Gina Nespoli
Published: November 22, 2006
With all the hype about changes to the new spring schedule, students are considering enrolling in more online courses. Classes available online have almost doubled since last year. For spring 2007, a variety of courses from Accounting I to Humanities Art is available through PJC’s Distance Learning program.
Formerly, students in online classes used WebCT, but now classes will be offered through A New Global Environment for Learning (ANGEL).
Although WebCT is still used for some courses, the distance learning faculty are moving courses from WebCT to ANGEL for the upcoming spring semester. ANGEL is said to be more user-friendly, with a built-in grade book so students can monitor their progress in the course.
Convenience is a primary reason students have been enrolling in more online classes.
“People take online classes from submarines or as a mother of three,” said Marian Wernicke, English department professor. “That is distance learning because they cannot come to campus for classes.
“The reason someone takes online courses should be looked at,” Wernicke said.
Audrey Davis, a PJC environmental horticulture student, has had trouble deciding if she should take online classes.
“I learn better with student to teacher interaction,” Davis said, “but the convenience would be great.”
Davis sets her school schedule around dropping off and picking up her daughter from elementary school, so taking courses online would be beneficial. But Davis is concerned about the lack of contact with other students and teachers.
“I would think that online courses would take away from the whole college experience,” Davis said, an opinion shared by Wernicke.
“I don’t think the experience is the same. Something magical happens in the classroom. You can’t plan or orchestrate it,” Wernicke said. “I don’t think chat rooms can do the same thing.”
But other instructors are happy with the program and new classes available online.
“I have been teaching Humanities Art for years – first as a traditional lecture and now as a Web-based course,” said Carol Horigan, humanities art instructor.
“Distance learning is great for students who need flexibility,” Horigan said. “They must be disciplined and self-motivated, [because students] still have regular deadlines to meet.”
Bill Waters is in charge of the distance learning at PJC and offers advice to prospective distance learning students.
“Don’t get behind. Read the instructions. Force yourself to come up with a timeline that matches the syllabus,” Waters said.
“We are not trying to displace on-campus courses. We are simply broadening course opportunities to students,” Waters said.