Students seek alternative scheduling
by Leah Johnson, Reporter

    Like many TCC students, Christina Baiocco finds Internet and television classes hard to resist.
    "I thought it would be better than having to actually go to class every day," she said.
    Having a full-time job complicates scheduling for Baiocco. Therefore, she took two distance-learning classes along with two traditional on-campus courses last spring.
    "The main benefit is that I do my work when I am ready so I can really concentrate on what I am doing," she said.
    Athena Hardison, another distance learning student, believes that the ability to choose when to learn is the best thing about distance learning.
    Although distance learning can be a great alternative to the traditional classroom environment, Hardison cautions that distance-learning students must be serious and not fall behind.
    "Having little teacher interaction, other than what you yourself choose to have, adds more responsibility and pressure than just attending a class on time every couple of days," she said.
    Dr. Kevin Eason, assistant director of distance learning at TCC, offered a cautionary note to students considering distance-learning classes.
    "Students need to realize that they should be disciplined and motivated to keep up with their courses. They will not have a teacher standing in front of them each day," he said.
    That self-motivation requirement made Sharon Duong decide distance learning is not for her. Juggling a full-time job and school schedule including one distance learning class made the spring semester very difficult, Duong said.
    "I need to have time for other parts of my life," she said.
    Distance learning accounts for approximately 20,000 TCC enrollments each year. Most Internet classes fill in the first hours of registration.
    For some, distance learning has an entirely different meaning. As the name seems to imply, many students who enroll in Internet or television courses are actually a great distance away.
    Some students take distance-learning courses at TCC while enrolled full-time at four-year universities across the state.
    Many of these students pursue distance learning because the institution they attend does not offer a class they wish to take, or they cannot enroll in it because of limited space. Others complete their entire degree online.
    While distance learning appeals to some people for its ease, it may have drawbacks.
    Mandatory campus visits and assignments must be planned carefully and in advance. One TCC student attended Texas A&M in College Station but would drive 180 miles on a Thursday night or Friday morning to complete on-campus obligations. Combining added travel with the already hectic schedule can prove challenging.
    While some distance-learning students can utilize campus resources such as labs and the library, true distance students are unable to do so because of the obvious physical restraints.
    Some students think they will lose personal contact with their instructors for the most part. But Eason said distance-learning students can and should interact with their instructors.
    "Don't wait for the instructors to initiate communication," Eason advised. "Send them an e-mail, give them a call, or drop by their office and say hello. Carefully read the course information document and ask questions about what you do not understand."
    Instructors can still offer individual instruction as well, relying primarily on e-mail and the telephone to clear up confusion, offer explanations and provide guidance. Internet courses offer flexible solutions to the problem of distance. Combining technology such as fax machines, Internet, e-mail and message boards, instructors can teach the same material to students who might otherwise not be able to take the same course.
   Besides course material, distance-learning courses provide students the opportunity to learn and develop useful technology skills.
    "Leaving college with excellent technology skills is a crucial key to success in any career," Eason said.
    Distance learning has seen phenomenal growth at TCC. ITV courses were first introduced in fall 1973 with 783 students enrolling in two subjects: ecology and Texas government.
    CDI courses started in spring 1989. Students dialed in directly from their computers and modems into the Distance Learning computer. In the mid-1990s the courses were converted to the Internet.
    Distance learning is launching a new state-of-the-art online course system this semester. All Internet courses have been converted to the new system, which allows for a single sign-in to access all features of the system. Faculty spent the summer adapting their classes to fit the new system and to meet minimum standards of excellence adopted by the college last year.
    For additional information, visit http://dl.tccd.edu, call 817-515-4357 or e-mail help@dl.tccd.edu.