Re: Fwd: Re[2]: RHP Correspondence

[Scott Schwahn <schwahn@jlab.org>]

> I am concerned, however, about a lack of interaction with peers and faculty
> in
> the program you described. (I think that peer interaction is just as, if not=
> 
> more important than interaction with faculty.) In my program, the "distance
> learning" lectures were live.  The remote locations had a direct phone line
> to
> the class, for participation in class discussions.  This would definitely be=
> 
> missing in videotaped lectures.   

True, live interaction would be missed.  However, I took a few videotape courses; in each course, there was a list of participants and their addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses.  I had frequent correspondence with some during the course.  That satisfied my needs for peer-to-peer problem solving.  In this high-tech environment, it is possible.

> Also, I find it difficult to believe that
> the typical student would have access to the required equipment and
> instrumentation that is necessary for a successful laboratory program.

True.  The courses which required lab work were taken care of by the necessity for the student to travel to the school for long weekends to fulfill this part of the course.  Perhaps it could have been done cooperatively through a local university; I don't know - I never took any lab courses through videotape.

It is not easy, and I applaud those that successfully get through such a program.  I completed no additional degrees by this method, but I can see it being much more difficult than having the resources to be able to attend school in the normal fashion.

-- 
Scott O. Schwahn, CHP
Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility
schwahn@jlab.org
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