a week, but producing things and adding value through
collaboration.
Its up to us "teachers" to structure things so students learn not only
to write but to optimize the technology. Using the system to your
advantage, especially in the business world, is highly rewarded in
many places in this world. The original poster set up a quiz that was
a little too loose and a (I'll bet) bright student saw a way to meet
the assignment and make a point.
I think the teacher needs to learn the lesson here, give credit to a
student who turned the traditional power structure in the classroom on
its ear, and construct a better quiz next time.
How will we deal (or how are those of you doing it now deal) with
e-classes where you might never see the students write a paper? How
do you KNOW the student who is registered for the class is the one at
the other end of the net writing the papers you see? Couldn't they
hire someone, give them access to their account and password, and
never write a word themselves?
I think we have to rethink what we want and are willing to reward, and
structure things accordingly. That is our responsibility as teachers.
I also think we should learn from wherever we can even from some
smartass student in our class who uses our rules to meet assignments
in ways that we may question.
"The rules have changed." (and not for trucks.)
Mike Hamende
hamendem@cts.db.erau.edu