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Dear Group,
I had sent Jeanne O'Dean comments to Dr. Tim Snyder to see if he wanted
to respond. Please see his message below.
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Tim Snyder Response to Jeanne O'Dean 3.5.09 message seeking
support for SB670
Date: Fri, 6 Mar 2009 13:44:20 -0700
From: Snyder, Tim, PED <Tim.Snyder@state.nm.us>
To: <debby@unm.edu>
I don't normally respond to politically-motivated messaging, but since
Ms. O'Dean's recent missive cited my name and the IDEAL-NM initiative,
it seems appropriate to state. . .
While 3D virtual reality is an evolving feature in the field of online
learning, it is not the educational panacea described in her narrative.
Students learn in a variety of ways, and the efficacy of traditional
face-to-face instruction should not be discounted. That said, today's
new tools offer new and exciting delivery strategies. That's why
IDEAL-NM was founded, and why the NMCAC and IDEAL-NM are working
together to deploy 3D technology for enhanced learning opportunities. It
is noted, too, that many New Mexico schools, colleges and universities
have been working for some time in second-life, 3D and other virtual
world environments.
Since opening its virtual doors in August 2008, IDEAL-NM has achieved
results that exceed original expectations. The attached /Highlights/
report summarizes those results and offers testimony from an impressive
array of people and organizations, including the technology powerhouse
Intel. The most compelling testimony, however, comes from students, a
sample of which is:
Text Box: Online learning has given me an opportunity to take French,
which has not been offered at Capitan High School. Many of the courses
that other larger districts offer are not available to a community the
size of ours. I am glad I had IDEAL-NM available to me. 11th grade
student, Capitan High School
Of the 38 state virtual schools in the nation, there are none which base
their operations on open-source technology, and New Mexico is already
the envy of the nation with its comprehensive P-20 eLearning Management
System fueled by a state network of policymakers and practitioners who
have dedicated months and years to create an eLearning service structure
that works best for New Mexico youth and adult learners.
For these reasons, and others, New Mexico was recently ranked #6 in the
nation in terms of its online policy and practice—see attachment 2.
I don't know why Ms. O'Dean chooses to denigrate the growing impact of
IDEAL-NM, or imply that there are hidden reasons for my upcoming
retirement. The bottom line, however, is that her litany of clichés and
buzz-words does not, in my view, offer sufficient support for a proposal
costing three times that of IDEAL-NM's annual operating budget.
Sincerely,
*Timothy D. Snyder, Ed.D.*
Executive Director
IDEAL-NM
* *
P.S. I can't resist the chance to thank all those who have supported
IDEAL-NM in its move from concept to reality. _Thank you_! I thoroughly
enjoyed helping launch the "IDEAL" project, and hope to stay connected
in other ways. I'm also planning to enjoy a lot more time with my wife
and family—including grandchildren! A few health issues precipitated the
decision, but everything is fine. . . . tim
--
Debby Knotts
Director, New Media & Extended Learning
University of New Mexico
MSC03 2190
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
505.277.9000
debby@unm.edu
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