By Monique Simpson
For the Daily Bruin
Will there be college campuses in the future?
Maybe students will just sit at home and take classes through
the Internet, without ever meeting another student and never seeing
their professor.
As online learning subsidizes and in some cases replaces the
classroom environment, some may be wondering how far that change
will go.
But even if online classes are introduced into the UC
curriculum, many educators feel that it will not eliminate the
traditional classroom setting of higher education.
“There’s nothing like having teachers and students
in the same room,” said UC spokesman Chuck McFadden.
“Online classes will never replace face-to-face
learning.”
One reason some educators believe the Internet will not entirely
transform higher education is the importance of human interaction
that is integral to the traditional learning experience, something
lost in the transition to online learning.
In a recent design class that was taught partially on the
Internet, Phil Agre, associated professor of information studies,
found some of his students disliked reading class lectures over the
Internet.
“Some students prefer lectures because of their busy
lives,” Agre said. “Being in class is the one time
their attention is squarely on (learning).”
Agre discovered that outside of the classroom, reading lectures
competed with students’ other commitments. He said he noticed
that because he allowed classroom time for student presentations
only, many students complained about his lack of lecturing.
Students also want the personal contact with professors who can
better explain the materials, Agre said.
William Marelich, a lecturer in psychology and sociology and
assistant professor at Cal State Fullerton, agrees with Agre.
“Communication between teachers and students is needed to
clarify and expand on issues,” said Marelich, who turned down
a position teaching an online class because of this reason.
He said many online class presentations are “cold and
boring” and do not allow professors to incorporate current
events into lectures.
“I couldn’t work in an example of a protest from the
Democratic National Convention because the online lecture is
already set,” Marelich said.
Marelich’s preference for traditional teaching is also the
result of the pleasure he takes from student feedback during
lectures, such as laughter when he tells jokes.
“It’s part of the fun of being an instructor,”
he said.
But an incentive toward distance learning is being created by
the expected increase of incoming students that has become known as
Tidal Wave II.
“UC expects 63,000 students in the next 10 years,”
McFadden said.
The university is looking for creative ways to dealing with this
enormous influx, such as distance learning though McFadden said it
is too early to tell.
“Online classes are not going to happen next year,”
said Robert Cox, manager of enrollment planning. “There are
many issues that have to be discussed, such as what is a good
online class and how does it compare to a traditional class. The
academic administrators are looking at these serious
issues.”
Currently, most people view the Internet as playing a supportive
role education while making life easier for students and
professors.
For professors, the Internet can be a useful tool in research.
Marelich said he has used the Internet to assist him in his current
study on romantic relationships.
After placing his survey online, he realized the Internet was a
way to gain more survey participants and make recording data
easier.
“A year ago there wasn’t a lot of information on
doing surveys on the web in sociology and psychology,” said
Marelich. “But with the growth of the Internet, there has
been a growth in online research.”
Students have also reaped many benefits from the expanded use of
the Internet in education. Anita Cotter, associate registrar and
the voice of URSA telephone, credits students having to visit
Murphy Hall less due to services like URSA online and the my.ucla
Web site.
“The Internet eliminates the middle person between
students and information,” Cotter said.
Information via the Internet is also available for perspective
UCLA students. Additionally, students can even apply for admission
online.
“There are virtual tours, photos of the campus and
students’ comment about UCLA on the UCLA Web site,”
said Rae Lee Siporin, director of undergraduate admissions and
relations with schools.
These changes students and professors are experiencing now are
just the beginning of the Internet’s impact on higher
education.
Agre believes major transformations will come in upcoming
years.
“The most important changes are in the future,” said
Agre. “We are now in position of speculation on whatever
revolution is going to happen.”