Purdue News

Swain becomes head of Purdue's Office of Distance Learning

Swain, professor of electrical and computer engineering, assumes this role after 11 years as director of the Continuing Engineering Education program, where he worked with engineering professors to offer master's degree programs for learners as far away as Luxembourg and South Korea. In his new position, Swain will work with professors campuswide to offer undergraduate, graduate and professional coursework in a wide variety of academic areas.

"Distance learning" refers to courses in which the instructors and students are at different geographic locations.

"We have a very solid start to our program," said Robert Ringel, executive vice president for academic affairs. "This office, under Phil's expert guidance, will provide Purdue with the tools to show substantial increases in both the number of students we reach and the number of classes we offer through distance learning.

"I am excited by his vision for the office, to create an enhanced environment conducive to the adoption of distance learning by the academic units as a strategy for accomplishing the university's threefold mission of education, research and service, and to promote the innovative and productive use of distance learning by identifying needs that could be addressed by distance learning and potential resources for meeting those needs."

Currently, off-campus enrollment in credit courses and registration for noncredit courses at Purdue is estimated at 2,500 annually. Access has become increasingly easier thanks to technology. Purdue uses the Internet, satellite feeds and videotapes to reach students as close as across town and as far away as the other side of the world.

• Satellite classes make real-time learning from a professor at Purdue possible for a student anywhere in the United States or abroad. Classes in West Lafayette are broadcast via satellite. Off-campus learners watch the class on a TV monitor and are connected with the classroom by a telephone system that allows two-way interaction between the professor and the student.

• A dozen General Motors Corp. locations in four states, Mexico and Luxembourg offer master's of science in engineering degrees from Purdue using videotaped classes from West Lafayette through the General Motors Technical Education Program.

• The Internet is allowing learners anywhere in the world to take a class on-line. "I have no doubt students as far away as Malaysia and India eventually will tap into Purdue's classes via the World Wide Web," Swain said. "The best part about the Internet is we don't have to worry about delivering videotapes across foreign borders which, with customs, can sometimes slow down delivery."

Swain said he hopes to take the experience from his 11 years with Continuing Engineering Education to create a campus environment where distance learning is encouraged. He said he plans to promote the possibilities within the university's schools to help professors see the opportunities and find the resources to make distance learning a reality.

"It's my task to help coordinate all of Purdue's resources that are already available," Swain said. "I hope to make resources easily available to anyone who wants to use them."

Early efforts will seek opportunities for faculty to learn about distance learning technologies and instructional methods; identify and work to resolve intellectual property issues; and coordinate planning and development of facilities and resources for program implementation.

Swain said he doesn't believe distance learning will ever replace the traditional classroom, but he does think distance learning classes provide benefits for traditional students. "We are part of the global economy, which means we need to do more global teaching. Every time we receive feedback from around the world, it helps our students right here in West Lafayette," Swain said. "We are able to help our students prepare for a global environment in an increasingly smaller world."

But Swain said he believes the campus environment is necessary for most traditional students.

"The socialization found on campuses is absolutely essential for young people," Swain said. "It's where they learn how to be good citizens. However, nontraditional students who missed the initial opportunity to come to a campus, for whatever reason, are able to get the same excellent degree without leaving home or the office."

For more information on distance learning opportunities at Purdue, contact Swain's office at (765) 494-6969.

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu

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