8 THE COMPASS - SPRING 2009
2009
Distance Education Online
Bj: Ebony Andrea Ferebee
The directors for the distance education
program, held in the Information
Technology Center at Elizabeth City State
University are Kimberley Stevenson and
Loretta Powers. According to Powers
“Many are aware of the total advantages of
being able to obtain an education online.”
With an online education you are not
obligated to stay in one set location, the
classroom. The problems however, exist
when it comes to the courses that are
available.
Most colleges do not offer every major
online. For example, ECSU may offer an
online degree in Arts and Humanities,
Business, Education and Teaching,
Vocational and Career Training but what
about Communications, Public relations
or Journalism for that matter? What does
the student who is interested in obtaining
a degree in Journalism and is unavailable
to physically attend classes because she
can not find a babysitter do? What if a
major is offered but you can only take one
a
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or two courses at time to complete a four
year degree? More than likely this student
will have to take courses only closest to
their major, and should be ready to be a
participant in the online community for a
great deal of time.
According to the ECSU website, the
mission of the distance education online
supports and encourages collaborative
efforts involving faculty, staff, and
administrators, working to serve as a
model for change and growth at ECSU
via distance education delivery methods.
However, this is 2009 and students have to
deal with more problems now than ever,
even though all colleges should be able to
adapt and adjust to the fast pace society
in which we live today. According to Mrs.
CynthiaWilliams, a faculty member of the
Financial Aid Department at Elizabeth City
University, additional faculty members
and a group of staff members that also
determine if you qualify for the online
community agree “that students may be
able to take one or two related classes to
there field of interest at a time.”
Mrs. Loretta Powers, states “if a
student is blackboard enhanced, has the
available software, has taken prior online
classes and does not need one on one
support from a teacher, no matter what
their major, they will do just fine in the
distance education program.”Mrs. Loretta
is available to answer all questions about
online courses and is very enthusiast in
aiding students to the new online world.
About 3S% of the student population
has had at least one online class in their
schedule and at least 6S% have already
had experience with online classes
whether in high school or by there
freshman year in college. According to
a recent questionnaire conducted with
one of the leaders in the online education
department, the online education
programs are very successful; they say
many of the students see this as a great
plus to the Elizabeth City State University
Community. Many teachers do not request
a proctor to be present while test taking.
Students find this appealing because they
then are not required to go through the
steps in finding an official proctor. The
alternative to such procedures is the fact
that most teachers provide timed-tests so
that you do not have to go through the
trouble of establishing a proctor.
THE COMPASS STAFF
Thi Compass i§ published by fii# Ellzabetfi City State University students under ttie
dtractton of the d^artment sf Language, Literature and Communieation, Jehn Luton,
Chairperson and Kip iranch, Faculty Advisor.
Executive Editor,
AasocUrte Editor,
Assoolate Editor.
Associate Editor.
Contributing Writerei
. Srittneeixum
MisHael Bew
..KiistinWeod
.. ..David Walker
: Casimira irown, Jeremy illia,
Ebony AndreaFerebee, Latonya Golden, Camille MoOovvan, Kimneela Powell,
lyrone D. Reid, Cierra Sawyer, Leon Thomas, Keith Wharton
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