8. 971035 理科段子:远程教育
, Q$ G: ]) t, E* k Hi, Lynn. I saw you at registration yesterday. I sailed right through, but you were standing in a long line.
5 b0 T3 z! I. B! x Yeah. I waited an hour to sign up for a distance-learning course.% `$ q6 }) R4 t( c
Distance learning? Never heard of it.
! l) Q! V' s, p* t4 c& c6 h, a" r Well, it's new this semester. It's only open to psychology majors. But I bet it'll catch on else where. Yesterday, over a hundred students signed up.# W8 v1 O% {9 v1 e0 H5 M
Well, what is it?1 P" o" C3 D8 {- m, E0 l" t6 D
It's an experimental course. I registered for child psychology. All I have got to do is watch a twelve-week series of televised lessons. The department shows them seven different times a day and in seven different locations.
7 J" r: c8 `4 |; S+ } E Don't you ever have to meet with professor?
6 e$ _- I" I" Y1 K2 b' S Yeah. After each part of the series I have to talk to her and the other students on the phone, you know, about our ideas. Then we'll meet on campus three times for reviews and exams./ d4 v7 w C! M; N6 T
It sounds pretty non-traditional to me. But I guess it makes sense, considering how many students have jobs. It must really help with their schedules, not to mention how it will cut down on traffic.0 a. d7 ^8 q, ]3 A5 \
You know, last year my department did a survey and they found out that 80 percent of all psychology majors were employed. That's why they came up with the program.9 C* P8 S! Y+ |: R6 y
Look, I'll be working three days a week next semester and it was either cut back on my classes or try this out.$ w- }) z+ N8 h/ g" W* ]
The only thing is: doesn't it seem impersonal though? I mean, I miss having class discussions and hearing what other people think.
6 K) m. v5 F7 {7 @. f Well, I guess that's why phone contact's important. Any way, it's an experiment.
q2 F. \6 b( D6 v Maybe I'll end up hating it.
! K; H7 _$ S4 d% c0 k0 [ Maybe. But I'll be curious to see how it works up. |