Web-based courses offer
students more options

March 16, 2004

By Jason Wells
Iowa's Internet

DES MOINES, Iowa - In recent years, schools around Iowa have made it possible for just about anyone to graduate from college with a degree from just about any geographical location.

Some major universities across Iowa, including the University of Iowa, Iowa State, Drake and Northern Iowa, offer classes online to not only help on-campus undergraduate students but also those who cannot easily get to college campuses.

"It is all about who you are trying to serve," said Jim Bodenteiner, interim dean of distance education at the University of Northern Iowa. "It varies a lot from college to college. We primarily have Web classes for those who can't get onto campus."

The most drastic way the Internet has changed the face of education has been through complete Web, semester-based courses. These classes allow students to read course material, submit assignments and take tests all through the use of the Internet.

However, according to Leonard Kallio, assistant director for the University of Iowa's credit programs, the largest effect the Internet has had is its ablility to provide more flexibility to those who need it. This has come through college credit available online as guided independent studies.

At Iowa independent study courses allow students to enroll at any time they wish and work at their own pace as long as the course is completed within a nine-month period.

"It's an option for students who can't come to campus," Leonard said. "It is a way of serving various audiences. With guided independent studies, it is very reasonable for two students who start the course at the same time to finish it months apart."

Currently, Iowa offers approximately 120 different courses to students in which work is done strictly online. According to Leonard, this number is growing every year.

"Those 120 courses would be primarily from arts and sciences, education, nursing and other areas that have a lot of students who aren't able to get on campus," Leonard said.

A number of universities around the state keep the power in the hands of each individual academic department, according to Jan Brunstein of Iowa's registrar's office. How many courses will be offered and when they will be available are up to each department.

"[The registrar] does not keep track of course listings," Brunstein said. "Each department will let us know what Web-based courses are offered. Are we seeing a few more each semester? I would say so."

While smaller universities like Northern Iowa offer the same types of services as the large universities, most are simply unable to provide as many options for students. Northern Iowa presently has 41 courses available through the Internet.

Even with all the Internet has to offer, Bodensteiner admitted some classes do not lend themselves to be Internet-friendly. Art classes and those that require labs or hands-on activities have not been offered online at Northern Iowa but have at some larger state schools.

"We have cross-sections of courses available through our Web-based programs," Bodensteiner said. "But some classes don't allow for it. We may add some courses each year, but not many."

However, Drake University has helped prove the size of the school is not everything in being a leader in Internet education. Drake is the only school in Iowa that corresponds with WorldWideLearn.com, which helps people find the right university for a Web-based course.

According to Bodensteiner, the Iowa Communications Netowrk has been a large part in helping offer courses online. This is also true for high schools and other levels of education across the state.

Through highly advanced technology, the ICN offers multi-way audio and video for virtual classroom settings. With this, professors can hold class meetings through the Internet and allow students to be able to interact.

Tests and online forums for classes are also helped set up through the ICN, according to Bodensteiner.

"We use the ICN an awful lot for Web-based classes," he said.

People interested in taking an online course through an Iowa area college can visit Iowalearns.org which hosts a complete list of the universities that offer Web-based classes and which ones are available.

"All kinds of things are offered with the help of the Internet," Bodensteiner said. "You have to look at who you attract. Some schools audiences may not lend them to offer Web-based courses."