| The creation of the Internet has had a great | | | | group collaboration. Most students thoroughly |
| impact in the world of interactions. The Internet | | | | enjoy the active learning that online classes |
| provides opportunities for distributed systems, | | | | involve. |
| worldwide collaboration and presentation of | | | | Most programs allow scholars to attend classes |
| information, all of which have helped immensely in | | | | and complete coursework at their own |
| bringing even great distances closer together. The | | | | convenience. This allows them to continue with full |
| Internet's greatest place of impact is in the realm | | | | time employment and maintain time with family |
| of distance learning and online coursework. | | | | and friends. Working from home helps to avoid |
| Computer technology has increased at such a | | | | the high costs of commuting and possible childcare |
| pace that learning is adapting and taking place | | | | costs, if applicable. Convenience in this day and |
| outside of face-to-face interaction. UCF offers a | | | | age is the by-laws for everything. Students and |
| select few online courses in two different modes: | | | | teachers want their learning to be convenient. For |
| fully online and reduced seat, which allows for half | | | | the physically handicapped or for who must stay |
| in class and half online. In order to keep up with | | | | home for whatever reason, online learning may |
| many of the universities in America, UCF should | | | | be the only viable solution, and why deny this |
| add more online courses. | | | | privilege to anyone else? |
| The number of enrolled distance learning students | | | | More online courses would be a good addition for |
| in the United States indicates growing interest in | | | | UCF because it can help to bring more students |
| this educational option. In her article "Distance | | | | to the school that otherwise wouldn't attend the |
| Learning Goes the Distance," Charlotte Thomas | | | | school. By allowing students to attend the school |
| states that the "Family PC Magazine estimates | | | | through the Internet, UCF could raise their |
| that 1 million students are taking distance-learning | | | | population numbers and therefore get greater |
| classes via the Internet, and will most likely reach | | | | funding from the government. Funding from the |
| close to 2.2 million by 2004." | | | | government would be helpful in adding other |
| There can only be one reason for the growing | | | | needed things to the university premises. |
| number of online learners; the program must | | | | Remedying the situation could be done in many |
| work. If it is possible for a student to sit in their | | | | ways. One solution would be to make WebCT, an |
| pajamas, eating cereal, and go to class at the | | | | online course server, mandatory for all classes |
| same time, why not let them? Education should | | | | offered. This would begin the integration from |
| not be restricted to a classroom, and by the | | | | traditional to online. Similarly, UCF should educate |
| growing numbers of online learning, it is obvious | | | | their professors and teachers in how to use the |
| that students want to be learning from online | | | | Internet and associated technology. This would |
| classes. | | | | allow for more of these staff to teach online |
| Students who work their way through college | | | | courses. UCF should poll students and teachers |
| would benefit greatly from the addition of online | | | | and ask them whether they want more online |
| classes. Online learning generally provides | | | | classes, and if many teachers are willing to teach |
| considerable freedom, allowing students to often | | | | them. In many of the state colleges, computers |
| choose when and where they'll participate in class | | | | have become required. There's no better way to |
| activities. But at the same time, students have | | | | use these computers than to allow students to |
| the equivalent kinds of deadlines and structured | | | | work and save time and money with commuting. |
| responsibilities of a face-to-face class. Flexibility | | | | Why else should they be required, if not to |
| must be balanced by responsibility. Like a | | | | provide learning with them? Students today are |
| face-to-face course, online courses require that | | | | fully connected through the internet. UCF should |
| assignments be completed by due dates, | | | | offer more online classes to help satisfy the |
| attendance (through logging in to the course), | | | | students in their wants and needs. |
| involvement in online discussions, and sometimes | | | | |