Subject: [IFETS-DISCUSSION:4102] RE: POLTS
From: Lisa Harris (lisanet@bigpond.com)
Date: Mon 04 Nov 2002 - 23:43:45 MET
From: "Lisa Harris" <lisanet@bigpond.com> Subject: [IFETS-DISCUSSION:4102] RE: POLTS Date: Tue, 5 Nov 2002 09:43:45 +1100
Points of Learning and Teaching Systems (POLTS)
Regarding the idea of developing POLTS I think I really agree with Martyn
Wild's comments here. The idea of creating purpose specific pieces of
technology will only server to limit the possibilities available to
educators and their students. POS terminals work because they apply simple
variations to a common task (making a transaction). To try and reduce
learning to this framework presupposes that the developer of the POLTS has
the capacity to define the 'best' and single most appropriate learning
method for a given area. As most of us know people learn in different ways
and one of the challenges in developing online courses, even with all the
tools currently available, is to provide for all the different possibilities
of how people might learn. The idea of POLTS seems to be throwing us back
to a teacher centred model rather than the path we are trying to journey
down of a learner centred model.
The other distressing point of POLTS is the possibility that the development
of such pieces of technology would be likely to widen the gap between the
technology haves and have nots. The shift to any form of proprietary system
in the end reduces choice for the consumer and increases costs. The
internet and all it brings, good and bad, isn't going to go away, the use of
word processors to produce text isn't likely to stop, therefore most
students/households/schools/universities will continue to head down the path
of having a home/institution PCs. The idea that people will go out and
purchase a sperate piece of technology to study on/with really seems
incongruent with this trend and can only disadvantage low income
students/families/institutions already struggling to make ends meet.
Finally few workplaces operate without the use of computer systems and
networks, as such basic computer literacy is an important skill to be
developed by all those wanting to participate in the paid labour force. The
use of 'normal' PC's through out peoples education and the subsequent
familiarity this beings with computer technology helps to develop general
(often transferable) competencies in this area and can not be understated.
Regards..Lisa
Lisa Harris
eLearning Consultant
School of Social Science and Planning
RMIT University,
Melbourne, Australia.
mobile: 0409 948 780
Outside of Australia +61 409 948 780
email:lisa.harris@rmit.edu.au
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