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In June 2000, the three of us embarked
on a new adventure. No, we were not contestants for
the next "Survivor" show, although we may
feel like them after we are done. This adventure is
much more intense and grueling. Bravely, we enrolled
in Texas Woman's University's first distance-learning
program for Ph.D. nursing students.
This program offers courses through multiple distance-learning
strategies: concentrated classes in Denton, Texas, Internet-based
courses, interactive video, mixed method courses that
combine Internet, interactive video and limited off-site
instruction in Temple, Texas.
As former traditional students and now faculty instructors,
we have been exposed to many aspects of distance learning;
however, this past year has given us new perspectives
on the good and the bad of this new educational program.
With so many schools jumping on the bandwagon and offering
distance-learning degrees, we wanted to share some of
the plethora of information we have gained and the experiences
we have had.
A false sense of security
Shirley: As so-called guinea pigs coming into
a new program, I expected some difficulties. The first
course taken, a women's-health elective, went well.
We met face-to-face twice during the semester and the
rest of the course was online. This lulled me into a
false sense of security, which explains what I did next.
The next semester, I took nine hours. I would not recommend
this to anyone unless you are a little crazy and not
working full time. One of the courses consisted of two
face-to-face meetings with other students and the teacher,
two interactive videoconferences and online communications.
That course also went well.
The second course was a library science course that
consisted of interactive videoconferences from multiple
sites. The teacher was in Houston and the students were
in Denton, Temple, Tyler, Beaumont and Houston. Our
group was not allowed to talk during the interactive
class, because it interfered with other sites' transmissions.
The instructor taught from the computer, but no one
had computer access from his or her site. It was difficult
to see the computer screen through a small television
and try to absorb information without having a computer
in front of you.
Since then, my other courses have gone well. I still
am apprehensive sometimes, but I learned, as with the
other degrees that I pursued and received, that I must
be motivated, have excellent time management and be
organized to succeed in distance-learning programs.
A blueprint for learning
Sharon: I jumped in headfirst, taking two classes
(six semester hours). I thought then that I knew something
about distance education. The excitement of being involved
in a program such as this numbed my senses through those
first six hours, so I did not have a handle on the notion
of distance education just yet.
In the fall 2000 semester, I registered for three classes
(nine semester hours). I was able to persuade Shirley,
but not Phyllis, to join me. Taking nine hours was tough.
It almost consumed my every waking thought and I had
a lot of sleepless nights.
Shirley described a person taking nine hours per semester
as a little crazy. She would be talking about me. Determined
and a little crazy, I again signed up for nine hours
for the spring semester. During this time, I continued
to teach full time, plus work to keep my nursing skills
sharp, and be the best mother I ever dreamed I could
be.
I learned quickly that this journey was not mine alone;
I must have the commitment of my family because it would
take all of them to assist me and understand my craziness.
Those nine semester hours passed so quickly that I was
almost left in a trail of dust. I beat those nine hours
because I was Sharon the Survivor, and I continued to
be a survivor as I juggled six more semester hours during
the summer session.
Now that you have the blueprint of the path I have
been following, I want you to know that distance education
made that path possible. As I said, I am a mother and
have a full-time faculty position. Placing either of
these roles in jeopardy is not an option. Distance education
was, and still is, the only game plan acceptable for
me.
As with all survivors, distance-education students
must be self-motivated to meet deadlines by working
on projects or writing articles for publication long
before their due date. They must be flexible and patient
each time the "equipment" does not work correctly,
or in some instances, never even gets "beamed up"
at all.
They must possess the stamina to get through sleepless
nights because you are up all night brainstorming or
you don't sleep well because of worry or simply because
the middle of the night is the absolute only "me
time" you get. They must have a loving, supportive
family and understanding friends.
I feel that when I am honored with my doctorate in
nursing science, I will share that achievement with
my mother and my daughter, both of whom accompanied
me to every overnight stay necessary. As for friends,
Shirley, Phyllis and I have this common bond, now more
than ever. We feel like the Three Musketeers.
As for me, I am still in the game and plan on being
a true survivor once all my fear factors have been dissolved.
A brave new world
Phyllis: Distance education has become both
a blessing and a bane. It is a blessing because I am
able to further my education in a way I certainly could
not in a traditional format. My schedule would not allow
me to attend classes weekly. (I live more than 90 miles
from any university that has the desired area of study
and that I could afford.) The geographical factor is
compounded because I teach in the evening component
of an associate degree of nursing program, and this
would present a scheduling conflict with many of the
courses in which I would need to be enrolled.
The bane is self-imposed. Becoming a doctoral student
is something I have added to an already full schedule,
which includes teaching full time, working a part-time
staff nurse job and being involved in a variety of committees
and organizations that are either work- or community-related.
I am working on making it much less of a bane as I
have learned that doing it all is not possible or even
desirable. I have cut down considerably on my part-time
job and have learned to use that wonderful word, "No."
While I still enjoy participating in some additional
activities, I have learned that I do not have to agree
to chair every committee or participate in every committee
or organization I am informed of.
Being a distance-education student has forced me to
become a part of this "brave new world of technology"
that I had managed to hide from. A year ago, I did not
even know what "http://" meant, and now I
can go online and search for information with the best
of them. A year ago, the only use I had for a computer
was that of a word processor. Now, I become anxious
if a day passes and I have not been online. I just shake
my head when I realize all of the time I lost by not
being part of the online community.
During that first year, we used our survival skills
to continue through the distance-learning program. As
true distance-learning survivors, we have been tested
and have passed all the challenges to date. We do not
anticipate getting voted off anytime soon.
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