All Community Connections classes, which have staggered start dates throughout the fall, are noncredit and don't involve tests or grading. As a special incentive, the program is offering a 10 percent discount if participants register on Friday, Sept. 15. Online learning has advantages over traditional classroom instruction, including the opportunity for students to work at their own pace, says Community Connections Coordinator Lisa Dael. It also utilizes the expertise of many instructors who don't live in the Athens area, which brings different insights to campus offerings. The ease with which students can communicate with instructors by e-mail is another plus.
Personal schedules are busier than ever, so e-mail makes communication more convenient.
A wide variety of online classes can be offered because there are minimal operating costs. Future online courses will depend on community feedback. Popular classes will continue to be provided, while those that generate little interest will be replaced. The debt elimination course also should be popular because that's a class that most people could use. Another online education service offered by Community Connections is Dynamic Interactive Software Courses, or DISC, a Web-based training program involving various computer topics.