Technology becomes teachers’ tool for communication

Hoping to learn more about the CSUS distance learning program, Friday, a group of instructors attended a seminar designed to introduce them to the new age of Internet and televised instruction. University Media Services’ distance learning program, which oversees distance education, organized the program.

Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs in Telecommunications Spencer Freund told the group of about 15 people that distance education is a growing resource which is becoming more and more common. He stated that as projected student growth in the coming years becomes a reality, distance learning will play a large role in education.

“I think the world is changing,” said Freund, citing some prominent universities such as Harvard which are advertising their distance learning programs in nationally-distributed magazines.

Freund believes that technology is notthe end to all means, but he touted some of the benefits of using technology in distance learning. With the large numbers of courses available through the web, the availability of education has become more widespread. CSUS, will continue to be part of that revolution in education, according to Fruend.

Rose Leigh Vines, director of distributed and distance learning, said that CSUS offers 50 to 60 sections per semester of distance learning courses. This semester, more than 1,100 students are enrolled in the televised distance education courses, which are broadcast in an area with over 250,000 potential viewers, she said.

According to Vines, the CSUS distance education program uses a variety of technologies such as microwave, satellites and video compression to carry the classes.

“This semester,” Vines said, “there are about 670 students in the Internet classes - by next semester, the number of students in web-based, or web-enhanced classes could jump to 900 students.”

Those attending distance-learning courses are mostly juniors and seniors living within 25 miles of campus who are confident in their use of the web, email and other technologies, she contributed.

Vines said that teachers interested in becoming distance instructors need to work through UMS to set up the classes. Not all classes are appropriate for distance education, but Vines said that UMS will work closely with the instructor to determine the feasibility of making courses happen.

One instructor asked about the universitys ability to utilize streaming video of the classroom over the Internet.

“It is up and running,” said Allan Hinderstein, assistant director for media technology, “but it is still in the testing stages. I think we are crawling, not walking.” He believes the technology will not be available until all the bugs are worked out, but it is coming together.

He had no information on how long it might take.

Hinderstein said the key to making distance education work is preparation. That preparation may include using graphics.

UMS has a graphics department that works to incorporate graphics into the teacher’s instruction. UMS will help teachers set up web sites to be used in televised classes, according to Linda Downing, manager of user services in University Computing and Communications. However, she said instructors should know some HTML basics so they can make quick changes if necessary.

The seminar concluded with Government Professor Richard Hughes demonstrating his web site, and the way he uses it in class. He has not used lecture notes for 30 years, so preparing his class took more work than for teachers whose notes do not change from semester to semester. Hughes said the work has been worthwhile.

Any instructors interested in becoming distance education instructors should obtain approval from their department chair and then contact Rose Leigh Vines at 278-6317.