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UM online courses draw more students

By Macey Hall

Posted on Monday, November 3rd, 2008, 12:00 am

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There is a sharp increase in the number of students enrolling in online courses at the University of Maine. Professors are offering more of their courses online, along with different courses that are not available in normal lecture style.

The number of online courses offered through UMaine for the 2007 fiscal year, including summer, fall and spring semesters, was 204. This number increased to 250 for 2008. Five years ago, the number of courses was a mere 154.

“In 1996, 0 percent of the student credit hours were attributed to online courses, and now over 11 percent of all student credit hours are generated through distance and online learning,” said Jim Toner, director of Distance Education at UMaine.

“Distance and Online Education offer courses in many disciplines throughout the year. Courses are delivered through various technologies and formats including interactive television, compressed video, Internet, intranet, video streaming technologies and combinations of these systems. Depending on the technology utilized, students participate in the class live or asynchronously through materials archived online,” according to the UMaine Continuing and Distance Education Web site.

“A big reason why people take classes online, especially in the summer, is that it saves the commute. It is also more convenient, as students can listen to the lectures at their convenience. They might have jobs, and online learning allows them to work, but still get a full education, as they can do their work at their own time convenience,” Toner said. “Online learning replicates what’s happening in the classroom, but enhances the classroom experience. If there is something you missed or did not understand, you can go back and access it.”

Students are utilizing the benefits of online courses, with 7,772 students registered for the 2008 fiscal year. The most popular online courses at UMaine include Introduction to Food and Nutrition, Music Appreciation, Religions of the World and Dynamic Earth.

As technology changes, online courses are changing as well. Many professors are now offering “hybrid” courses, a mix between an online and traditional classroom setting. An example of this is biology, where students attend the lecture portion online and the lab section in person. Some courses require students to have a computer with a video camera and microphone, as they use video chat to meet in groups or discuss the material.

“It is a mode of learning that is convenient for students. They can meet with their groups from wherever there is an Internet connection. It can be related to tuning in to a radio. They can also listen to the lectures on their iPods while they’re on the bus to Bangor, jogging or anywhere. With the Internet, students can access the content of the course at any time – material they used to have to be physically on campus for,” Toner said.

While any student can take an online course, they are typically recommended for students who like to work independently, are self-motivated and are comfortable with computers, text-based media and e-mailing their professor when they need clarification. Many opt for online courses because they need a flexible schedule.

“I took an astronomy lab online last semester because I was already taking five classes, so I did not want to have to go to a sixth class, and I liked the flexibility of watching the lectures when I wanted,” second-year communications student, Nicki Reiner said.

Junior elementary education student Jake Keefer also signed up for online courses for similar reasons.

“I like not having to physically go to class, and I like that I can be comfortable in my own room when watching the lecture, instead of in a class of 300 [students]. It was much more convenient to listen to the lectures when I wanted,” Keefer said.

Toner attributes much of the success of the Distance Education to the professors.

“It’s the faculty that is so creative; they work hard to develop these courses. They offer them because they see the students enjoying them. As long as students are registering or ‘voting,’ they’ll keep offering more. I have to congratulate both the faculty and the students at UMaine for the growth of the online program.”