October 1997
MUSE Program Inspires Distance Learners
In Greek mythology, "Muse" refers to any of the nine goddesses who presided over a different art or science. Shrink the "M" and you have a source of inspiration or an inspiring spirit or power that watches over artists. When one muses, he or she ponders or meditates.
It is no coincidence that the new trademarked acronym for UMass Boston's distance learning program is so power-packed, says Donald Babcock, Senior Associate Vice Chancellor, director of the Multi-Site Educational (MUSE) Distance Learning Program and the Graduate Program in Instructional Design.
"The reason it is trademarked is that our methodology for delivering distance learning courses is innovative and unusual," Babcock said. "We use both a video network and a dated network integrated into a single delivery system."
Far from the days when texts and workbooks were mailed to students, distance learning has gone high tech. "We've been conducting distance learning classes at UMass Boston for three years," Babcock said. "We have gradually developed the capacity for originating and receiving courses," he said.
Those who think distance learning sheds the virtues of the traditional classroom might be pleasantly surprised. The technology used by MUSE supports highly interactive teaching and learning:
- Primary video, including television, satellite, cable television and high quality videoconferencing, is used for classroom instruction.
- Computer mediated communication provides interaction among teachers and students.
- Desktop-video conferencing connects teachers and students in real-time conversation.
- With application sharing, teachers can see and comment on students' work as they do it, and students can simultaneously share software running on a single machine.
- World Wide Web Interactive Teaching uses the MUSEWEB CLASSROOM, a copyrighted interactive web utility developed by the UMass Boston MUSE Distance Learning program, which supports real time presentation of slides, graphics and other materials and incorporates student questions and feedback.
- The general World Wide Web, as well as e-mail, whiteboard, chat and threaded discussion, are incorporated into many MUSE courses.
"This fall we have 140 registrants in eight distance learning classes," Babcock said. MUSE offers courses at various levels in collaboration with the Division of Continuing Education, other UMass campuses and two local high schools in areas including the following: engineering, information technology, marine science in K-12, precalculus, and introduction to college composition.
In prior semesters two graduate courses, "Environmental Management" and "International Marketing," were offered through the College of Management to other UMass campuses. "The Middle School Child" and "The Philosophy of Rhetoric and Argument" are received from UMass Lowell.
Two programs target K-12 teachers and education majors. "Pulling in the Net: Information Technology in the K-12 Curriculum" and "Harbor Explorations: Marine Science in the K-12 Curriculum" are offered statewide through a partnership between UMass Boston and the Massachusetts Corporation for Educational Telecommunications. In Boston, the courses are presented in partnership with Cablevision of Boston on Channel PIN 36 and in cooperation with the Boston Public Schools on Channel A22.
Advanced students at Boston English High School take "Introduction to College Composition" for credit, while students at South Boston High School study "Precalculus." "It gives advanced students in the schools the possibility to do college level work without having to truncate the rest of the high school's curriculum," Babcock said.
A series of programs for health professionals, to be taken in their own workplace through distance learning, is being developed by MUSE and the College of Nursing. MUSE anticipates beginning with a pilot program in Spring 1998, with full operation of a certificate program in long term care planned for Fall 1998.
Tuition and fees vary. For more information, visit the Web site at http://www.umb.edu/Distance_Learning_Web_Site, or call 617-287-5400.