Blended courses such as this one can be seen in a way as examples of McDonaldization in higher education. In a normal semester, we’d be meeting once a week, having face-to-face interaction, lectures and discussions, and enjoying (or not) the general atmospherics of college life.

Now that the option of any in-person aspect of learning has been suspended due to the coronavirus, in general, what do you think are some of the “pros” and “cons” of online classes? How do you feel about having classes totally online, rather than meeting weekly for lecture, discussion and general interaction? Is it good thing, a bad thing, or mainly a compromise?

Regarding K-12 education, what effect do you think standardized tests like the FSA, FCAT etc., have on the quality of education? How does emphasis on test preparation detract from the overall educational experience? Do you have any examples from your own experiences in this regard?What effect does emphasis on things like standardization and “accountability” students and their instructors?

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