Teachers take to cyberschool

The Fay-West Area is moving forward quickly in the education field: California University of Pennsylvania is now offering a complete master's degree online.

"We have the technology and we have students with a need both to attain a master's degree and to not have to come to a campus setting to get that degree," said Joseph Zisk, who has been instrumental in instituting the program. "Our students are people with full-time jobs and family commitments. Online is the best of both worlds for them.

"I have always been fascinated by the computer world ever since I began my teaching career back in the early '70s in the Philadelphia public school system," he continued. "After receiving my own master's degree from Drexel (University) and my doctorate from Temple University, I began working with Arcadia University and its online programs. When I came to California six years ago, my interest expanded."

Zisk is quick to explain that others on campus also support the online education courses.

"University President Angelo Armenti Jr. has been a real driving force behind our online success story," he said. "He has our online degree committee meet with him every Monday to update everyone on the progress being made and to kick around new ideas. He is highly involved and on top of things here. It surely helps to have the president of the university in your corner."

An Internet search reveals that not only "cyber-schools" such as the University of Phoenix are offering online degrees. Traditional universities including Cornell, Boston and Notre Dame are offering computer-based programs as well.

Online programs have substance.

"Our master's degree is now concentrating on educators who are working as teachers during the day and attending our online courses at night," Zisk explained. "They have time to have dinner with the family, put the kids to bed and then to get on line and participate in class discussions. Otherwise many of our students would not be able to get this degree."

Cyber-student Kristine Sacco, of Baldwin, said she wouldn't have time to devote to a master's degree if she had to drive to class several nights per week.

"I have four children, and the younger ones need me at night," she said. "I love the arrangement of the class, though. I can log on any time and participate in the class discussion. Every time I say something online, it is recorded next to the statement I am referring to and the student who made the statement in the first place.

"In a real class you can sit back and not volunteer opinions. In Dr. Zisk's class, you are required to add a certain number of comments to each question."

Sacco teaches art at the Tillotson School, a private school where some of the students are neurologically challenged.

"They have no shortage of talent, especially in the arts," she said. "I have found that the strategies I am learning and designing in the online courses are very appropriate for me and my students. I use my new lessons on them and assess the results. Dr. Zisk calls it constructivism, because it builds on what they already know and my building-block style of education."

The online instruction is responsive, Zisk indicated.

"We are constantly updating our program to fit the needs of the students, and we do listen to their comments and assessments at the end of each semester so we can consider changes," he said. "Our program tries to anticipate problems and we are logged into a Help Desk program that is available 365 days, 24/7, by e-mail or phone. So far it is working very well."

Some teachers might find the idea of not being in the presence of their students discomforting or mysterious. Not so, Zisk said.

"All teachers like to have their personalities become a driving force in the classroom, and the online course does nothing to discourage this," he explained. "Both my students and I are able to send messages that define us educationally and how we feel about things. Most comments are very well thought out, and even the most timid of students can show what he or she knows or feels on a topic."

Student Rolf Briegel, of Peters Township, said he is "thrilled to be able to get a master's degree online from Cal U."

"I have three children, and I teach meteorology and geology in Upper St. Clair High School, so my time is very valuable," he said. "Being able to do this class online is perfect.

"Online classes are not as expensive (or) time consuming, and I will advance in the teaching world with the master's degree. It is a win-win situation."

Students in Zisk's class are asked to write papers, and they comment on classroom scenarios presented online. Testing is done online.

"Each (test) session is a one-time log-on event," Zisk said. "Once you start, you have to finish within a specified time period. We use a varying randomizer to change the test from person to person. The system is getting better day by day."

And the technology continues to advance.

"We invested in a software program called Blackboard in 2000 that makes participation in the online courses very easy," Zisk said." Next we are adding a voice component where we can hear students who are in the class comment, instead of just writing comments. Web cameras will be next."

Many of the instructors in Cal U's online program teach in other places, and not all students have a local address.

"The real beauty is some of our students are from other parts of the U.S.A. taking online courses here at Cal U. Our goal is to have our grads become nationally certified as teachers. We are truly universal," said Zisk.

"There are seven myths about online education that we dispel," he added. "Students do get to come to the campus for certain events. Credits are transferable. Online courses are challenging; just ask one of our students.

"There is a lot of personal contact with teachers and other students. Online schools are just as good as their physical counterparts. Employers do take online degrees seriously, and you don't have to be a computer whiz to take such courses."

So what is holding students back? "Nothing," said Zisk.

"Our classes are always nearly full. When word gets out, the programs will grow, and we will be ready for them here at Cal U."