Durham College is reaching out to the world with an innovative certificate program that combines cutting-edge subject matter with high-tech teaching methods.
The college's Internet Multimedia Software certificate program is the first in Canada available entirely over the Internet, as accessible to someone in Oslo as it is to a student in Oshawa.
"Other colleges and universities have been offering courses over the Internet for the past few years," says Professor Peter Kiriakidis, the program originator. "Durham, however, is the first to offer the entire certificate program on-line."
The new program gives students the chance to learn the skills necessary for a career in the area of Internet content development and site administration, and covers subjects ranging from basic Internet and computer skills to HTML programming and Desktop Publishing to Java and Visual C++ object oriented programming. Students must complete a total of ten courses to earn the certificate.
Graduates of the program will have the skills necessary to entry level positions as webmasters, computer programmers, Internet consultants, database administrators and software developers. It's no coincidence that these positions are high in demand in the corporate sector - the fact that Canadian companies are often forced to look overseas for employees with high-tech skills was a catalyst in creating the program. Peter felt that Durham College needed to deliver these skills in as innovative an atmosphere as possible.
"Students learn best by doing," says Professor Kiriakidis. "This is not abstract theory - in this program they apply what we are teaching using the latest technology and software, and that makes a big difference."
This cutting-edge approach has already caught the attention of several educators from across the world. One college professor in the United States has indicated he will take the course to see how it is run, while another university professor in Australia is looking into transferring the concept south of the equator.
Interest has also been expressed by students worldwide, who have learned of the course via extensive promotion on web search engines. One student from Greece is already enrolled in the on-line program, with inquiries coming from across the globe. Because the on-line version of the course is offered virtually using no college resources other than computer and instructor time, students from overseas using the Internet to earn their certificate pay the same rate as Canadian students, which is under $200 per course. They can begin at anytime; unlike traditional classroom programs, and work at their own pace.
Learning on-line is not the only route available to potential webmasters and Internet gurus - Durham's Internet Multimedia Software certificate program is also offered via the traditional in-class method or by correspondence. While many students still prefer to learn using these traditional methods, Kiriakidis notes that there are some advantages to learning on-line.
"It is place and time independent," says Kiriakidis. "The Virtual Classroom is open 24 hours a day and you can reach it instantly from anywhere in the world. As well, when you take the course on-line you can do it at your own pace."
Quick feedback is another advantage to taking the course on the Internet. If a student runs into problems on an assignment, he or she can send a quick e-mail to the instructor, who will answer within 24 hours. On-line chat sessions, archived 'Frequently Asked Questions' (FAQs) from previous classes and video conferencing are other options available to students using the Internet to take the course.
While the Internet won't eliminate the need for the traditional classroom anytime soon, Peter sees the world of on-line education as a new frontier - and Durham College as a pioneer.
In the future, many Durham College graduates may be people who have never set foot in Canada, let alone Durham Region. When that happens, it will be a sign that the Internet has truly reached its potential as a means of bringing the world closer together.
Disclaimer: The contact information provided in archived news releases was current at the release date. For current information please contact Communications and Marketing.