Computer learning negates students’ classroom experience

I’ve been reading the candidate profiles for the president

of the university, and one of the more interesting proposals that

keeps rearing its ugly head was repeated by Robert Kustra.

He outlined his desire in last week’s profile to implement

more computer learning in lower-level classes to save money. I wish

our administrators would kill this idea once and for all.

Computers can, should and do enhance learning in the classroom.

But they should not replace it. I was mortified when I observed the

math class I took when I began at BSU was replaced with

“computer learning.”

The adjunct faculty member who taught that class, Sharon Walsh,

has been relegated to a virtual attendance monitor function.

I’m not a math-minded person and of all the individuals

I’ve taken math from since high school, she was the best

instructor I’ve had. Too bad her current

“students” don’t get to know that.

If I had wanted to just get an online degree, I would have

signed up for the University of Phoenix. But I don’t. I want

the classroom interaction, to ask questions on the spot, interact

with students and most importantly, the experience of the

faculty.

Computer learning does not provide this. If BSU wants to be more

than a commuter college, then this notion of saving money by

implementing more computer learning in the University of Phoenix

model must go – once and for all.

Lee Dudley

Student, political science

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