Distance learning revisited
Lesley Jaycox
Issue date: 11/15/01 Section: News
Recent complaints regarding the Global Challenge have been heard loud and clear. Freshman students all over campus, have different views than administration concerning the new Core curriculum.
During the spring of 2000 there were talks between the Deans and faculty about a new Core curriculum. Many agreed that the Internet is a fundamental tool regarding education and wanted the new curriculum to contain it. The new curriculum would be put together the following year by five professors, with several focus groups held before the final draft.
New software was needed in order to implement the course. Blackboard software was used as the main layout for the course, with information customized by faculty to better accommodate students. The assignments are new but the basic structures of the new curriculum versus the old version are similar.
All incoming freshmen are required to take the Global Challenge as a distance learning course requirement. The first two sections of the course currently must be taken at one of the New Jersey campuses, but the other two can be taken at the Wroxton, England and Tel Aviv, Israel campuses.
In the next few years, FDU faculty hopes to offer many distance learning courses, each including a global virtual faculty member. This is an important factor because teachers from all over the world have different perspectives on issues discussed in the virtual classroom. By bringing them into the classroom students can see things from a perspective of someone who has different cultural values and norms, and may gain a well-rounded global education.
"The selection of the course is appropriate considering the global mission of FDU," said Michael Sperling, a Psychology professor who is coordinating the implementation of the distance learning initiative.
Students, although adjusting to the new curriculum, have some negative perspectives. Jennifer Hobbs, a freshman English major, thinks that although taking a class online is a unique experience, there seems to be a lack of sufficient time in completing the assignments because of the work load. "It is easier than sitting through potentially boring lectures,” said Hobbs.
During the spring of 2000 there were talks between the Deans and faculty about a new Core curriculum. Many agreed that the Internet is a fundamental tool regarding education and wanted the new curriculum to contain it. The new curriculum would be put together the following year by five professors, with several focus groups held before the final draft.
New software was needed in order to implement the course. Blackboard software was used as the main layout for the course, with information customized by faculty to better accommodate students. The assignments are new but the basic structures of the new curriculum versus the old version are similar.
All incoming freshmen are required to take the Global Challenge as a distance learning course requirement. The first two sections of the course currently must be taken at one of the New Jersey campuses, but the other two can be taken at the Wroxton, England and Tel Aviv, Israel campuses.
In the next few years, FDU faculty hopes to offer many distance learning courses, each including a global virtual faculty member. This is an important factor because teachers from all over the world have different perspectives on issues discussed in the virtual classroom. By bringing them into the classroom students can see things from a perspective of someone who has different cultural values and norms, and may gain a well-rounded global education.
"The selection of the course is appropriate considering the global mission of FDU," said Michael Sperling, a Psychology professor who is coordinating the implementation of the distance learning initiative.
Students, although adjusting to the new curriculum, have some negative perspectives. Jennifer Hobbs, a freshman English major, thinks that although taking a class online is a unique experience, there seems to be a lack of sufficient time in completing the assignments because of the work load. "It is easier than sitting through potentially boring lectures,” said Hobbs.