ASU and the Columbia County Board of Education participate in a joint distance learning project

Augusta State University and the Columbia County Board of Education have joined together in a pilot distance learning project with Lakeside High School. "As a result we have been able to accommodate the special needs of three of our joint enrolled students," says Chip Matson, director of computer services.

Using some fairly simple
technology, ASU is broadcasting over the Internet an advanced calculus course from the campus to a classroom at Lakeside High. The three students have taken several other calculus classes at ASU as joint enrolled students. They wanted to complete the course, but a scheduling conflict prevented them from getting to the ASU campus during the scheduled class time.

At that point, one of the student’s parents approached Bill Morris, assistant superintendent CCBOE and Chip Matson, ASU director of computer services about some sort of Internet-based delivery of the course. And after some investigation by ASU’s technical staff members Steve Duckworth and Bill Juras, a web camera and conference phone system were set up in the ASU classroom. A laptop computer with an overhead projector and conference phone were set up in a room on the Lakeside campus. During class days, the students log onto a special website that has the calculus video broadcast and the instructor, Dr. Gerald Thompson, calls up the students via the conference phone. On test days the students come to the ASU campus and participate the same as the rest of the class.

The overall response has been very positive. "The students are pleased, and Dr. Thompson has been very supportive. ASU has been able to respond to our students needs and at the same time try out some new and exciting technology," according to Matson. "It's very important to note that none of this would have been possible without the students’ and the instructor’s willingness to take a chance on a new method of instruction."