The Compass Friday, Decembers, 1997 5
Distance learning progrann to debut at ECSU:
Classes offered via the Web, videoconferencing
by Dwayne Pope
If you thought the only way to get a
college education involved trudging to
class through heat, wind, rain and
snow, think again: by the start of the
1998 summer semester ECSU students
will be able to take courses through an
innovative program called "distance
learning. Courses will be offered by
cable television, the Internet, and tele
conferencing—or a combination of
these technologies.
How does distance learning work?
ECSU Director of Instructional Tech
nology, Craig Kami, who is directing
the project at ECSU, said students will
be able to register for classes using the
Internet Web-based courses which will
require students to have access to a
computer, a printer and a modem, said
Kami.
"Students who take more video-ori
ented courses will need to have access
to videoconferencing with interactive
audio," added Kami.
Although students will be separated
by distance from their instructor, Kami
pointed out the new program will al
low students to become "active learn
ers." Students will be able to respond
to given assignments using the Internet,
including electronic mail and chat
modes and local teleconferencing cen
ters. Instructors will also employ on
line interactive presentations. Kami
said, "testing will be administered both
on-line and/or at local high schools
and community colleges."
Students interested in distance learn
ing should be "highly motivated and
independent," in order to take full ad
vantage of what the courses offer.
"The courses will be more coached
and less instructed," said Kami.
"They're much more Socratic. The stu
dent is not a passive learner listening
to a lecture. Distance learning involves
the student more in the learning pro
cess; they have to take control. It's a
shift in thinking."
Twelve ECSU faculty members who
have expressed an interest in the dis
tance learning project will begin train
ing for the program during the spring
'98 semester, with pilot courses to be
offered either in the summer or fall.
Initial course offerings include Busi
ness Communications, Introduction to
Music, Creative Writing, Public Speak
ing, Foundations of Education, Mas
tering Today's Software, and Introduc
tion to Basic Biotechnology. Each course
will be limited to 15 students.
Kami said distance learning will al
low ECSU to remain competitive with
other colleges already using the pro
gram, said Kami. It will also extend the
University's reach to different types of
clientele, including older students, re
tirees, prison inmates and homemak
ers.
The new technology is "very cus
tomer oriented," said Kami. Students
will be able to take courses basically
"on their own time," he added.
The program is taking advantage of
ECSU'S videoconferencing center, lo
cated in the G.R. Little Library.
Deborah Flippens, director of the cen
ter, will coordinate the scheduling of
courses at 120 sites in North Carolina.
The sites are located at the 16 cam
puses of the UNC-system, as well as
community colleges, state agencies,
high schools, and some correctional fa
cilities.
Flippens will also be responsible for
sending and receiving course informa
tion, seminars, and conferences.
"The two-way audio and video
conferencing center will play a major
role in the success of the distance learn
ing program," said Flippens.
Dr. Glenda Griffin, who plans to
teach a distance learrung course in Writ
ing and Reading Across the Curricu
lum, praised the new program for its
attempt to reach a variety of students.
"Much like the course I'm instruct
ing, the program will attract students
from many different disciplines," said
Griffin, a professor in the Department
of Language, Literature & Communi
cation.
Many ECSU students say they are
intrigued by the idea of distance learn
ing.
Troy Lewter, a senior English/Drama
major, who will be interning in Los
Angeles in the spring semester, said
the distance learning program "is per
fect for students in my situation. It
makes learning easier for students who
can't physically attend classes."
Lament Robinson, a senior math
major, pointed out that distance learn
ing "will not only be a benefit students,
it will also help boost enrollment at
ECSU."
In-state students enrolled in courses
through the new program will pay the
same fee as ordinary tuition for a three-
hour course, under the current plan.
Students will be responsible for their
own Internet connections.
The committee on distance learning
is currently conducting a survey to de
termine the level of interest in the pro
posed courses. Students can learn more
about the project by visiting the
University's Virtual College Page at
http://198.85.48.246/dised/
index.HTML.
Poetry
Heart Skipping Beat
Infatuated visions of sexual desire.
Heart skipping beats
Hot like fire.
Sarcastic, but serious when I approach
you
Waiting to ask the question:
Can we get together and be one, not
two?
While you answer, my eyes are
observing
your lips.
And I peep your eye focusing directly
on my hips.
Turning your head so I can't see
you look.
But you turned too slow; so, baby
you're shook.
Fantasies going wild, while running
through my head
I'm wondering how it would be
me and you in bed
Your warm body
So very close to mine
Make this dove cry
Prince, make it genuine
As we lay that night lusting with no
sorrow
I wish that there were 24 more hours
before tomorrow.
Cheris "Nicky" Peebles
Nov. fire damages New Complex
by Tiffany Newell and Garry Walton
A Nov. 9 fire in the New Complex
disrupted the lives of four ECSU stu
dents.
The fire not only damaged and/or
destroyed their personal property, it
also forced them to move out of their
rooms.
The fire started around 2:30 p.m. in
suite 201 of Complex C after a candle
left burning unattended ignited win
dow blinds, according to University
Safety Officer, Michael Godfrey. The
room was empty when the fire started,
said Godfrey. Other students were in
the suite, however.
No one was injured but the residents
suffered extensive property losses,
Godfrey said. A TV and stereo in room
four melted.
The hallway sustained smoke dam
age, and room one "was completely
gutted," said Godfrey.
The victims of the fire refused to com
ment.
"I just don't want to talk about it,"
said Tresca VN^lliams, a resident of the
suite.
ECSU student Arteoia Covington
was visiting in suite 201 when the fire
started.
"Someone noticed the smoke or
smelled it," she said, "but we thought
it was just something minor in the
room. Then the smoke grew thicker."
Covington said she was not aware of
a smoke alarm going off. "If it did,"
she said, "no one heard it."
Godfrey said after the fire the electri
cian could not test to see if the smoke
detectors in the rooms were working,
due to the fire damage and water
sprayed on the fire.
After the room was cleaned up, he
said it looked as if the detector was
"knocked down or off the wall."
All dorm rooms on campus have
smoke detectors. They are checked
"during the summer and in between
semesters," according to Wilma Jordan,
Maintenance Supervisor. If the detec
tors use batteries, staff members check
to make sure they work. A test button
on the detectors will sound off an
alarm, "to let you know it is opera
tional," Jordan said.
"Cooking and burning incense
causes a problem with the smoke de
tectors," said Jordan. 'That's why we
inform students not to do it."
The dorms have pull statiom, which
will sound off a loud alarm when
pulled, allowing students to evacuate
the building. The New Complex does
not have pull stations, said Jordan, "be
cause they are designed as apart
ments."
The New Complex currentiy has no
sprinkler system. However, according
to Godfrey a sprinkling system has
been "on the drawing boards" for some
time, for the Complex.
"We recentiy got funding for it," said
Godfrey.
A new sprinkler system for the com
plex will be under construction in the
summer, said Jordan.
Damone Hyman said she was watch
ing a movie with her friends in her
room in Mitchell Lewis when she heard
"screams outside the window."
"We rushed outside to see what was
going on," said Hyman. "At first we
thought there was a fight, but once we
looked outside we saw smoke coming
from Complex C."
Hyman said she then tried to notify
the fire department by calling "all four
numbers that are listed on the back of
my door, to call in case there is a fire. I
couldn't get through; all four numbers
were busy."