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Simulated classroom learning

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By Robert Klimper |Staff Writer|

Faculty and students discuss the challenges and advantages of online courses in the light of students’ demands and quality factors. 

Though online courses offer a more flexible schedule, it is not unheard of for students to feel a somewhat of a disconnect to the instructor of the courses as they can just be a wall of text with no face to face interaction.

“I probably won’t take another [online course]…I would rather be able to speak to the teacher myself,” said Joscelyne Baisa, a freshman at CSUSB taking her first online course this quarter.

CSUSB offers opportunities for professors and students to hold a simulated classroom environment with screen sharing and video feed.

Another way professors can interact with their students is through offering hybrid courses, partially face to face classes and times when the class is online.

“The [class] that was half online and half in class I felt like I got more out of it, because I was able to go to the class and talk about what I read online”, said Westley Bovee, a senior at CSUSB who has taken a hybrid course.

Bovee still found use out of the online courses he took, yet for one of them, he felt like the course was a bit more involved and could see that the professor put a lot of work into making the class.

“If it is done well, an online course can connect you in very interesting ways to you students,” said Dr. Mihaela Popescu, communication professor and faculty associate with Academic Technologies & Innovation (ATI).

Dr. Popescu sees a purpose in online courses and tries to work around the issue of the disconnect that can come from online only courses.

She tries to achieve this through allowing the students themselves to introduce each other through outlets like video or audio so that other students feel a sense of connection.

On her end, Dr. Popescu finds that giving quick feedback is important as no feedback leaves the student on their own.

“Generally speaking, I have more of a sense that every student has gotten my desired learning objectives in an online class than a face to face, because I actually see them going through [the material]”, said Dr. Montgomery Van Wart, the recipient of the Quality Matters Certification for his online course, Human Resource Management in the Public Sector.

Dr. Wart, despite preferring classes where he can lecture face to face with the students, finds that online courses have their own merit and tries to constantly improve upon them as often as he can.

As he was awarded the QM certification, he believes that striving for a QM and getting help from the ATI on campus can help make each online course available a better and more involved experience overall.

Though professors can achieve a more involved online classroom, students still seem to enjoy in-person classes and are able to better enjoy the course they are participating in.

CSUSB ranked among top online programs

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By Gloria Gutierrez | Staff Writer |

CSUSB online programs rank high among other online degree programs and continue to provide an alternative for in-class learning.
CSUSB provides affordable, flexible and essential quality online programs, according to affordablecollegesonline.com.
Takiya Moore, an instructional design technician at Online Distributed Learning, explained that our programs differ from the “cookie-cutter” programs offered at public colleges and private for-profit universities because our online programs can be highly customized.
CSUSB professors take the opportunity to shape the context of their material based on how they feel will benefit and engage students best.
For example, a Comm. 306 course offered online begins with an introduction video of the professor in his home.
That video clip gives the virtual class experience more of a personalized feel.

“We have made a lot of efforts in the past 10 years in analyzing what the needs of the students are,” said Mauricio Cadavid, an instructional designer with Online Distributed Learning.“We understand student’s time limitations and their inflexible schedules, so that has sort of all combined to provide flexible and affordable online programs.”

CSUSB offers over 75 undergrad online courses and some online masters programs.
The masters programs include those in Business Administration, Public Administration, Criminal Justice and Nursing.
Some of these programs do require blended classes which integrate face-to-face meeting time with the professor and classmates due to the fact that some majors require some hands-on learning and guidance.
Complete online undergrad programs are currently not offered at CSUSB because the age range targeted for online programs are for those students older than 25 years old.
“Most people, about 90-95 percent, in masters programs are working adults, as a working adult you really don’t have the option of coming to class during the day,” said Cadavid. “So the population that we serve has really determined the type of programs that we offer.”
The online courses not only meet the needs of those who have time and distance constraints, but they also meet the needs of those who are disabled and impaired. Complete accessibility of the online courses serve those who need it.
Marysol Guzman, a Public Relations major and senior at CSUSB, was able to experience a few online courses during her college career.
Guzman said that she enjoyed the convenience of only needing to log into a computer no matter the location for a class.
Not all students opt for online courses though and not all are aware that CSUSB offers online masters programs.
Student Melissa Dorador is majoring in Linguistics and is interested in going into a masters program after graduation. She was not aware of online masters programs at CSUSB.
Dorador said, “Personally, I wouldn’t enroll in an online program unless I had no other choice. I like the dynamics that take place in a classroom, interacting with peers and professors face-to-face. I do see how online programs are attractive to students who hold full-time jobs or have children since it allows them to have more flexibility balancing school with other responsibilities.”
The online programs at CSUSB are geared towards adults older than 25-years-old because it can provide an education that works around their schedule.

Reinvestment in higher education

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By Mariela Limon |Staff Writer|

Governor Jerry Brown’s newly released 2013-2014 state budget proposal gives back to higher education, including an extra $125.1 million for the California State University system.
If passed, the budget guarantees that the CSU system will receive a total of $2.2 billion in state funding.
According to the Governor’s Budget Summary, in order to improve student success, the funds will be directed towards, “…improvements in time-to-completion, improvements in graduation and completion rates in all segments, increases in transfer students enrolled at CSU and UC and successful credit and basic skills course completion.”
The proposal also caps the number of units a student who receives money from the state General Fund can take in order to shorten the amount of time it takes to earn a degree.
If a student exceeds the amount of capped units – 167 within the first two years – they will have to pay the full cost of instruction.
The additional $125.1 million would come after the state’s passing of Proposition 30, which increased sales tax and income taxes on those who make more than $250,000 per year.
“We appreciate the governor’s recognition that California will benefit from the investment of state funds into higher education,” said CSU Chancellor Timothy P. White, according to now.humboldt.edu.
In accordance to the budget, $10 million is designated to advance the use of technology for online alternatives for lower-division general education and highly demanded courses for the students’ benefit.
In the Budget Summary, “The proposal should obviate the need for CSU to increase student tuition and fees and can be used by the university to meet its most pressing needs.
This increase is in addition to the $125 million General Fund that CSU will receive in 2013-14 for not increasing tuition and fees in 2012-13, as required by the 2012 Budget Act.”
Chancellor White states, “It will allow the CSU to address the unprecedented demand for high quality education at our institutions, as well as areas of critical need.”
With budget cuts and tuition increases in the last four years, this news sits well with students at CSUSB.Although having online courses may benefit students, some think that most courses are better in a person-to-person setting.
“Some classes like chemistry should be taken on campus. You need someone to explain it in person,” said nursing student Leticia Orellana.
According to the Governor’s Budget Summary, “Priority will be given to the development of courses that can serve greater numbers of students while providing equal or better learning experiences.”
The proposal has been praised by the California Faculty Association.
“This budget proposal is the first step in restoring a prosperous future for California. We appreciate the governor’s commitment to public higher education and, in particular, to keeping the CSU affordable for our students,” said CFA President Lillian Taiz.
The California Republican Party was not as pleased with the proposal.
“What’s disappointing about Gov. Brown’s announcement is that job creation was never mentioned,” said CRP President Del Beccaro, “Cutting the regulatory burden was ignored.”
The budget will be reviewed again and voting will take place in July.

Ditch classes, go online

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By Carmen Herrera |Staff Writer|

We’ve all been there.

Sitting in a classroom for almost two hours listening to your professor read from a PowerPoint presentation that’s already posted on Blackboard. If not for an attendance, you most likely wouldn’t show up.

Rather than wasting time in these classes, a better option is moving these classes to online only.

With highly accessible technology and tuition at an all-time high, this seems like an efficient alternative.

With the recent pending $500 million budget cut to the CSU systems, tuition could be raised by as much as 32 percent starting fall quarter 2011.

These costs do not include other expenses such as books, supplies and parking permits that need to be additionally purchased.

In addition to the flexibility and ease of use, online classes are considerably cheaper for students and the university in comparison to classroom instructed courses.

To start, students would spend less gas traveling to school. Now that the gas prices are higher and expected to increase, driving to school has now turned out to be an expensive hassle.

Online courses could also offer more opportunities for students urgently needing a class. Not having to be limited smaller enrollment capacities, students could get their classes done on time with no setbacks.

Some students I surveyed in the library and Santos Manuel Student Union agreed that online courses would be easier and more timely.

“It’s self-paced and timely,” said student Phil Morrison. “I took all my prerequisites at Barstow Community College online and found it easier. As long as it’s all online and not having to go back and forth it’s fine.”
However, there are mixed reactions among students and professors about the option of having more online courses.

“I would not say they work best for me,” said Psychology professor Kenneth Schultz. “I am doing it primarily to help students who are not able to attend regular on-the-ground classes. I personally would prefer to do in-person classes.”
People who opposed the idea of online classes believed that you learn more attending class rather than completing work through a computer.

“You have a better chance of learning in class,” said student Bridgette Garcia. “Online you get distracted.”

By distracted, it could mean browsing the latest videos on YouTube, checking e-mail and even replying to comments on your Facebook wall instead of finishing school work.

“I don’t think I’d like it,” said student Korben Corbett. “Teachers being there clear up what computers can’t.”
Though taking classes online has its flaws, I feel that they are necessary for many classes. More particularly for those classes in which PowerPoint lectures are the primary educational method.

“I would like to see a few more online options for students, but my personal preference, would be to continue to have the majority of classes be in person,” said Shultz.

I couldn’t agree more with Schultz. There needs to be involvement to make one’s college experience an actual experience.

General classes where 200 plus students don’t get any face time with professors or interaction with students should be online, while major specific classes should always be in class.

The entire school shouldn’t be turned to a complete hybrid campus; however, more online classes should be offered to save time and money for everyone.