No one is doing it like we are. We're targeting Indian students who want to stay within their communities and stay within their culture. Administrators say they expect the online program to become financially self-sustaining this academic year. A new grant is enabling the school to connect online with 10 other Western tribes, which will boost enrollment numbers even more. Books being mailed, long distance phone calls to instructors and the college, and, of course, keeping the computer up to date and tons of paper and ink in my printer.
Students logging on can inspect photos of instructors and read short biographies.
We've always had runners to tell us news and educate us. It's not just smoke signals anymore. The technology is different. But Colomeda, who has a master's degree in environmental education and a doctorate in medical ecology, points out that online education is not for everyone. It takes a lot of discipline, a self-directed learner, to do this.