A new dimension to distance learning

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, AUG. 20. Imagine students as far apart as Mavelikara and Tennessee in the U.S. studying the same computer course, exchanging notes via e-mail, sharing discussions in a chat room and even writing a common examination.

Using technology to add a new dimension to distance learning, under-graduate students of the Bishop Moore institution in Mavelikara and their counterparts at the University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee, now share a common computer curriculum. In fact, the first batch of students from the disparate time zones has completed their courses and been given certificates by the University of the South, Sewanee.

The agreement was finalised after several exchange visits by representatives of the Bishop Moore Institute and the University of the South, both members of the umbrella organisation of the Colleges and Universities of the Anglican Commune (CUAC).

The course content of the distance learning deal was structured to include introduction to computer sciences, networking systems, web page development, data structure and analysis of algorithms.

"The whole venture has been exciting," Dr. Marcia Shonnard Clarkson, Director of Personnel and University Services, told The Hindu.

Dr. Marcia and Dr. Linda Lankewicz from the University of the South were recently here in connection with a function to present certificates to the first batch of 10 students of the Bishop Moore College. The same course was attended at Sewanee by 18 students.

"We also had children share their views on a range of ethical issues such as cyber abuse and the impact of computer technology on poorer nations," says Dr. Linda.

The experts from Sewanee found it encouraging that there was a fair presence of girl students at Bishop Moore. According to them, attracting women to computer sciences has been a bit of a problem in the U.S., which was perhaps due to "cultural traits". This was not the case with medicine or law where women were doing very well. Moreover, students here seemed to have a sound foundation in mathematics, they added.

It was also noted that while students at this end were in the 16-20 age group their counterparts at Sewanee were between 18 and 22 years of age. However, in spite of the age gap, the intellect of the group from Bishop Moore was `comparable' with that of their counterparts.

According to the Principal of the Bishop Moore College, Prof. Mammen Varkey, the educational collaboration was mooted as part of an exercise to reformulate the agenda of the institution so as to be "forward-looking".

The partner institutions now have plans to introduce an e- commerce course in the common curriculum, with the partnership of a bank. In fact, one of the aims of the recent visit to the State by the experts from Sewanee was to evaluate the job market prospects and the requirements of potential employers here.

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Section  : Southern States
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