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By Monique Simpson

For the Daily Bruin

Will there be college campuses in the future?

Maybe students will just sit at home and take classes through the Internet, without ever meeting another student and never seeing their professor.

As online learning subsidizes and in some cases replaces the classroom environment, some may be wondering how far that change will go.

But even if online classes are introduced into the UC curriculum, many educators feel that it will not eliminate the traditional classroom setting of higher education.

“There’s nothing like having teachers and students in the same room,” said UC spokesman Chuck McFadden. “Online classes will never replace face-to-face learning.”

One reason some educators believe the Internet will not entirely transform higher education is the importance of human interaction that is integral to the traditional learning experience, something lost in the transition to online learning.

In a recent design class that was taught partially on the Internet, Phil Agre, associated professor of information studies, found some of his students disliked reading class lectures over the Internet.

“Some students prefer lectures because of their busy lives,” Agre said. “Being in class is the one time their attention is squarely on (learning).”

Agre discovered that outside of the classroom, reading lectures competed with students’ other commitments. He said he noticed that because he allowed classroom time for student presentations only, many students complained about his lack of lecturing.

Students also want the personal contact with professors who can better explain the materials, Agre said.

William Marelich, a lecturer in psychology and sociology and assistant professor at Cal State Fullerton, agrees with Agre.

“Communication between teachers and students is needed to clarify and expand on issues,” said Marelich, who turned down a position teaching an online class because of this reason.

He said many online class presentations are “cold and boring” and do not allow professors to incorporate current events into lectures.

“I couldn’t work in an example of a protest from the Democratic National Convention because the online lecture is already set,” Marelich said.

Marelich’s preference for traditional teaching is also the result of the pleasure he takes from student feedback during lectures, such as laughter when he tells jokes.

“It’s part of the fun of being an instructor,” he said.

But an incentive toward distance learning is being created by the expected increase of incoming students that has become known as Tidal Wave II.

“UC expects 63,000 students in the next 10 years,” McFadden said.

The university is looking for creative ways to dealing with this enormous influx, such as distance learning though McFadden said it is too early to tell.

“Online classes are not going to happen next year,” said Robert Cox, manager of enrollment planning. “There are many issues that have to be discussed, such as what is a good online class and how does it compare to a traditional class. The academic administrators are looking at these serious issues.”

Currently, most people view the Internet as playing a supportive role education while making life easier for students and professors.

For professors, the Internet can be a useful tool in research. Marelich said he has used the Internet to assist him in his current study on romantic relationships.

After placing his survey online, he realized the Internet was a way to gain more survey participants and make recording data easier.

“A year ago there wasn’t a lot of information on doing surveys on the web in sociology and psychology,” said Marelich. “But with the growth of the Internet, there has been a growth in online research.”

Students have also reaped many benefits from the expanded use of the Internet in education. Anita Cotter, associate registrar and the voice of URSA telephone, credits students having to visit Murphy Hall less due to services like URSA online and the my.ucla Web site.

“The Internet eliminates the middle person between students and information,” Cotter said.

Information via the Internet is also available for perspective UCLA students. Additionally, students can even apply for admission online.

“There are virtual tours, photos of the campus and students’ comment about UCLA on the UCLA Web site,” said Rae Lee Siporin, director of undergraduate admissions and relations with schools.

These changes students and professors are experiencing now are just the beginning of the Internet’s impact on higher education.

Agre believes major transformations will come in upcoming years.

“The most important changes are in the future,” said Agre. “We are now in position of speculation on whatever revolution is going to happen.”