Last month in the Student Center, a man sat behind a table recruiting students for his university in Arizona. Only, he didn’t require that you leave your home office to attend his campus.

The University of Phoenix is one of a handful of schools across the nation where students can earn their bachelor’s degree completely online.

Palo Alto College has been offering Internet courses since 1999 and makes it possible to almost completely earn an associate’s degree through online courses. In fact, you may earn a Criminal
Justice degree online at Palo Alto

In the Spring 2005 Internet orientation schedule, a total of 90 online classes are available to Palo Alto students.

The enrollment for online courses has gone from 318 students in the Fall of 1999 to 2,698 in the Fall of 2004. The number of instructors that teach online courses has increased, too. That figure has gone from 15 in the Fall of 1999 to 60 in the Fall of 2004.

Michael Seiferth, an English professor, teaches an online British Literature course and has been doing so since Palo Alto began offering online courses. He was one of the 15 instructors who
pioneered the new option.

“The online student has to be motivated and have the discipline to turn the computer on,” said Seiferth.

To facilitate the transition from being a classroom student to being an online student, Palo Alto requires that prospective students meet certain criteria prior to enrolling.

Students are encouraged to have their own personal computer with minimum software, an ACCD email account, an Internet Service Provider and basic computer skills. Self-discipline, motivation, independent work skills and reading, writing and math skills are paramount for students to be successful.

Javier Aguirre, a History professor and president of the Faculty Senate, urges his online students to be self-disciplined. “I’m not there hitting you over the head, making sure you’re doing the readings and turning the quizzes in on time,” said Aguirre.

Aguirre believes that each method has its own advantages, particularly in the way that he and his students communicate. The online student can offer his or her own opinion in discussions when they might have been too shy to do so on campus.

Amanda Beene, a freshman Interdisciplinary Studies major, likes the freedom of online courses. This is her second consecutive semester taking an online class, and she anticipates taking more in the future.

“I like having independence and being able to work on my own time,” said Beene.

Some people, for whatever reason, abuse that independence, and the facts prove it. Last year’s numbers show that more than 45 percent of the students taking online courses failed to meet the school’s Productive Grade Rate, which means they failed to make a grade of C or better. Comparatively, students on campus made better grades, with only 35 percent failing to meet the school’s PGR.

Around campus, most students prefer the interaction they have in a face-to-face classroom environment. Others know they lack the self-discipline to take online classes.

Angel Martinez, a sophomore Biology major, said she only takes her Music Appreciation course online for its simplicity. Nevertheless, Angel prefers the traditional classroom environment.

“You get a lot more knowledge that way. I learn more by hearing it. By reading, I get lost and don’t pick up on everything,” she said.

Elizabeth Tanner, the Math Department Chair, emphasized the importance of being a strong reader and being a student who can research and gather information off of the Web. She calls the Internet an “intellectual gift,” one that can be of great help to the college student who does not live near campus.

One great thing about Internet courses is the student’s ability to soak up more information because of the work they do independently through research.

Sandra Gieseler, State Government instructor, thinks the online classes allow for students to broaden their knowledge of the subject through online research.

“They learn how to search,” said Gieseler.

The way Gieseler runs her online class differs from the way other instructors do. Through a website of her choosing, she posts links and quizzes for her students to do. Seiferth’s class meets weekly in a chat-room type of environment through the ACCD Java chat site. Kelly Mumbower, a Math Professor, uses the website that the textbook company provides.

Other instructors allow students to work completely on their own. If the student choose to, he/she could spend a weekend taking all of the exams, doing all of the homework and finishing with the course before mid-term.

Ultimately, the success of students depends on their ability to maintain discipline and motivation both at school and at home.

From the beginning, the classroom has consisted of the teacher and the student. In the age of the Internet, the relationship between teachers and students has changed and will continue to change in the educating of America. For more information, schedule an appointment with a school counselor or pick up the Bulletin found in the Palomino Center.