Get educated with the click of a mouse
Imagine working on a degree while holding down a full-time job and never stepping one foot on campus.
Utah State University offers online courses to help students with busy schedules. Some students fear procrastination might be a challenge.
Dan Peterson, assistant dean for continuing education, teaches Management and Human Resources 3110 online and face-to-face on Brigham City’s campus.
Peterson said he tries to get his students to interact as much as possible to keep them motivated.
“The biggest benefit is students can attend anytime that’s convenient for them,” he said. “I have a discussion page where I offer questions. Students will even start asking their own questions.”
Peterson teaches his students with WebCT, a program designed to teach online classes.
WebCT offers tools such as a chat room, e-mail, a discussion forum and other tools to educate students.
Some online classes even use video, which can be a problem if a student has a slow Internet connection.
Peterson said he would like students to use the chat room and has advised them to do so. But the discussion page is the one students use to communicate with.
“I create that tool so they stay engaged and stay interested in class,” he said.
He wants them to discuss what they are studying about and interact so it’s not all research, he said. He would prefer it to be student’s personal thoughts on what they researched and learned while studying the topics.
To slow down procrastination in the class, Peterson said he “structures it.” He uses his syllabus and sends e-mails to all students so they know what and when assignments are due.
He also posts PowerPoint presentations for students to access during their educational adventure.
On Peterson’s syllabus he informs students what to read and when to read it by, that way students can ask question in the discussion forum. He said 10 percent of the grade is on participation.
Cara Hart, a senior majoring in management human resources, said her motivation is low when it comes to her online class.
“I much prefer a face-to-face class,” she said. “I’m not motivated to get online and work on my assignments.”
Hart said the assignment deadlines are her only motivation.
“[They have discussion groups] but I don’t even want to bother reading them,” she said.
Zhongkai Zhang, a graduate student studying electrical engineering, said he never had a class online.
“They never offered the ones I need,” he said.
He would still prefer a face-to-face course in fear of procrastinating, Zhang said.
Cara Greenwell, a junior majoring in elementary and early education, said she stayed motivated for her online classes.
“I could work at different paces,” she said. “I’m big on procrastination, with things due at certain times I [stayed motivated].”
Greenwell said her work schedule was the reason for an online class. She said discussions helped her stay motivated “to a point.”
“It would have been better if all students would participate,” she said.
Peterson said in his online class he can get more students to participate than a face-to-face class because of the discussions. He said in a face-to-face class some students never give their opinion.
He said students can discuss anytime and have all the information right in front of them.
Peterson said he tries to “put teeth in policy” to keep the students working on assignments and tests.
“Anybody who’s taking the class, it requires discipline,” he said. “It’s not for everybody, and it’s not easy.”
Most students who enroll in his class think it will be a few readings, a test, then they’re done, he said. A lot of students even think it’s easier than an on-campus course.
It’s been about three years since Peterson started teaching online courses. He said since he started teaching he has made it more interactive and gives more announcements and reminders to students.
“I’ve asked for surveys from the class,” he said. “I want to be responsive – I want to provide great feedback and service to them.”
Peterson said even though he doesn’t see many of their faces, he still has concern for each individual. He sometimes will read the assignment and discover where they work.
Sometime, he even stops in to say hello.
“They are usually shocked and say, ‘Wow, I didn’t know you read my assignment,'” he said.
If he hears negative things about their job, he never mentions that because of “confidentiality reasons,” he said.
“The trend is going more towards online classes,” he said. “Harvard even has online classes.”
With 20 years of learning online, Peterson said WebCT is a better way to learn than what most schools provide for their students.
-srkrebs@cc.usu.edu