Continuing studies program celebrates 20 years of e-learning
by Jordana Froese
Twenty years ago there was no such thing as surfing the Net
at UVic, let alone taking classes online. Now students living
in various locations and time zones in Canada can complete
UVic’s computer-based information systems (CBIS) certificate
program at their own pace.
UVic’s senate established the program in 1982 after
recognizing the growing need for a professional development
course in information technology. Since joining the e-learning
community on the Web, the program has never looked back and
this year celebrates 20 years of success.
“The division of continuing studies has been honoured
with many awards for instructional design, video and Web productions,”
says program director Manfred Bultmann. “Many credit
programs have benefited from our cooperative projects by drawing
on our expertise and experience.”
During the ’80s, many CBIS courses were delivered face-to-face
on campus, with a flexible schedule to accommodate adult,
mid-career and part-time learners. However, teaching technology
by using technology was initially a challenge. From the beginning,
there was a strong desire to communicate electronically between
instructors and students outside of class sessions. The solution
was to complete everything online.
As technology advanced and more resources became available,
the text-based bulletin boards students were using to post
messages online were replaced by e-mail. Soon afterwards,
WebBoard was implemented and enabled class material to be
posted online and downloaded. Relying on this system allowed
students to work and take classes at the same time.
“Completion of the program typically takes four to five
years, since most students can only take a few courses per
year while working full-time,” says Bultmann. “But
for most students, the certificate program has strongly contributed
to their success.”
The majority of students in the program are from Victoria
and the Lower Mainland. There are also a few from Ontario.
One of the senior lectures of the program is from Edith Cowan
University in Western Australia, which shows how flexible
and worldwide the CBIS program has become.
“There are many exciting changes ahead of us,”
says Bultmann of the program. “Who knows what the third
decade will bring?”
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