Thanks to technological innovation students can now pursue their college degree over the World Wide Web.

The Internet courses offered at Palo Alto are gaining recognition by students and faculty members here on campus.

For the 16-week Fall 2000 semester, Palo Alto is offering 34 Internet courses ranging from Introduction to Agribusiness to Introduction to Sociology. Professors of each discipline test, monitor and interact with students on the web. Distance Education courses are equivalent in college credit, course content, objectives, rigor and transferability to the on-campus courses.

“I liked my Internet course, because it allowed me to have more freedom at home and at work. I had the chance to read and send my homework from the comfort of my own home,” said Christie Turner, a sophomore Interdisciplinary Studies major.

Students who have an interest or would like to enroll in an Internet course need to do several things in order to make an easy transition and get better understanding of what skills are needed before taking an Internet course at Palo Alto.

“Web courses can be difficult for students who have problems with deadlines, limited computer skills or like to wait to the last minute to complete tasks,” said Javier R. Aguirre, Instructor of History. “The students who will benefit from web courses the most will already possess Internet and computer skills, in addition to being self-motivated and not afraid of working by themselves.”

The first thing that needs to be done is to assess your lifestyle, study habits and work situation. All of this can be done by going on the web, accessing the Palo Alto website at www.accd.edu and clicking on the Distance Education bar. Under Frequently Asked Questions, you will find: 1) Are distance education courses a good choice for me? 2) What equipment is required for an Internet course? 3) Who can I contact for more information about the Distance Education course?

The first question has a test that is designed to determine if Distance Education fits into your lifestyle, study habits and work situation. When the test is done, continue to follow the instructions for self-scoring and you will have your answer in several seconds.

“If you take the test and you don't have enough points, wait until the next semester and maybe things will change for the better,” said Norma Garcia, a sophomore Elementary Education major.

“The web is a wonderful tool for teaching subject matter because, you can link questions and assignments to other colleges or universities all over the world,” said Gabriel Ume, Assistant Professor of Government. The use of the web allows students to expand their worldview.

Several of the Fall Internet courses will use an updated management software program that will allow students to interact with professors and their on-line classmates in real-world time.

Adults who work independently and do not have the time for commuting to traditional classes at a college or university are the primary concern for Distance Education. The courses offered now are only the beginning, and quality control is a key issue.

Web courses are listed in the Summer/Fall 2000 class schedule or on the Distance Education site at www.accd.edu/pac/distedu/disted.htm. New courses will be added as they come on line. For additional information, contact Beth Parker, Distance Education Coordinator, at 921-5306, or check the Extended Services Staff Web Page at www.accd.edu/pac/distedu/disted.htm.

“The ACCD wants to offer the general public a new way to approach learning,” said Michael Seiferth, Instructor of English. “Web-based instruction is redefining education as a here/now phase.”