Webinars replacing seminars at Lehman

By Kate Pastor

It’s no longer just the University of Phoenix offering online education credits.

CUNY’s Lehman College is undergoing an expansion from its campus in the Northwest Bronx to the more flexible world of the Internet, where more students can take classes at their convenience without the school having to expand onto costly New York City real estate.

Online and hybrid classes have been available at the school for some time, but this year saw a huge spike in courses with cyber sections.

With approximately 10 percent more students enrolled over last year and trouble accommodating students who tend to flock toward weekday evening classes, the school is now offering about 7 percent of its classes either partially or fully online, according to Robert Whittaker, professor and associate provost for undergraduate studies and online education at Lehman.

That represents about a 50 percent increase in online offerings since fall 2008, and a 10 to 20 percent increase in how many of them are offered by the education department alone. A bachelor’s degree in nursing can for the first time be achieved entirely online. All the online and hybrid options have been made available only to current Lehman students, so far.

According to Mr. Whittaker, Lehman College is only one of the CUNY senior colleges offering online courses, but is moving class sections online more quickly than others.

Such new options have helped some students find time for school, but annoyed others who see the classes as missed opportunities for face time with classmates and teachers. As more online or hybrid class sections are offered, the need for traditional courses dwindles and fewer are made available.

On Oct. 21, Lehman College students gathered for a class in Haitian literature taught by Professor Thomas Spears. They chatted with each other as they found their seats and each student took one packet from a pile being passed around the room. They exchanged knowing glances as the professor critiqued their work.

“I prefer class time,” said Stefi Louissant, a junior, as class was called to session and conversation ceased.

Mr. Spears said that while some students prefer taking all online classes and he sees benefits to online learning, “there’s something that goes on here,” he said, standing before the class.

But there are advantages to online learning. too.

Apart from being able to accommodate more students — over the years Lehman has had to use space at the Bronx High School of Science and the High School for American Studies at Lehman College — it allows students to learn at their own pace and encourages participation from students who might otherwise shy away from raising their hands in class, according to both Mr. Whittaker and Mr. Spears.

“I like the online discussions. Sometimes there are things you can’t say in class,” said Maurice Brower, a senior. “You just type that in.”

And not only does the online environment coax some students out of their shells by giving them the time (and cover) they need to contribute to class discussions, it also helps students who have families and jobs find time for school.

“What the online does, is it allows them to do what we call time-shifting,” said Mr. Whittaker, noting that research has shown students who engage in some online learning do better than those who do not.

And for those who would like to return to a time when school still just meant classrooms and pencils, he said the option is still available.

“There may be courses that in a semester are only offered in online sections, but we don’t do that as a rule. As a rule we offer a choice, simply because the online is not for everybody,” he said.

This is part of the November 5, 2009 online edition of The Riverdale Press.

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