The class you want may be online at universities in Maryland

Daily Record, The (Baltimore), Oct 24, 2008 by Andy Rosen

In a class at the University of Baltimore, students gathered Wednesday morning to get a lesson in video-game design from instructor Stuart Moulthrop. The lesson revolved around creating "enemies" for gamers to battle. Moulthrop spent the early part of class describing and showing students the code to make sure all the enemy ships had different flight paths so they would not appear in a straight line, which would make the game boring.

Students did not have to show up to class, though. They were able to learn instead by watching Moulthrop's desktop through a networking system called GoToMeeting. As they watched, students were able to listen and ask questions through the audio and video communication program Skype.

Once an ancillary tool for research and communication by students and instructors, and still largely used as a way to create flexibility and minimize travel time for students, online education is changing with Internet technology and now has an important role in even traditional classes.

Though many schools around Maryland are using programs that are primarily or exclusively online, colleges and universities are taking on Web-based aspects in many programs. The use of online education cuts across the spectrum, from mid-career students who want a flexible way to expand their skills to younger students who find they work better online or are looking to boost their courseload.

Not everybody is convinced that learning online is comparable to a classroom, though, and discussion continues about the relative value of each method of instruction. In the end, many say the best method of instruction varies by student and by material.

Bill Shewbridge, director of the new media studio at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, said new Internet technologies provide a range of options for instructors to get through to students. UMBC was one of the first schools nationwide to make lectures available for download through Apple Computer Inc.'s iTunes U.

"There are a lot of content producers, and we're just one of them," he said, "but we're finding the trend is that there's way more distribution channels for content. So you don't just go with one."

Most online classes are based around programs that provide message boards and other ways of viewing and discussing course materials, and many are set up in such a way that students do not have to be online at a given time. The goal in those situations is to provide students with more leeway as to when they study.

"You have the tie of the anywhere anytime; instead of having a discussion that would last for three hours in a classroom, you have several parallel conversations ... throughout a week," said Stella Porto, director of the master of distance education program at the University of Maryland University College. "So discussions tend to be longer, you have more time to reflect."

UMUC, which is the second-largest public university in the U.S. by enrollment, does most of its teaching online.

There are advantages to working online together, even if it's not in real time, according to many in the field. Taking courses over the Web allows people from different backgrounds to connect and work together, regardless of location.

"It's very rare that you'd ever work on something alone," said Will Paul, campus director in Maryland for the University of Phoenix.

Phoenix students Tracey and Richard Moore, a married couple who both went back to school two years ago after a 25-year layoff, both said they have found the ability to connect with other students online to be a helpful part of their education.

Tracey Moore completed an associate's degree in criminal justice last year, while Richard Moore finished his associate's degree in business. Both are now working toward bachelor's degrees and considering master's programs at the university.

"You meet people from so many different walks of life," said Richard Moore, who works in management at a Montgomery County athletic apparel and equipment store. "I like that because it's personal, but not too personal."

Ivonne Chirino-Klevans, program director for the international center at Walden University, said online classes are often targeted toward career skills, but said there are plenty of opportunities for interaction between instructors and students. Walden is owned by Baltimore-based Laureate Education Inc.

"Contrary to what people think, it's a lot of contact with other students and also faculty because we're available 24/7," she said. "In the past, people thought that online education was just posting your information, looking and downloading PowerPoint slides."

Some students are able to work in real time online in the same way they might in a classroom setting.

Hands-on training is likely to become more effective online as technology improves, said Diana Zilberman, director of distance learning at Baltimore City Community College. She said theoretical studies are more likely to be offered online now. She mentioned a brain surgeon as an example of a trade that one probably couldn't learn online.