October 11, 2005
NEWSNet classes offer flex to students who are motivated
Internet courses have increased in popularity and are convenient for both MCC students and instructors.
Students and teachers seem to enjoy distance learning, the term given to this type of instruction and course taking.
“It’s constantly growing,” said Paul Hietter, the MCC distance learning coordinator and a member of the history department faculty.
Hietter has been the distance learning coordinator for four years.
This fall the registration reached a high point of 3,515 students taking online classes, according to Hietter.
Not only is the enrollment growing each year, but the number of classes that are offered each semester are continually rising, Hietter said.
Last semester there were 127 unduplicated courses offered.
Hietter explained that unduplicated courses meant that there were 127 different types of courses and 312 sections of those courses.
There are many advantages to distance learning, Hietter said.
“Students, for the most part, don’t have to be anywhere at any particular time” to take online courses, Hietter said.
Flexibility is another advantage to distance learning, according to Hietter.
“It allows more people to come to school. About one-third of the distance learning enrollment take only Internet courses,” Hietter said.
“I had a single mother who came in and she swears by online courses, because she doesn’t have the resources to attend classes on campus,” said Sharon Stover, an MCC academic adviser who agrees with Hietter.
Another advantage of distance learning is that it can continue anywhere the distance learner goes, even if the student travels outside of the district, Stover said.
“It’s a big plus for students who want to go home during the summer,” Stover said.
Teachers also enjoy the advantages of distance learning.
Kate Mohler, an MCC English instructor, is no exception.
“For me, the advantages include a more flexible teaching schedule. I can usually get in touch with students anytime, rather than during a set time period,” Mohler said.
“More important, students can get in touch with me at most anytime, even at night and over the weekend. I like to be as available as possible for my students, and Internet courses allow me to do that,” Mohler said.
According to Stover, some of the most popular Internet courses offered by MCC are Rock Music and Culture and American Jazz.
Stover said math courses were less popular, but Hietter disagrees.
“Math and English tend to be the big hitters,” Hietter said.
MCC student Makenzy Barnes said she likes Internet courses because she doesn’t have to look for a parking spot on campus in order to attend a class.
“I would take all my courses on the Internet if I could,” Barnes said.
There are things to consider before signing up for an Internet course, said Tuesdee Pfeiff, an MCC academic adviser.
You have to be self-motivated and make sure and keep up, Pfeiff said.
Pfeiff, who completed her entire master’s program online, said online courses have high failure rates.
According to Pfeiff, 35 people started the online master’s program with her, but only 12 passed.
There are more cons than pros, Pfeiff said.
“One con is when you don’t understand something, you have to e-mail the question and you may not get an answer back for days,” Pfeiff said.