Online classes are the wave of the future

Probably not, experts say, but the numbers of students choosing online studies over the traditional classroom setting are blossoming.

Eddie Dunn, director of distance learning at Western Iowa Tech (WIT) Community College, said there will always be a need for traditional classes even as interest in online classes grows.

"What continues to need to have face-to-face interaction between a teacher and a student will be that way," Dunn said. "The classroom is not going to go away by any means."

However at WIT the numbers of students choosing online courses has grown, he said.

"Western Iowa Tech has been doing online courses for just about 10 years," Dunn said. "In the summer time approximately one-half of our credits are (taken) online."

In the fall and spring those numbers are at about one-third, but enrollment is also higher during those semesters, Dunn said.

"It continues to grow," he said. "Where it ends I don't know."

Others like Matt Wagner, director of academic technology in professional studies at Buena Vista University, in Storm Lake, attributes the upward swing in online classes to convenience.

Coleen Delfs, of Le Mars, can vouch for that.

The mother of two, who is also employed full time, finished her bachelor's degree online and is working to obtain her master's degree through Bellevue University in Bellevue, Neb.

"It's very convenient," Delfs said of the Internet-based curriculum. "I can log on 24 hours a day."

That means she can care for her children and still get her homework done on time.

"I never missed ball games or school activities," Delfs said.

In addition to set lessons, Delfs also participates in email chats with classmates and other interactive activities.

"I learn from people across the country," Delfs said. "The diversity is just amazing."

She also has the chance to ask questions during online classes.

"Sometimes in the classroom you don't dare ask questions," Delfs said.

Wagner had the same thoughts when it came to online classes versus classroom instruction.

"You can't really hide in the back of the room. You have to participate," Wagner said about online classes. "There is a lot of interaction with students, just in different forms."

Kaylyn Pick, BVU professional and online studies director, said online courses are like traditional face-to-face classes in that they include set curriculum with scheduled assignments, due dates and tests.

Pick, who works at BVU's Le Mars site, said students taking online courses there are mostly what they dub "adult learners" -- nontraditional students with full time jobs or families.

"At this location our students range from 20 years old to 60," Pick said.

She, too, sees the upward swing of students enrolling in online classes.

"For hundreds of years it's been face-to-face for the most part," Pick said. "Never has there been as much of an emphasis on the online learning that we currently have."

That is evident at least at BVU, which had 1,390 students enrolled in at least one online class during the 2008-09 school year. That number increased nearly 99 percent from the 2007-08 school year, according to statistics gathered by BVU personnel.

Those numbers indicate, at least at BVU, students will continue to take online classes.

To succeed they will need self-discipline to meet course goals, Dunn said.

"I talk to maybe 20 to 30 students on the phone every day," he said. "It means a lot of discipline keeping up with your course without people telling you to."

Delfs said self-discipline to complete her online courses has never been a problem for her.

"It's exciting," she said. "I've had a wonderful experience."