by Jodi Hunley
Daily Lobo
Web-based courses have become increasingly popular in recent years at UNM due to their convenience, flexibility and the quality of learning.
UNM offers two types of Web courses, said Dick Howell, special assistant to the Vice Provost of the Extended University.
The first kind, Web-enhanced courses, are regular courses that have an online component to supplement the class. Howell said UNM offers about 600 of those.
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UNM also offers courses that are taught entirely on the Web. Students and faculty never physically meet, but instead have online interactions.
Howell said that teachers post questions for the students and schedule mandatory online chats.
Extended University currently offers 75 courses online and four degree programs, Howell said.
Anthropology 101, electrical engineering classes and the American Studies/Women Studies course are some of the most popular among students, Howell said.
Howell said the first Web course at UNM was offered in 1997.
Extended University got serious about promoting the courses in 2000, which resulted in a large growth spurt, he added.
Now there are between 8,000 and 10,000 students taking classes online, Howell said, adding that the program has a growth rate of 300 percent per year.
"The students do the talking with the enrollment numbers," Howell said of the program's success. "The program is moving ahead. Many main campus students like to take the courses because of the convenience factor."
Howell said the program is growing and more courses are being offered, but the growth is being managed over time so there is no drop in services or quality to students.
The Web courses are funded by a combination of sources, Howell said, including Academic Affairs, the Provost's office and tuition.
Bob Leonard, an associate professor of anthropology, has been teaching his discipline online for five years.
"I like that people from all over can take the class," Leonard said. "Web courses offer great flexibility and it actually provides more interaction with students."
Leonard said students are much more willing to participate when doing so is semi- anonymous.
"Students are more willing to share their opinions without being worried about being ridiculed or judged," Leonard said. "Web courses are not the lesser experience that people may expect. You get just as much out of it as you do a regular class."
