Downfall of Online Courses

So, I’m really excited to do some research about online pedagogy (next semester) and feel what it’s like to be on the other side for an online class.

From the student perspective, I’m frustrated. I read three AMAZING articles at the intersection of African-American culture, education and disability. I scribbled little notes and ideas that came to my head as I read the articles…and I won’t have the opportunity to talk to anyone about this. For some topics we’ve read about, posting and picking each other’s thoughts apart can be a good exercise. But…I just wish I could TALK about some of these things.

It’s like…I have all this stuff in my head…and then adding new information to it creates this…mental gas that wants to escape. And typing about it just doesn’t cut it. I want to talk.

I think I’m going to have to do some research on hybrid classes……..

Disability Education

So I'm just starting out in this course - DIS 681 - Multicultural Issues in Disability. I am incredibly excited to learn more about the disability rights movement, disability culture, and the complexities that arise when disability intersects with multicultural issues.

After watching the Power of 504 (part 1 and part 2) Stan and I both recognized our lack of awareness about the history of the disability rights movement. Civil rights? Yes...but disability rights? Hrm...absent from our education. While watching MSNBC, I was appalled to see the behavior of people towards a disabled woman at a town hall on healthcare reform. The woman was in the front, in a wheelchair, making a plea for the voice of the disabled to be heard. A man in the back yelled out, "ASK THE QUESTION!" and was later interviewed and said something along the lines of, "Great, now they have more rights than we do." *Bangs head against the wall.* Ugh. I am utterly disgusted. I really don't know what this world is coming to. Sometimes it feels like two steps back instead of two steps forward. *sigh*

I am looking forward to expanding my disability terminology/vocabulary in this course. I'm not sure how much time I'll have (as I'll have to put my required assignments first) but I think it would be great to interview some of my disabled friends about a topic I love - technology - and its role in disability culture.

I am so glad that I decided to register for this course!