TECHNOLOGY-ENABLED COURSES OFFER FLEXIBLE ALTERNATIVE TO CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION.


Moe Izadpanah
Ten years ago, Maria Asencio graduated in the top ten percent of her high school class. Intending to continue her education, she got married and took on new responsibilities, including working to help support her family. As a result, she put her college education on the back burner. Now, after getting an associate's degree at Miami-Dade Community College, Asenscio has enrolled in the College. However, life remains hectic and getting to class poses a challenge.

That's where technology-enabled or online courses came to her rescue. They give her the kind of flexibility she needs to balance family, work, and her education. She's one of the nearly 4,000 students who enroll in some, or all, of their third and fourth years of business coursework from home and office, according to Moe Izadpanah, director of the College's Office of Online Learning.

Asencio works on her courses from home in the evenings and on weekends.

"Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and can't go back to sleep, so I just log in to my course and get some work done," she said.

She also said that discussion forums allow her to communicate with her professors and her fellow students.

"It is truly amazing the way it works out," she said. "Students help other students via the discussion forums."

Asencio was born in Cuba and came to this country when she was three years old. Originally thinking about teaching in the public schools, she took a job in an accounting firm and now is only six courses away from a degree in accounting. She hopes to continue and get a master's degree in accounting and then become a CPA.

Maria Asencio Sofia Baralt

Another online student, Sofia Baralt, takes the courses and exams right on campus. Her laptop has wireless access and she can log on from many places on campus, including the library.

Baralt came to the United States from Valencia, Venezuela, in 1997 and began her studies at Florida International University in computer engineering. Now she's thinking of enrolling in a master's program in human resources, hoping to become director of a human resource department. Her current major, psychology, will combine well with her minor in business to help her qualify for such a degree program.

Both Asencio and Baralt have found the technology-enabled courses a tremendous help in completing necessary coursework by giving them the flexibility they need in their busy lives.

The College offers approximately 130 technology-enabled courses, as well as blended (a combination of technology-enabled and in-class instruction) options. A major in international business and a major in finance also are available fully online. The courses are just one aspect of the College's commitment to creating a virtual campus using highly innovative technology.For more information about technology-enabled courses and the College's technology vision, check out http://estudent.fiu.edu/.