| Nowadays at Olympic College (OC), students who want to take something other than a traditional, regularly-meeting, on-ground class can enroll in one of the various options presented at the community college.
OC offers a number of non-traditional courses for students: online courses, telecourses, and portable courses. These courses are classified as “Distance Learning.” OC was among the first schools inthe nation to embrace this teaching technology.
The online classes are conducted through Blackboard, an online “classroom” type area where students connect to the professor and other students, receive assignments and course materials, and submit their work.
The online classes are in conjunction with Washington Online (WAOL) that provides online classes to participating state community colleges. Classes are either taken at OC with OC instructors, or at any one of the community colleges in the start that has partnered with WAOL.
Telecourses are similar in that students complete assignments and course work at home, but students can also rent videos from the library to supplement their textbooks. Portable classes, another distance learning options, offers a course in a portable USB drive for those who may not have reliable internet access.
Distance learning options were created for that very reason: distance. These learning options create access for people who would not be able to attend class regularly.
“It’s all about access,” said David Bishop, Director of Media Services and Distance Learning at OC.
Distance learning provides a way for people who have a hard time coming to campus at a regularly scheduled time, such as those with unusual work schedules, children, or remotely located homes. Distance learning also accommodates those who may have a hard time adapting socially, or even those who shy away from open discussion in classrooms.
“I can reach students who would not ordinarily be able to connect with me,” said OC Professor Chip Barker.
Barker benefits from the flexibility in his classes as well. As a single parent, he is able to work his schedule around his home life.
ITV video conferencing provides another way to connect campuses so kids can take the same class from multiple locations. For example, a student on the Poulsbo campus can tune into a class being held on the Bremerton campus. This option is not classified as a distance learning alternative, but another on-ground option. This way, the college can meet the needs of students who want to take a course when there are not enough students interested to qualify having another section offered.
Bishop said that various learning styles mean that various course layouts need to be provided in attempted to meet the needs of most students. Some students may be auditory or kinesthetic learners, but some do succeed by visual and unaccompanied learning.
“Everyone learns differently, with a predominant learning style. Those who learn successfully from reading will succeed the most in an online course,” he said.
Each mode of distance learning, online, portable, and telecourse, offers its advantages, but it depends on someone’s learning style to determine which the best option for them is.
Another OC Professor, Dondi Hanson, and Barker both observed that the success rates of students are relatively similar between online and on-gound classes.
“I don’t think well-prepared students excel better in either format, really. The skills and task assignments in my lecture and on-line sections are pretty much the same. Some students participate in discussion more frequently online and others perform better on tests for a number of reasons,” said Barker.
Hanson agreed.
“[Students] can and do excel at the same rate when a course is properly delivered in an on-line format,” she said. “It depends so much on how the online class is structured. My on line classes do as well as the on ground.”
Barker thinks that some students think online courses will be easier when they sign up for them, but unless they have the academic study skills required, they may find that is not the case.
Today people tend to be more aware of online learning and what to expect when they enroll. About five years ago, this wasn’t the case. Now, those who may not be used to the atmosphere know how to adjust to the new learning environment, according to Bishop.
For some people, enrolling in courses online takes away the human aspect of college. The daily or bi-weekly face-to-face interaction with other peers is eliminated and students must then rely on their own interpretations and companionship to succeed.
Lacie Guynes, a student at OC, heard about online classes because she had several friends who took them.
“It sounded like an excellent opportunity for her because she could spend less time in class, less time driving there, and more time doing other things,” she said.
Guynes thinks online classes are less personal due to the lack of human interaction. “You don’t get to meet people. It’s not as personal,” she said.
However, several professors feel otherwise.
“The notion that online courses are impersonal is not a generalization I agree with,” said Barker. “All of my courses are designed to link the student to the material in a personal way. My relationships are really no more or less personal than my lecture courses. Some students want to know their professor and some don’t. Some students enjoy collaborative learning and group work and some don’t.”
Hanson said she tries hard to make each of her classes personal by streaming each class to the web, thus enhancing her online classes to feel more like an on-ground course.
Shy students who have difficulty participating in on-ground classes may feel more comfortable with distance learning alternatives. The mask of not knowing your peers could boast their online discussion and make them feel more confident and ready to participate.
Barker sees this pattern between online and on-ground classes.
“I don’t see a difference in the self-disclosure of students between the modalities. Some people find it easier to write things than to voice them because they can edit their thoughts along the way,” he said.
For those who do find it easier to participant in behind-the-scenes discussions, are self-motivators and able to learn visually may find that distance learning alternatives may add to their educational experience.
To learn more about the Distance Learning program at OC, visit www.olympic.edu.
|
