Studying online proves to be tough assignment

By NEIL PORTEN

Debbie (not her real name) is a full-time working mum studying a computer course part-time at a large polytechnic.

When she started looking for the right course, she thought something available online would fit into her busy schedule. Instead, she chose a traditional course with real, rather than virtual, classes.

This semester, however, she enrolled in a non-computing elective paper which was offered both completely online and in the usual "face-to-face" way.

She chose the online option, although it was slightly more expensive. The experience has not been particularly successful.

Debbie's case might not represent the experiences of most online learners, but it does illustrate some of the problems that can arise. The polytechnic has not been named (although it is not AUT), and neither has the course, because we don't feel one bad experience is a fair way to judge.

But the example does provide an insight into the sorts of problems that have been identified in online and distance courses around the world.

The course material in Debbie's case was made available using an e-learning template that universities and polytechnics buy "off the shelf" and customise.

Students have access to a discussion forum and their participation in it is a course requirement. Fellow students can be contacted through e-mail. Tutors are available by phone or e-mail.

Lesson material is linked to other useful documents and resources in a similar way to web pages. Debbie has had a lot of trouble understanding the terminology used to describe different parts of the course material.

For example, the students were asked to do the "exercises", which were, in fact, sections to read. Those sections then had tasks to be carried out that were called "exercises".

When approached, the tutor said it was Debbie's "lack of computer knowledge", which meant she didn't understand. Debbie considers herself computer literate (it's her major after all) and internet literate. She was told no one else was having problems.

The tutor's response to her queries about the material was what most annoyed Debbie. But she also felt there was a big problem with the way the course was designed.

"It seems like the course material from the normal classes has just been put on the internet. There is lots of stuff - especially some of the links - which don't make sense and needs explanations.

"I don't think they've thought about how to make it more like a well designed web page and there certainly hasn't been enough time put into the setup."

Debbie said that her experience with this paper would not necessarily put her off other online courses.

"The best part about studying this way is I can do the work whenever I want to, provided I can get to a computer. I also like the way I can send in my assignments online without having to worry about postage."