Number of students taking courses online jumps

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ESCANABA - Bay College continues to develop its online learning environment and due to current economic uncertainty, the number of college attendees is on the rise.

Ann Sebeck of the online learning department, said this semester there are 72 courses online, covering the areas of accounting, algebra, anthropology, business, communication, computer software, computer technology, early childhood, economics, english, geography, nursing, political science, psychology, sociology and water tech.

"This winter 2009 semester, Bay has 1,255 students taking online courses," said Sebeck.

She said the first online course was offered in 1998. The program has since grown to house 162 online courses.

"In 10 years, look where we've come to," she said. "Now, you can almost complete an entire program online."

Sebeck said the college's learning management system, Blackboard, has a feature called a discussion board which is a threaded chat space where students can communicate with the instructor or other students with relative ease and promptness.

Instructors may also opt to implement instant messengers into their courses for more methods of online communication, as well as being available by e-mail.

"Of course, students can always do it the old-fashioned way and come down and see their instructor or call them on the phone," said Sebeck, adding some online students are unable to come to campus due to their location.

Sebeck said most classes are conducted 100 percent online, some require a few visits on campus, and some courses require all testing on campus or at an approved site.

"By having an online presence, Bay College can reach far more students than by just having the physical presence in Delta County and at Bay West," she said. "We have many students from different states, (such as) Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Florida, California and even from different countries."

Sebeck said online students range from traditional to those who are out of the country serving in the armed forces. She also said university students are encouraged to take online courses at Bay during the summer.

"Our online classes are also utilized by students in a university setting that have a tie to Bay College or the area," said Sebeck. "We have a pretty good following in both our spring and summer semesters of four-year university students."

The financial savings of taking summer courses online at Bay are huge, said Sebeck.

"It's definitely much more affordable than a four-year institution while still providing a high-quality education," she said.

Sebeck said in February she was working on a proposal with the president's office at Bay College and a focus of her marketing plan is to educate the public on all Bay has to offer online.

"People may not realize that they can take these courses online," she said. "There's a huge untapped area in Escanaba and the surrounding areas."

Sebeck said some of the advantages of online learning are the flexibility of time - courses can be taken 24/7 - it's great for working adults and there is a savings on commuting costs.

Disadvantages are the need for a high level of motivation and self-discipline, the need for a good degree of self-teaching and the fact that online courses are more time consuming than traditional courses.

"That's one thing I always say to people is that online learning is not for everyone," she said. "When you take an online class the prof isn't up there speaking, relaying the information to you."

Nevertheless, the option of online learning is growing in availability locally, and in a big way. Bay even has a "Try Online" option available on their Web site, www.baycollege.edu/?tryonline, where interested parties can view a sample course on Blackboard. Sebeck called the trial course "online 101."

"There is a sample survey and a practice quiz, as well as other resources for those who may be interested in online learning," she said. "Accessing this site allows potential students to actually experience what is involved with taking an online course."

For more information, contact Ann Sebeck at 786-5802, ext. 1304 or sebecka@baycollege.edu or go online to baycollege.edu.