INside ...

  

The Douglas College Newsletter

m@ New Westminster Campus, David Lam Campus & Thomas Haney Campus

   

IN

The future of distributed learning

What is the future of distributed
learning? Whatever your view,
distributed learning is becoming
a prominent tool for both
students and faculty. What is
unanimous is that distributed
learning is still evolving, and its
role in the College community
is still unclear.

“The measure will be how the
students will embrace it,” says
Douglas College President
Susan Witter. “We don’t
immediately know how far we'll
go with it.”

Susan Smythe of Douglas
Development, concurs. “What
is the role of distributed
learning within the College? We
haven't really discussed that, and
I think we should.”

Distributed learning takes many
forms. Web-based teaching,

Unveiling the wall

Dont forget to attend the
Foundation Donor Wall
unveiling on Thursday, Feb. 18
at the David Lam Campus, 12-
1:30 pm. The Donor Wall
recognizes people who have
contributed $5,000 or more to
Douglas College since January
1, 1995. The event also
includes the introduction of the
Honourary Foundation Board,
chaired by Dr. David Lam.
Speakers include local
entrepreneur Milton Wong,
Board Chair Neal Nicholson,
and students Allison Hartley
and Stacey O'Halloran. All are

invited to this special event!

multimedia programs, satellite
downlinking and video
conferencing are some of the
more well-known examples.
Advocates for distributed
learning, however, point out
that courses using new
technologies are not governed

by them.

“Distributed learning is merely
a tool,” says Distributed
Learning Services’ Susan
Greffard. “We don’t want
faculty to worry about the
technology—that’s our job. We
try to provide the support to
make it as seamless as possible
so they can concentrate on the
instruction.”

It is widely recognized,
however, that not everyone is
enamored of distributed
learning. There are questions of
resource allocation, tensions

about technology and concerns
about the nature and
prominence of the role of
distributed learning in the
College’s future.

Part of the problem is
consensus, or lack thereof. “We
must think about it first, and
go about it in the most effective
way,” says Smythe. “We haven't
had the platform for that yet.”
Smythe does say, however, that
this Spring will see public
forums devoted to distributed

learning issues.

It is becoming clear that one
particular form of distributed
learning — web-based teaching
— is growing, as are courses
that provide partial online
delivery.

“Partial online instruction is, I
think, the wave of the future,”

says Witter. “I look at our hectic
lives and see the huge lineups
for the parkade, and it is clear to
me that time is the prime
motivator for a lot of people.”

Video conferencing is another
initiative that promises to
streamline the lives of students.
Video-conferencing facilities
presently connect the New
Westminster Campus to both
the David Lam Campus and the
Thomas Haney Campus (and
out to the world). Within the
year, an electronic “bridge” will
bind all three campuses
together.

To find out more about
distributed learning, consult
http://www.douglas.bc.ca/CET/
Working/distribt/html/
distrib.html or call Susan
Greffard at 5253.

Partnership brings more computers to College

A partnership between Westminster Savings Credit Union and
Douglas College will mean approximately 60 additional computers

for the College.

The Credit Union is changing computer systems and selling

components at minimal cost to the College. By upgrading these
components, the College will be able to save approximately

$60,000.

“The Pentiums from the Credit Union allows us to replace older

PCs, putting us closer to our goal of making Pentiums the College

standard,” says Marsh Price, Director of Systems & Computing.

“These resources will also enable us to support key initiatives,” says
Educational Technology Coordinator Susan Greathouse. “Two
computers will be located in both Women’s Centres, giving
students Internet access for research purposes.”

“This initiative builds on our long-standing partnership with

Thank you from Darlene

“Many, many special thanks to everyone for the very kind
expressions of sympathy expressed to myself and my family on
the recent passing of our dear son, Jason. Jason truly enjoyed
being a part of Douglas College and he always spoke with great
fondness of those he worked with. I know that Jason’s sweet

spirit and friendly smile will linger on a long time at Douglas

and that he will remain forever a precious memory.”

 

— Darlene Kress

Westminster Savings, “ says
Myrna Popove, Executive
Director of the Douglas College
Foundation. “During the David
Lam Campus fundraising
campaign, Westminster Savings
donated $25,000. Part went to
fund the David Lam Women’s
Centre, while $10,000 went
towards an endowment. This
current project is another
example of the Credit Union's
dedication to the College and
the Community.”

For more information; call
Susan Greathouse at 5081.

Connect with Personnel

The Personnel and Labour Relations home page is now “live” via
the College intranet, with job postings for Staff, Faculty and

Administration available for viewing. This site is only available from
within the College at the New Westminster or David Lam
Campuses and can be found at http://dlstemplates/ (lowercase

characters).

Douglas College

Philosopher's

cafe

Interested in participating
in a monthly debate? A
“philosopher’s cafe” is
forming in Coquitlam,
and speakers from Douglas
College are encouraged to
attend and give a 15
minute presentation on
any -topic., The next
meeting takes place
February 16th, 7:30 to
9pm in a Coquitlam cafe.
For more information, call
Bill Melville, cafe
moderator, at 939-5257.

Postive actions

Coming-'soon ~to \a
classroom or cafeteria near
you: improvisations of
stalking, sexual harassment,
controlling behaviors and
other types of abuse. The
Douglas College Women’s
Centre recently received a

the Safer

Campuses Enhancement

grant from

Program to _ present
scenarios of positive and
negative communication
through role playing and
short dramatic

presentations.

“Our goal is to present
positive modeling for
students who encounter
negative behavior wherever
they are,” says Carolyne
Jerome, Women’s Centre
Coordinator. “Seeing
different ways to act and
respond helps them
develop skills for social

responsibility.”

Student actors and a
coordinator were hired the
last week of January, so
watch for these mini-plays
to take place soon around
campus. For more
information, call Carolyne

at 527-5148.

 

 

Quote of the Month

“The human race is faced with a cruel choice: work or daytime television.”

- Unknown