Have you ever wanted to take a college class in real time, from the comfort of home? Now you can.
Coming this fall, Central Lakes College is debuting Live Online, which allows students to live stream class from any location, while interacting in real time with their instructor and classmates. Students can also replay a recording of a class session at any time later.
Live Online is a step forward in how CLC delivers classes, said Martha Kuehn, Dean of Liberal Arts.
“It combines the best of online and face to face classes,” she said.
With classes being recorded for later viewing, students can catch a missed class, review a lecture, or view the class at a more convenient time. This innovative method of education allows more flexibility as students balance jobs and family with their courses. Students can tune into class while on break at work, or high school students may take a college class without leaving their high school campus.
It’s a more advanced option than the typical online class for many students, Kuehn said.
“With Live Online, students can actually listen to their instructor and interact in real time. The real time communication is a big plus for Live Online. Students can ask questions and get answers immediately, and also listen in on their classmates’ questions, answers and discussions,” she said.
“Not every student learns best by just reading material, and with Live Online, students can listen, too. The ability to hear an explanation of a concept, and see the instructor’s face and gestures, makes for much richer communication,” she said.
All that’s needed to “attend” class is a computer or mobile device/tablet with a webcam and a microphone and an internet connection.
“We hope that this new class delivery method will enrich our course offerings and allow more students to attend class and be successful at Central Lakes College,” Kuehn said.
CLC will be offering ten Live Online classes this fall, and another ten classes during spring semester. Live Online classes will be expanded by Fall 2017. You can find the complete course listing at www.clcmn.edu/liveonline