The college experience for most people includes interaction with fellow students and professors in classrooms. But the trend of online classes may be changing that for some students.

Online classes have grown in number since they began about six years ago, and a greater number of students have been enrolling in them. They offer a convenient way for students who are self-motivated or can’t get to classrooms easily to learn.

Western’s first online class was offered in 1999. It had an enrollment of 15 students, said Pam Wilson, the coordinator for distance learning. By November 2003, the enrollment in online courses had increased to more than 3,000.

Western now offers 268 online classes, said Wilson. There were 4,595 students enrolled in online classes in the 2004-2005 academic year.

Wilson said convenience is what attracts students to online courses.

“It’s probably the flexibility,” she said. “The ability to do the coursework at a convenient time for the student.”

Students can take online courses through Western and also through Kentucky Virtual University (KYVU). KYVU is an online consortium of state universities which allows students to take classes from more than one institution.

Sue Patrick, a representative from KYVU, said online classes are becoming more popular across the nation.

“Online learning might help someone stay on track with their program, like you can’t get all the courses that you want with your institution and your program, you can pick up classes online,” she said.

Using the Internet as a teaching tool can be advantageous to professors as well.

“The teachers that teach online seem to really enjoy it,” Wilson said. “They’re interested in enhancing their courses, like with video and Web links.”

James Chappell, an assistant political science professor, said online classes are more convenient for scheduling. He is teaching Elements of Public Administration as an online class this semester.

“It allows me to offer it every semester and it doesn’t interfere with any other scheduled course times,” he said.

He said he thinks that there is more individual feedback to students online and the assignments are more structured. But he makes sure that the content of the course is equal to that of a face-to-face course.

A professor can choose to give proctored exams for his or her online

class, give tests over the Internet, or assign a final project or paper, Wilson said.

Economics professor Steve Lile said he gives tests online, but they have a time limit to minimize the use of books and notes. Lile is teaching Economics 201 and 202 online this semester.

Ron Mitchell, an instructor of business technology at the community college, said he gives online tests in his Principles of Management class.

He says two advantages of online classes are the flexibility the student has with classwork and not having to be somewhere at a specific time.

Almost any class can be taught online, Wilson said. Lectures, projects and tests can all be translated to an electronic learning environment. The only classes that might be difficult would be ones where students would actually have to see the professor or ones that have visual elements, such as interior design, Wilson said.

Mitchell said he thought any class could be taught online, as long as the students applied themselves.

“The student has to be self-motivated and have some initiative,” he said. “It’s easy to put things off and procrastinate with an online class.”

Lile agreed that it takes a student who is self-motivated and works well alone to succeed in an online class. He said interaction within an online class can be good if the class is involved enough.

“I think for the typical, average, run-of-the-mill student, it’s better to go to the face-to-face class,” Lile said.

The strongest advantage is for people who live at great distances from campus and who may have scheduling conflicts with work, Lile said.

The economics department will open online classes only for students who have problems coming to a face-to-face class starting next semester. Students living on campus and in Bowling Green are taking too much space in the classes, he said.

Reach Samantha Hupman at news@wkuherald.com.