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3.0. WRITTEN COMMENTS

3.1. Summary of Written Comments Provided by Faculty

Need for face-to-face interaction:
Many of the faculty members who responded with comments were interested in learning more about distance learning, and expressed strong opinions on the need for one-on-one, personal contact in their courses. Some professors felt that because of this need for individual contact, distance learning would be more appropriate for graduate students. Although many professors were interested in distance learning to some degree, they felt that it would only be appropriate to use it as a supplement to traditional learning. These feelings were expressed in the following illustrative faculty comments,

"I believe that face-to-face interaction with my students is essential…However, I believe they must be totally proficient in the use of educational technology."

"At the undergraduate level, especially with regards to core courses, I believe direct relationships are particularly important in maintaining student involvement and enthusiasm. Distance learning may be more appropriate at the graduate level, where students may be expected to be more mature and self-motivating."

"It is not a philosophy that should replace traditional courses, it is a methodology that should enhance teaching technique."

Previous experience with distance learning:
Some faculty members had previous experiences with distance learning and educational technology and expressed mixed feelings. For example,

"I have taught in distance learning programs. As long as there's some face-to-face contact, it can work for any variety of classes."

"I would be willing to try with support from technical services. I worked full-time until last June at a college where this was implemented after much planning. The students were not happy. They missed the exchange in the classroom. Also they were not disciplined enough to get work in on time. Especially BS/BA students need the structure of the classroom and weekly feedback. I think distance learning could work well on a graduate level."

"I've taught distance learning classes at another institution. Students at remote sites lose interest rapidly. They sign up for the distance learning course as part of their core requirements. Interaction among students is minimal. Noise level increases with additional locations. Students at remote locations are easily distracted."

Concerns about distance learning at Hofstra:
Many faculty members had concerns about Hofstra's ability to implement this type of program. Some examples of areas where faculty felt that Hofstra would need improvement are given in their comments:

"It is a complete waste of time to even be thinking remotely of a complex technology such as distance learning. Hofstra can't even get email to work reliably."

"Hofstra would need to provide me with a computer, communications, and software to use from home."

"It may work in some areas, and would be interesting, but need much better tech. support and reliability of systems before I would even attempt it. Also, need much more study into the expenditure of effort involved and appropriate compensation."

"Only if administration is prepared to support with: (1) admin/technical support, (2) release time/credit for course development, (3) value for promotion…Otherwise, forget it!!!"

Benefits of distance learning:
Despite concerns, some faculty members were excited about the possible perks that they would get out of participating in a distance learning program. Several members of the faculty were excited about various freedoms they would gain if working in this type of program as well as the opportunity to learn more as educators.

"Teaching a full load of distance learning courses would give me more time to address specific student questions on the subject matter and to conduct more research."

"I would take those courses that are offered periodically and make them available all the time."

"I would learn more also. We as educators must keep up with technology."

Classes not appropriate for distance learning:
A large number of Faculty expressed that there were certain classes which would not be appropriate for a distance learning program. Examples of the different types of courses included:

"Lecture would be fine in distance learning - Labs would remain a problem."

"For the course that I teach, oral communications, non-verbal communication, you need to have students in class to see and experience each other. This course cannot successfully be taught through distance learning."

"I am totally opposed to distance learning for a liberal arts program. Everything about the liberal arts is based on a humanistic approach that, by definition, requires human contact in real time in the same room."

"The classroom experience and live music is important. I feel that it is necessary to be present in class. Many students have never heard live music before."

Classes appropriate for distance learning:
Some Faculty members felt that their particular courses would be very successful as distance learning courses. Once again, the many different courses mentioned suggests that professors have different opinions about which courses would be appropriate for this type of teaching method. While a variety of different courses were mentioned, these are just a few examples:

"…For lectures and academic approaches to the history or contemporary information of dance as a cultural link between peoples, I'm confident that these distance learning courses will be successful."

"…the history, literature, and research portion of theatre programs lend themselves to distance learning."

"Film and literature courses would be successful this way I feel."

"Distance learning programs in Audiology (professional doctorate) could be very marketable."

Wave of the future:
Some faculty members expressed that distance learning is the "wave of the future" and were interested in incorporating this type of program into the curriculum at Hofstra in order to stay competitive with other up-and-coming Universities. Some related comments included:

"I am very interested: (1) Technology is so pervasive it is likely that this will be a BIG WAVE of future education - until research is done to measure its effectiveness…"

"…I see this technology as a valuable tool. It propels us toward the 21st century."

"Distance learning is the wave of the future! Many colleges are looking into implementation of this program. To stay competitive and offer our students the highest quality of education, we too should be willing to incorporate distance learning into our current curriculum."

"I believe distance learning courses offer opportunities for learning that some students may not otherwise have available to them. I also feel that other Universities will be (or are) currently offering such courses, and Hofstra needs to also stay competitive."

3.2. Summary of Written Comments Provided by Students

Need for face-to-face interaction:
Like the faculty, many students felt that the one-on-one contact they experience in a traditional class is something that could not be replaced in a distance learning course. They made quite a few comments concerning the loss of this personal contact. The following are a few examples:

"I am disinterested, primarily because of my lack of computer knowledge, and also because I am a better learner when I can talk and interact with my teacher and fellow students."

"I enjoy the social interaction of classmates and teachers."

" I feel that the interaction between the instructor and the class stimulates the learning process. It allows the flow if ideas and more effectively disseminates information."

"Technology is beneficial, but interaction with professors and students will help students learn more."

Previous experience with distance learning:
Some students had previous experience with distance learning courses. Many of these students reported positive experiences in this type of setting. For example,

"I took an economics course "over the air" at Nassau, and I learned a great deal."

"I took a few courses with on-line testing at my previous school and I thought it was a positive experience."

"When attending Nassau Community College I was in the adult program, which had a class one time each month and self study on the off weeks, this worked out very well, but only for some students."

"I am very interested in distance learning…I have done it in the past and I find it very helpful in balancing school and work."

Benefits of distance learning:
Many students were enthusiastic about the positive aspects that would come along with participating in a distance learning program. Time management was a benefit that was mentioned quite a bit as well as cutting back on travel time. Examples of student comments regarding potential benefits are:

"I have a very busy life with three children. I am back at school trying to change my career and I often find it difficult to manage child care and schedules. A distance learning course will help me because I could work at my own pace at the best times for me."

"It would enable me to better manage my time as I can access lectures on-line at my own choice of time and place."

"As a U.S. Navy sailor, if I am transferred elsewhere, I would like to continue studies with Hofstra."

"I would really like it because I live very far and could do work on weekends more often."

Classes not appropriate for distance learning:
Although many students were interested in distance learning, they did have some ideas about which classes would be suitable for this type of learning environment. There were quite a few classes, which students felt would be inappropriate for distance learning:

"Some areas, like calculus, I cannot learn on my own, and I'm not sure how I would feel not having weekly face-to-face with an instructor."

"The essence of speech courses is participation and interaction among others."

"As a TV/video major, I need hands-on experience."

"As a graduate student in elementary education, I enjoy engaging in discussions, hands-on experiences, and interactions with teachers and fellow students."

Classes appropriate for distance learning:
While there were courses that students felt would be inappropriate for distance learning, there were many examples of classes in which they felt distance learning would be appropriate. For example:

"Finance and accounting are courses that would lend themselves to on-line learning."

"I would be interested in an e-commerce/new media program in a technology based learning program because the content and the medium are related."

"Distance learning is fine for discussion type classes like English classes."

"Some classes could be taken through distance learning, such as theory classes and Liberal Art classes."

Wave of the future:
Students seemed to be quite interested in distance learning, and many agreed with faculty that distance learning is a natural next step in order to keep up with the changing times. Students comments about this included:

"Education methods need to change with the times, and technology is the key to that change."

"The world is moving towards this and I think it is important to keep up."

"I feel distance learning is a wonderful thing of the future that is becoming more readily available right now."

"It would be nice to have a program of distance learning courses with some traditional ones. Not having it would be a loss because that's where we are heading in a few years."

"Since technology is becoming more and more relevant in communicating, it's essential that it's available for educational purposes."

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