Charles R. Morgan, Ph.D.
"Education should be rigorous, but that doesn't mean that it shouldn't be fun," says Dr. Charles Morgan.
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Online Biology
Program Description
The Graduate Program in Biology is meant to reach those working professionals who cannot be constrained by the traditional course scheduling. To accomplish this, Saint Joseph College brings our courses to these students by means of an Internet-based lecture program. Thus, students can fit courses around their work and home schedules, completing a Master of Science program in Biology within two years.
Our program has been approved by the Connecticut Department of Education, and we are accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), whose accreditation is recognized nationwide.
CERTIFICATE IN EMERGING DISEASES
The Online Format
The features of our online courses vary between classes, at the discretion of the professor, but generally include a threaded discussion and frequent assessment of the material. The threaded discussion allows students to answer questions posed by the instructor, and then build upon those answers. Thus, a dialogue is created not only between instructor and student, but also among students in a cooperative venture. Frequent assessment (weekly or biweekly) ensures that students are cognizant of the material and what they need to do to expand their understanding. Some courses use an on-line quiz format, essay format, or case study analysis for assessment. Some courses even include video lectures in addition to reading assignments. In any case each student generally receives more individual attention via the discussion group and email than students in regular graduate courses.
Note that online courses are not correspondence courses. The rapidity of the communication is involving. Online education has also been found to be more work than in a regular course, due to the greater level of attention offered to the student and expected from the student. In order to succeed, students must keep pace with the assigned material. Currently all courses are being run asynchronously (where no one has to be on-line at a particular time), the timeline must be maintained with some discipline to prevent the workload from accumulating. Some students lack this discipline; the online course format will not work for them. Many of the courses require the use of various internet information and graphics resources and/or involve large file-size presentations, so high-speed internet access is necessary. Some students without such at home have found other means of access. However, considering the cost of courses, not having cable or DSL service is a false economy when it slows down learning. It is possible that future courses will incorporate video conferencing, which would require specific times to participate (although that is not the case at present).
What's in the future? Course development will be continuous to adjust to changing technology, eventually including multimedia application and simulation. In some instances the material presented will simply not be applicable across the Internet, due to current limitations in communication technology. In these situations, CD-ROMs or DVDs will be produced and sent to students in the course, featuring images, audio, and video sequences that will enhance the online experience. In many cases the lecture material will direct the student to Internet sites, which support the study material.
Mary Helen Pombo '08"I want to exercise the skills I learned at the College in order to develop further insight into our global society."
