In this letter a Xanadu College
professor asserts that the development of an extensive
distance-learning program would enhance the college''s reputation, as well as increase
total
enrollment and therefore total
tuition income.To support this assertion the professor
points out that in last year''s trial program two traditional
courses were easily adapted for
distance learning. Next, the professor reasons that with more free time
faculty could engage in extensive research, which in turn would enhance the college''s
reputation.The argument is flawed in several critical respects.
First of all, the professor''s claim that an increase in enrollment would result in
an increase in tuition income is warranted only if Xanadu students would be willing
to pay a sufficiently high fee for distance-learning courses. However, it is entirely
possible that Xanadu''s distance-learning courses would not command as
high a fee as its traditional courses, and that Xanadu''s total tuition income would
actually decline if this less-expensive alternative were available to Xanadu students.
Secondly, the professor''s dual claims about distance learning-that it would enhance
Xanadu''s reputation and that it would increase enrollment and income-might
very well be mutually exclusive alternatives.The availability of distance-learning courses
might actually diminish Xanadu''s overall reputation for quality education. Without
addressing this issue the professor cannot justifiably conclude that the distance-learning
alternative would achieve both goals.
A third problem with the argument involves last year''s trial project. Despite the
fact that two particular courses were easily adapted to distance learning, other courses
might not be as adaptable. Common sense informs me that certain courses, especially
in the arts,require hands-on
learning to be effective.Thus, the professor cannot justify
her claim on the basis of the trial project.
Finally, the professor''s claim that distance learning would afford Xanadu faculty
more free time to engage in extensive research raises two problems. First, it is pos
sible that the time needed for
faculty to adapt their courses for distance learning
would equal or even exceed the time they would save by not teaching traditional
classes. Second, even if a net time savings does result, the professor provides no evidence
that Xanadu faculty would actually use this extra free time for research, or that
additional research would in fact enhance Xanadu''s reputation.
In conclusion, the argument is indefensible as it stands.To strengthen it the
professor must provide specific information about Xanadu''s current reputation,
and provide dear evidence that distance learning would in fact enhance this reputation.
The professor must also convince us that the two courses in the trial project
were representative of Xanadu''s other courses-in terms of the ease with which
the faculty could adapt their courses to distance learning. Finally, to better assess
the argument we would need a detailed analysis comparing loss in tuition from
traditional-course enrollment with expected gains in tuition from distance-learning
enrollment.
More abstracts about the Distance-learning courses at Xanadu College