VOA慢速英语:Another Look at Massive Online Open Courses

Last week, we talked about Massive Open Online Courses, also called MOOCs. Tens of thousands, or even more, people can take these classes all at once. You can be anywhere in the world to take a MOOC. All you need is a computer and a network connection.
上周，我们讨论了大规模网络开放课程，也被称为MOOCs。数万，甚至更多的人，可以同时使用所有这些课程。你可以在世界上任何地方参加网络开放课程，你所需要的只是一台电脑和网络连接。

MOOCs add to a tradition of what is known as distance learning. For years, many colleges have offered classes that are taught partly or mostly online. MOOCs are available in subjects like computer science, engineering or mechanics. Can MOOCs in subjects like arts or the humanities be as effective?
MOOCs成为了传统远程教育的一个补充。多年来，许多高校已经提供部分或大部分是网络教学课程。MOOCs已经提供了计算机科学、工程或力学等学科。MOOCs可以在类似艺术、人文等学科上行之有效吗？

Scott Anderson teaches philosophy at the University of British Columbia in Canada. He sees both good and bad sides to MOOCs.
Scott Anderson在加拿大不列颠哥伦比亚大学教哲学。他认为MOOCs既有好的一面，也有坏的一面。

SCOTT ANDERSON:  “There are parts that will be fine, insofar as mostly when students listen to a lecture, there is no special reason why they need to be physically present to hear and get it. There is certainly no reason why they need to be physically present to get the readings and to think about these things.”
SCOTT ANDERSON：“有一些好的方面，当学生听一场报告时，在多数情况下，并没有让他们必须亲自到现场听的特殊原因。当然，也没有让他们必须亲自到现场获得阅读材料并思考这些的理由。”

Mr. Anderson says increased numbers of students in MOOCs can mean less communication between them and teachers. He says two ways to deal with this are by adding more teachers and setting up online discussion groups.
Anderson先生说，MOOCs的学生人数在增加，这可能意味着他们与老师之间沟通的减少。他说，有两种方法可以应对：增加更多的教师和设立网上讨论小组。

Lisa Jadwin teaches English and American literature and writing at St. John Fisher College in New York. She says online education has some weaknesses for her subjects.
Lisa Jadwin在纽约圣约翰费舍尔学院教英语、美国文学与写作。她说，网络教育在她所教的科目上存在一些弱点。

LISA JADWIN: “What's lost in online education is face-to-face interaction. And the teaching of literature is an interactive face-to-face discipline. And that old-fashioned approach is not going to be unseated very quickly by computer-aided instruction.”
LISA JADWIN：“网络教育失去了面对面交流的机会。文学的教学就是一种面对面互动的过程。这种传统方式不会被计算机辅助教学所取代。”

Professor Jadwin says some students could learn very well from talks and reading assignments, blogs and discussion groups. But she believes that hybrid courses work best. She describes hybrids as mixing face-to-face course elements with computer-aided teaching and writing projects.
Jadwin教授称，一些学生通过讲座、阅读作业、博客以及讨论组就能学得很好。但她认为，综合课程的效果更好。她所说的综合是指把面对面课程元素同计算机辅助教学和写作项目结合起来。

Bill Pogue teaches communications at the University of Houston-Downtown. He says that after leading classes for more than thirty years, he would not attempt to teach a MOOC. However, Mr. Pogue sees good value in online education. He noted a strong sense of community in an online course he once took. He said the students worked together on a project while living on four continents.
Bill Pogue在修斯顿大学城中校区教传播学。他说，在教了30多年课程之后，他不会尝试教MOOC。然而，Pogue先生认为网络教育具有良好价值。他指出，他曾经参加过的一个网络课程的强烈归属感。他说，居住在四大洲的学生们可以在一个项目上合作。

BILL POGUE: “I just thought that was really exciting, would hardly be able eve to be replicated in a single, traditional classroom or face-to-face setting.”
BILL POGUE：“我只是认为这是非常激动人心的，它在单一的传统课堂或面对面模式下是很难复制的。”