Online courses now more accessible, acceptable

Friday, October 23, 1998

Online courses now more accessible, acceptable

INTERNET: Acquiring education via Internet increasingly
popular

By Katie Sierra

Daily Bruin Contributor

In earlier days, heated classroom debates between students would
often result in red faces and strained voices. Today, however, such
debates may result in cramped fingers and strained eyes.

Following a nationwide trend, UCLA, through their extension
program, now offers more than 90 classes over the Internet.

However, with the advent of online learning, the traditional
college experience may be endangered.

All online classes offered through UCLA Extension are designed
by OnLineLearning.net, a locally based company that specializes in
creating Internet software.

UCLA Extension is a program that offers classes to adults and
working professionals while applying similar academic standards as
UCLA.

Distance learning, a form of online education, refers to any
form of education where students are not present in front of an
instructor. Earlier forms of distance learning were accomplished
through correspondence such as CD-ROMs and videotapes.

Now that the use of Internet software has become common, most
distance learning now occurs online.

Online courses are delivered through specially secured software
that students must download onto their computers, said Bea Kinser,
assistant marketing director at OnlineLearning.net.

Instructors will then post information on the class site, and
students are able to retrieve that information.

Kinser claims that a common misconception about online learning
is that students feel isolated.

"UCLA Extension’s online courses provide a high degree of
personal interaction," she said.

"Not only will you and your instructor communicate directly,
everyone in your class will be involved in many group and
individual discussions," she added.

Most extension classes require eight to 12 hours of classwork
each week, and students are expected to log on to their computers
four to five times a week. Students communicate directly with each
other by posting notes to the class site.

All over the world, online learning is being used for many
different purposes ­ and UCLA is not the only school utilizing
this technology.

Universities such as Harvard, University of Minnesota and New
York University also offer classes online.

One example of a somewhat less-successful venture into online
learning is the Western Governors University, an online learning
center sponsored by several western states. Enrollment this year
totaled less than 20, at a cost of several million dollars.

Also, disabled individuals who are unable to leave their house
can take classes over the Internet. Children who are having trouble
in class can be tutored online.

As online learning becomes more common, former limitations in
this medium are being broken.

For example, the Graduate School of America, an online
institution, now offers master’s degrees and doctorates in
education, human services, and organization and management. Until
recently, no degrees were offered through online learning.

Instructors for these classes come from many different
backgrounds, ranging from professional business people to faculty
members from institutions around the country.

Jim Jepsen, a course manager for OnlineLearning.net, said that
online classes are usually targeted at older, working professionals
who are looking to advance their careers.

For example, elementary and secondary school teachers make up
almost one-third of OnlineLearning.net’s enrollment. Due to new
laws requiring teachers to take classes in cross-cultural
education, many teachers use the Internet to maintain their state
credentials.

"We spend a lot of time talking to teachers, and our online
curriculum reflects their input," said John Kobara, president and
CEO of OnlineLearning.net.

"While they are concerned about meeting certification
requirements, they are really looking for practical information
they can use," he added.

Brian Copenhaver, provost of the College of Letters and Sciences
at UCLA, said that many classes are improved with the use of images
and visualization. Physical sciences and art history are two
subjects that benefit from online courses.

However, Copenhaver also said that there are many drawbacks to
online learning.

"There are certain kinds of thinking that the web isn’t good
with. Linear thinking is a good thing in certain kinds of learning,
but the web is set up for divergent thinking," said Copenhaver.

He explained that when people search the web, they can get lost
in the process and lose their sense of order and control.

The ability for someone to succeed in online learning is still
ultimately dependent on the student, Copenhaver said. As in a
traditional institution, the student must be motivated to
learn.

"The level and scope of the educational experience depends
primarily on the capability, talent and passion of the individual
student," he said.

Comments, feedback, problems?

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