Many teachers and other educators are choosing the online format to further their own education; however, some are rusty in the college environment. “Some of our students are a little apprehensive when they call about our programs,” says Regenia Rhodes, Coordinator of Online Learning at University of the Cumberlands. “Many have been out of the college realm for years and want to return for their master’s or an administrative certificate and are worried about what the online classes will entail. Our admissions staff walks each student through the enrollment process and even registers him or her for the first term. We are always just a phone call away if they have questions about their books, computer requirements, or even what to expect in their courses. We try our best to develop a relationship with these students despite not seeing them face-to-face.” Students are also encouraged to speak with their advisor, further assisting them in the start-up process. He or she will go through all aspects of the program with the student and is always available for any assistance.
Offering an online demonstration of the class software is another effort to ensure that students feel prepared for their first class. University of the Cumberlands students receive logon access to explore the eLearn Portal, their online classroom. Cumberlands students are required to participate in a chat for each class one night per week. They may then explore the live-chat classroom as well, familiarizing themselves with the icons and features of the program. The eLearn Portal also features round-the-clock technology assistance via a toll-free number. Support technicians walk students through any issue they may be experiencing, helping them not to feel stranded and abandoned if they are encountering computer problems.
Students are often surprised by the amount of personal interaction they have with their professor and other students. Laura Johnson, Masters of Education, Instructional Leadership student, remarks, “When deciding to pursue my Master’s Degree through a program that was completely online, I was worried that there wouldn’t be enough personal interaction. However, once I began the program at University of the Cumberlands, I realized this was quite the contrary. The professors are so willing to answer any questions and respond in such an individualized way through the use of email or phone calls that you feel as though you truly know them even if it’s not face-to-face.” Dr. Gary Pate, Professor and Department Chair for Graduate Education, feels like there is more personal interaction in the virtual classroom than in the traditional environment. “I find that in our online classes, closer relationships develop between the students and the professor than in a traditional classroom setting because of the constant phone call and email exchange throughout the week,” he says. “There is much more direct communication for online classes than in face-to-face classes due to the nature of environment.”
Once students begin their classes, entering the chat rooms allows students to begin “conversing” with each other and the other students. Johnson says, “You begin to get to know the people you are in class with through the online chats so well that you feel like you have found new friends. The willingness of students to help each other is another great asset to my online experience.” This comes as no surprise to Regenia Rhodes. “Many students find that they are able to grow closer to their online classmates than perhaps those in the physical classroom,” she says. “Some students who might be more reserved and shy in person are able to open up more online.” Professors also encourage students to call or email anytime they have a question or concern. Rhodes says, “Communication is key with an online class even more so than in-person classes. Our professors and students do a great job of keeping this channel open.”
Online chats are guided by professors using the Socratic method. Students are encouraged to respond to questions from lecture notes, class readings, and comments from each other in order to reach an understanding about the subject matter. They also post an introduction on the discussion board, telling about themselves and reading about other students. Chats often involve students sharing their experiences from teaching in their own classrooms or answering questions of a new teacher. Students are encouraged to think critically, drawing conclusions from their own experiences and from the texts for the course and discuss each during chat and on discussion board postings, allowing for a well-rounded opinion to be developed by each participant.
Choosing the right professors for an online program also contributes greatly to a program’s success. University of the Cumberlands professors enjoy the online environment as much as the students. Dr. Robert Glass, Professor of Education at UC, says, “In a nutshell, I believe online learning has been the single greatest academic development ever in the field of teacher preparation.” Like Pate, Glass feels as if online education programs are perhaps more personal than the traditional classroom setting. “First of all,” he says, “I really identify with my students, of whom 90%+ are already working as teachers. I know first-hand what it’s like to have a full-time job, a marriage, small children, an active church life and grad school all going on at the same time and what it’s like to arrive at class after a full-day of hard work with a long evening still ahead for all the family life and homework that can be squeezed in. I am able to take that into consideration. I try to make classes stimulating, fun and — most importantly — highly valuable because new knowledge and insight gained during class that will be put to work the very next day on the job. I respect my students as fellow educators and adults who have a wealth of professional knowledge and life experiences that they, too, bring to class every evening.”
Making coursework that is relevant in the lives of the teachers they serve leads to University of the Cumberlands’ success. Getting to know their graduate student body and, in turn, their needs as teachers, both parties are able to align goals that correspond to high quality program material. It is also important to Dr. Glass: “My goal as a professor is simply to send my students back into their classrooms after every one of our classes being happy that they have chosen education as a profession; feeling more and more confident in their new knowledge; and eagerly wanting to apply that new knowledge to issues with their students, parents and colleagues.” He continues, “I love online education because I know my personal mission is being achieved through the hundreds of professional educators with whom I have had the great privilege of spending eight weeks learning how to improve our performance in classrooms all over the country and quite a few outside of the country, too.”
As the education environment continues to move toward a more virtual setting, keeping it personal for students will be among the top characteristics that individuals will seek for their own educational journey. Replacing classrooms with keyboards does not have to mean replacing people with machines. Quite the contrary, people will be even more of a necessity.
Susan Roberts is Director of Marketing and Recruiting for Graduate Programs, University of the Cumberlands. Interested individuals may contact the university at 1.800.393.1609, ext. 4390, or at gradadm@ucumberlands.edu.