Spring Break
Getting a degree switches servers
Flexibility, accessibility have students looking to
Tara Pistorese
Issue date: 2/18/08 Section: News
"Everyone needs to be involved in education in a way that serves their purposes," King said.
"We are always going to have people who want to come to campus, who want to be involved in the maturation process, in the socialization process, in going to football games and things like that."
Online education is developing its own form of student-teacher and student-student interaction through the use of discussion boards and other online tools.
"Students start to interact in a much more robust and easier way," King said, "so sometimes the interaction becomes a very unique and interesting part of the class."
The benefits and advantages of taking online courses are also expanding educational options and accessibility for those who are physically disabled.
"We had a student who was physically disabled and for her to get from building to building in a wheelchair, to get up rickety old stairs and to find a parking spot was nearly impossible," Templeton said, "so for her, it was the anonymity. No one knew that she was in a wheelchair and she was able to earn her degree and feel like every other student."
Some students are finding advantages to online education through the use of resources they would otherwise not have had easy access to. These resources are made readily accessible through direct links posted in their virtual classrooms.
"I think also, a lot of on-campus students are more comfortable in an online environment, so it is a real natural fit for some younger people," Templeton said.
Drawbacks to online learning can develop through lack of motivation and conflict between online education and a student's unique learning style.
Each online course has a corresponding instructor that is chosen individually by department. For example, the instructor for an online history course would be chosen by the department of history, not by the extended campus, Templeton said.
Instructors are available to answer questions or explain difficult concepts similar to traditional courses. The concept of online education allows flexibility for instructors as well as students.
"We are always going to have people who want to come to campus, who want to be involved in the maturation process, in the socialization process, in going to football games and things like that."
Online education is developing its own form of student-teacher and student-student interaction through the use of discussion boards and other online tools.
"Students start to interact in a much more robust and easier way," King said, "so sometimes the interaction becomes a very unique and interesting part of the class."
The benefits and advantages of taking online courses are also expanding educational options and accessibility for those who are physically disabled.
"We had a student who was physically disabled and for her to get from building to building in a wheelchair, to get up rickety old stairs and to find a parking spot was nearly impossible," Templeton said, "so for her, it was the anonymity. No one knew that she was in a wheelchair and she was able to earn her degree and feel like every other student."
Some students are finding advantages to online education through the use of resources they would otherwise not have had easy access to. These resources are made readily accessible through direct links posted in their virtual classrooms.
"I think also, a lot of on-campus students are more comfortable in an online environment, so it is a real natural fit for some younger people," Templeton said.
Drawbacks to online learning can develop through lack of motivation and conflict between online education and a student's unique learning style.
Each online course has a corresponding instructor that is chosen individually by department. For example, the instructor for an online history course would be chosen by the department of history, not by the extended campus, Templeton said.
Instructors are available to answer questions or explain difficult concepts similar to traditional courses. The concept of online education allows flexibility for instructors as well as students.
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