4A / NEWS / MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2010 / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / KANSAN.COM
ACADEMICS
Online format offers flexibility for commuters
BY AUTUMN
MORNINGSKY
amorningsky.kansan.com
The School of Social Welfare is now offering its master's degree program in a new blended format, allowing students from across the state more flexibility in getting their degrees.
Melanie Hepburn, the school's assistant dean, said 205 of 311 students in the school are non-traditional and most commute from all over western Kansas. Traditionally, students traveled to either Lawrence or the Edwards Campus once a week to attend classes, which were all held on the same day. The new
POLICY STATEMENTS
long-distance learning format, which the Board of Regents encouraged, allows online coursework to take the place of the classroom every other week.
"This format opened doors for me and my family."
Rick Spano,
associate dean for academic programs, said the move is meant to make life easier for social welfare students.
"The majority of our students have been out of school for a while and have families and jobs," Spano said. "They can't just decide they want to leave to go to school. They have families and households to maintain. We want to provide them with an option that will reduce cost, ensure the quality of their education, and open up opportunities."
SARA JEAN-BAPTISTE Social welfare graduate student
Sara Jean-Baptiste, a graduate student from Lawrence, is in her second semester of the newly formatted Master of Social Welfare program. The freedom to do some of the coursework from home allowed her and her children to visit Disney World on a Saturday in November that she didn't have to be in class.
"Taking this format opened doors for me and my family," lean-Baptiste said. "I'm really happy I'm able to have most evenings free to pick up my kids from activities,
make dinner, and help them with homework."
She said the new blended format is actually more difficult than a traditional course.
"Participating by posting to a discussion board forces me to speak up when I could otherwise sit silently in the classroom," Jean-Baptiste said. "But I'll take the harder assignments and have time to spend with my family."
Ed Scanlon, associate professor in the School of Social Welfare, said he believes the course structure encourages more responsibility and motivation from his students.
"Because of the way the course is set up, students are more accountable for doing readings and reflecting on the material online," Seanlon said. "But when we're in class, they really appreciate the time we're together by being active and engaged."
Scanton said he's been learning a lot in preparation for the new format: understanding
the ins and outs of blackboard, posting quizzes, running a discussion board, recording lectures and post them as mp3s.
"This is new to them. This is new to us," Scanlon said. "We're all just learning as we go."
Spano said some students don't seem as satisfied with the new format of the class.
"They feel like if they're not here, they're missing something," he said. "But we've got some great professors here, so you can't blame them."
Jean-Baptiste agreed that the format isn't for everyone.
"I really enjoy classes with face-to-face interaction, but I can't do it so I appreciate this option," Jean-Baptise said. "The learning is still happening."
While the first year of the two-year program began last August, the new coursework is scheduled to be fully developed by fall 2010.
- Edited by Kelly Gibson
Sing us a song, piano man
Nathan Prince, a senior from Lenexa, plays the piano on the fourth floor of the Kansas Union. Prince said that he played the piano there because it is one of the better ones available on campus.
Accidents pile up after winter blast
WEATHER
ASSOCIATED PRESS
KANSAS CITY, Kan. Highways have reopened in the Kansas City area after an afternoon snow squall caused dozens of accidents.
The Kansas City Star reported that one pileup Sunday on Interstate 35 sent 13 people to the hospital, mostly with minor injuries. Authorities estimated that more than 20 cars were involved.
Meanwhile, another pileup along Interstate 435 in Kansas City, Kan., involved up to 40 vehicles.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Multiple accidents also were reported along Interstate 70.
As vehicles piled up, authorities urged motorists to use caution.
Emergency personnel began to untangle the wreckage on Sunday as snow fell again in Bonner Springs in the Kansas City, Kan. area. This accident was one of many on icy streets.
CRIME
No warning before Alabama shooting
denied tenure and the looming loss of her teaching post, though relatives and students said she had never suggested she might become violent.
Everyone from family and friends to her students at the University of Alabama in Huntsville said the intelligent and at
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — An Alabama professor accused of shooting six colleagues was vocal in her resentment over being
times awkward teacher seemed normal in the hours before police say she opened fire in a faculty meeting Friday afternoon, leaving three dead and another three wounded.
Jim Anderson — the father of Bishop's husband, James Anderson — told The Associated Press on Sunday his son had no idea Bishop was planning the blood-shed she's accused of.
In 1986, Bishop shot and killed her 18-year-old brother with a shotgun at their Braintree, Mass., home. She told police at the time that she had been trying to learn how to use the gun, which her father had bought for protection, when it accidentally discharged.
Associated Press
GET INVOLVED
Alternative Weekend Break:
...
Topeka Zoo: Saturday, February 20
The Topeka Zoo provides care for over 380 exotic species. Participants will help zookeeepers around the park.
Registration Deadline; FEBRUARY 18
Registration forms can be found at http://groups.ku.edu/~albreaks
Questions?
www.ku.edu/~albreaks
aweb@ku.edu
Pizza & Politics:
Civility and Friendship
In Politics
February 16, 2010 @ noon Adams Alumni Center
Featuring Dole Fellow Wilma Goldstein and the former directors of the Republican and Democratic congressional campaign committees, Steve Stockmeyer and Bill Sweeney, respectively.
STUDENT