8. 971035 理科段子:远程教育3 J' s7 o/ z" \/ ]' s+ `1 d3 z5 Q4 c7 P
Hi, Lynn. I saw you at registration yesterday. I sailed right through, but you were standing in a long line.
5 b3 k5 v5 h+ e7 k( s+ ^ Yeah. I waited an hour to sign up for a distance-learning course.
( b. H" V- k. D" w- ^ Distance learning? Never heard of it.
+ g+ k; V: O$ w Q' M- r2 T 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.
. T6 q) T( z5 u% H, a; j Well, what is it?
1 ]* a* k5 t, @$ f8 ^ p6 T/ H 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.( r- _7 b8 P2 P% n A {8 u" ]5 Y( {
Don't you ever have to meet with professor?
# g4 Y& Q2 C$ J2 h3 F1 T2 O' v 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.6 m, [- E1 N7 j8 c
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.
% k8 ^" Z1 B( h u7 O$ F8 p 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.; l' U( x9 |: v
Look, I'll be working three days a week next semester and it was either cut back on my classes or try this out.
- Y- V. h) F* a, C) G$ i7 y1 ~ The only thing is: doesn't it seem impersonal though? I mean, I miss having class discussions and hearing what other people think.4 \- R8 W# j, ]" ]8 h) u
Well, I guess that's why phone contact's important. Any way, it's an experiment.- R; @' Z1 ]) h# I
Maybe I'll end up hating it.8 z$ T0 f- t& M2 c0 d1 L5 `4 ]8 R, O
Maybe. But I'll be curious to see how it works up. |