CHAPEL HILL – The President of the University of North Carolina System wants to see more students take advantage of online course offerings to complete their degrees and graduate on time – wherever they are.
“One of the tools we’re going to have to use more vigorously and more powerfully is technology-based education,” UNC System President Margaret Spellings says in the accompanying video. “And we have some work to do in the system.”
Spellings notes that the university system offers thousands of online courses – and she wants to increase their use.
“What are we doing that is not meeting the needs and demands of our student body, so that they can get in and out and through our institutions quickly and affordably?” she says.
“Time is money, and technology can really help us do the job.”
Tom Karches says
Online courses can do the job, but much more attention must be brought to improving the distance education experience for students. The distance classes I have taken have been positive but I have heard about cases of unresponsive teachers and confusing assignments which can put a real damper on the learning experience. When one is not physically in the classroom, it can be hard for students to get those questions answered.