Waking up late and rushing frantically to class may soon be a thing of the past. Soon, students will have the option of taking classes without ever leaving their dorm rooms by watching online lectures on UB Learns.
Introducing a new way of learning: this technology of the future features a convenient approach to having the wise words of a learned professor at your fingertips.
According to Raymond Orrange, an adjunct professor for the school of management, hybrid classes offer students alternatives to attending lecture three times a week, which can be favorable exchange for students with busy schedules.
"We are looking for classes with large enrollment to deliver a lecture given once a week, rather than four times a week for a large group of students," Orrange said.
According to Orrange, the lack of personal interaction in the classroom can lead to an astronomical amount of e-mails and phone calls from students confused about assignments or course materials.
"There's a lot of indirect communication with students, more student inquiries," Orrange said. "I hold three to four official office hours per week."
The bulk of communication as well as class time takes place in an online setting. According to Dr. Tara Jabbaar-Gyambrah, an academic adviser, UB may be paving the way for an increased usage of online instruction.
"We may be going toward a world online in the near future," said Jabbaar-Gyambrah. "Technology will be a big part (of UB), and students' voices will be a key element in implementing this process.
While online classes are the wave of the future, the lack of interaction between students and professors may be detrimental to the learning experience students take from real social interactions with professors. Dr. Jabbaar-Gyambrah believes students take away something different in the classroom when interacting with people.
"There is an increased level of creativity when having to work together with professors and learn from your surrounding students," Jabbar-Gyambrah said. "I think with the online classes, students don't learn to interact socially."
Collaboration in the classroom setting also comes along with various assortments of perspectives from the surrounding students. While some students may thrive in a completely online based environment, others students prefer the traditional classroom setting because professors, as well as other students, are more easily accessible.
"Students are around to ask questions, which could potentially answer a question you have," said Mike LaGamba, a sophomore geology major. "With an interactive classroom environment, professors can make you think about things in different ways."
According to Matthew Shnupp, a sophomore pre-pharmacy major, the lack of a structured classroom setting may also impact the students' state of mind when trying to focus on certain material.
"A major disadvantage I see is that students are a lot less likely to do work if they're in a place where they can be easily distracted," said Matthew Schnupp, a sophomore pre-pharmacy major. "When you go to class, you're in a different mind state."
According to Wayne Porterfield, Career Services senior counselor, hybrid classes may not be for everyone.
"Online classes require a lot of independence and responsibility that can do a lot to train people to enter the work force, to not have someone that's looking over your shoulder," Porterfield said. "It teaches to be a strong task manager."
Professors can be beneficial beyond the confines of instructing a class, according to Nick Deweese, a sophomore mechanical engineering major. Many have connections throughout the community that can open doors for students in the work force.
"The experience of going to college classes is lost in online classes," Deweese said, who prefers to be able to talk to the professor in person to have the option of asking questions about class materials.
The lack of an available professor may pose as a difficult obstacle to overcome for a student more responsive to an interactive learning environment. Jacob Richman, a junior sociology major, explains how taking an online class worked for him.
"Once a week there would be a two-hour and forty-minute live lecture online," said Richman. "There was a recitation one time per week to attend where attendance was taken. The teacher would have office hours and the TAs would be in contact with the teacher, but I didn't really feel like I learned anything in recitation."
According to Richman, the ultimate advantage of online classes is that students can take their time and not feel rushed while studying, but students need the discipline to handle the freedom of not having regular classes.
"The advantage is the ability to watch the lecture whenever you want, rewind, and play it again," Orrange said. "The disadvantage is students don't set a time aside where they say they're going to watch the lecture. Students put it off and they fall behind in lectures."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
