Show I I Chan gg in the Concept it I the of C Classroom Norma Hendrickson Community Editor I felt I could contribute said Jessica Carlile of her experience in the online version of English 2600 a literature course Im kind of shy Its It's easier to express my feelings and thoughts about issues through writ writ- ing Carlile deliberately enrolled in English 2600 because of the teacher She had taken English 1 1010 0 1 0 and another writing class from fromI I Allison Fernley Pemley on campus and had confidence that shed Fernley Femley be there and answer questions quick as a bat Fernley remembered Carlile She described her heras as a quiet and committed student a person who did not participate in class Get her online it was a different story said Fernley FernIer Carlile like many other students enrolled in online courses when she couldn't take them dun during ng the day because of her work schedule She liked being able to learn on her own time using any computer For Fernley believes some disadvantages tS to online courses include the life inability inability to meet and observe new people and the lack of immediate replies to ques ques- Internet or online courses are just one option offered through program Other options are and Video courses uses video audio delivery of classes at various sites at a specific times and dates are televised lectures with Internet readings readings readings read read- ings and assignments Video courses are that have been duplicated on videotape or and CD ROM Each type of course includes a a and offers offers' convenience convenience convenience and flexibility for time-strapped time students Online courses can be bad or good just like ordinary ordinary ordinary nary classes The teacher makes a big difference So can a students student's learning style The best way yay to see if online learning works is isto isto isto to try it The subject also makes a difference said Carlile She would never attempt an online math course but she loves reading reading reading read read- ing and writing and can do that independently Fernley reluctantly started started started start start- ed teaching online courses three years ago Most of us were pretty strongly against it but butth th there r was was' mandat man tet for it and the State W wast SI giving grants for forit for for- It was the inescapable direction of the future Steven Rufus and Louise Bown really pioneered it and even after See E-Courses E continued on page 10 I ICI 2 h l r 4 o 0 or r z 1 AS 0 o o r I J Allison Fernley uses computer technology to teach literature class classes es online through e a Education program E-Courses E continued from page 4 that I was skeptical Much to my surprise I found that it had strengths that I did not anticipate I could see that the discussion discussion discussion dis dis- forum can be as asgood asgood asgood good as a classroom discussion discussion discussion discus discus- sion sometimes better in that theres there's more participation tion and that through the online medium that discussion discussion discussion discus discus- sion never stops Fernley explains In a classroom the discussion ends when the class is over Online people are always checking in 10 at am a.m. or am a.m. or whenever they are online and the discussions go far beyond the bounds of a classroom Fernley expressed surprise surprise surprise sur sur- prise at the sense of community community community com com- in her online class class- es She said it removes stereotypes because you dont don't know who's sitting on the front row or the back row In a sense everyone is sitting in a circle Without the visual information of the classroom people really get to create themselves Fernley Femley admits there are disadvantages It is easier for teachers and students to communicate in class and teachers can usually see if students do not understand concepts being taught She I finds it easier to guide the discussion in the classroom Online courses may not work for everyone 1 Students must be highly motivated computer literate liter liter- literate ate and possess excellent keyboarding skills Aside from that Fernley believes the courses give access to those who would not otherwise have it We have a student this semester from South Africa what the Community College is about Stu Students enroll for these courses just like any other I t course Tuition and fees charged match those for traditional traditional traditional tra tra- tra- tra courses at The Service Center is located in in TB Students can obtain more information by calling calling call call- ing or visiting visiting visit visit- ing the fue thep electronic campus at pus |