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Trends
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07/06/01 - The Web is Changing the College Experience
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The World Wide Web has changed our lives in many ways: We can now find out information about most things, buy almost anything, pay for anything, and even watch our kids in daycare centers using the Internet. The Web also makes a profound difference to college students . . . of all ages. Students considering attending a college or university can currently check out their prospects, as well as the ranking of the school on the Web. They can look at requirements, course offerings, ratings of professors, and housing options without opening a printed catalog or visiting the school. In fact, some schools no longer even publish their course catalogs on paper. Then when it's time, they can complete their application, as well as apply for financial aid and scholarships online. Once chosen, some students can now register for courses, pay their tuition, take courses on the web, download materials to support their classroom and web learning, and even take tests on the Web. Most students regularly exchange e-mails with favorite professors, keep in touch with their student team members, and submit assignments in cyberspace.
So what's next? Those little cameras that we will all have mounted on our monitors will change the college experience forever. Students will have online opportunities to enjoy videoconferences with their professors, engage in internships, meet corporate recruiters, and graduate. Can you imagine attending a virtual class reunion? It's coming. Our alma maters will even solicit us for donations and take our contributions without the use of telephones. What a nice experience that will be not to be disturbed during dinner by a pleading student asking for money!
The implications of "The Webcentric University," so called by Samuel L. Dunn, vice president for academic affairs and professor of business and mathematics at Northwest Nazarene University are tremendous for traditional students, but when we look at the advantages for the disabled, disadvantaged, and remote students, the whole picture becomes even more exciting. By the year 2005, most colleges and universities will offer real-time and prerecorded courses on the Web, serving non-traditional students all over the world.
From "Herman Trend Alert," by Roger and Joyce Herman, Strategic Business Futurists. (800) 227-3566 or www.hermangroup.com.
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