8. 971035 理科段子:远程教育 R3 M4 A+ d( ^% r
Hi, Lynn. I saw you at registration yesterday. I sailed right through, but you were standing in a long line.
/ R8 {( X/ \) y/ b$ O1 {4 \& L Yeah. I waited an hour to sign up for a distance-learning course.
6 K0 ?' E- b6 Z' B* F Distance learning? Never heard of it.% n# D: g& d- X, E/ ?# y" Y
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.
* F( p: |& _5 V. c1 Z Well, what is it?
2 |* n$ ]! j" x# ~& v) w* |2 _ 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. [, z/ j( F; \$ {7 G
Don't you ever have to meet with professor?8 G1 J" D6 C1 |! k5 O' f; 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.
4 Q V! d9 i2 K. J# U7 j 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 S/ ? l0 A. c+ H. R
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.* O0 x2 R+ r, ?6 d- r, a3 d
Look, I'll be working three days a week next semester and it was either cut back on my classes or try this out.
" d; i) c/ w) b( D7 j4 I& M The only thing is: doesn't it seem impersonal though? I mean, I miss having class discussions and hearing what other people think.' v! d: M0 L0 \# }3 o0 V
Well, I guess that's why phone contact's important. Any way, it's an experiment.7 M6 u0 D0 {5 R7 y; v( r/ z' N
Maybe I'll end up hating it.
- |5 H; s6 Q6 }- h' @ Maybe. But I'll be curious to see how it works up. |