Teaching from a distance

Education is going through radical changes. Chalkboards have evolved into SMART Boards, and massive open online courses (MOOCs) have replaced some classes. Teachers and professors can lecture from across town or around the world.While ostensibly a boon for educators, technology is also causing confusion and uncertainty. “Technology can be disruptive, and a lot of these new innovative, instructional technologies have created a disruption within our traditional system,” says Les Howles, director of UW-Madison’s Division of Continuing Studies’ Distance Education Professional Development. “It’s forcing us to think about teaching, learning and learners in new ways.”