Professors seem to be increasingly making various materials available for download from Toolkit. Reading assignments, Powerpoint slides, notes and even sound recordings of lectures can be found for many classes.
This may lead one to wonder whether it might soon be possible to stream entire classes over the Internet, complete with audiovisual aids, in order to create a sort of virtual classroom.
Fourth-year College student Jeff Bean said he thinks this is very likely, especially since numerous professors including his own father -- an Engineering professor -- are taking the first step by learning how to make Podcasts.
Additionally, second-year College student Miguel Bacigalupe knew of at least one class that was being taught right now via somewhat virtual methods.
Some students take Politics Prof. Larry Sabato's PLAP 101 "Introduction to American Politics" course in a separate classroom via a video monitor, Bacigalupe said.
Bean noted that while his undergraduate experience is nearly over, virtual classrooms are something he would have considered if given the opportunity.
Even though Bean said students should be required to watch those classes as a live stream in order to encourage good study habits, he also saw the advantages of downloading lectures for later use.
"It would be nice if I could get all the lectures [online] and not miss anything," Bean said.
As a fourth year, Bean often has to work his schedule around job interviews, he said.
First-year College student Simone Wojtaszek said she would like the ability to work on one's own time, because she would not have to roll out of bed early in the morning.
She said she could definitely see such a system working for less discussion-based classes like math and economics.
Some students said there may also be logistical benefits to virtual classrooms.
Bean spoke of the potential to alleviate the problems of overcrowded courses and wait lists.
"It would be nice if you didn't have to wait until your fourth year to take a class," Bean said.
He also said there was a possibility of allowing underclassmen to take courses virtually that are normally reserved for upperclassmen because of a lack of space.
While there are some potential advantages to virtual classrooms, students pointed out downsides as well.
Bacigalupe said the University is already lacking too many small classes.
"This [hypothetical] system should not be a way of increasing enrollment," Bacigalupe said.
Bacigalupe said this technology could potentially decrease direct interaction with professors.
Virtual classrooms "would only increase the use of TAs," Bacigalupe said.
Bean also said this concerned him.
"It leads to impersonality," Bean said. "The further you're put at a distance from your professors, the less comfortable you feel going to talk to them."
This sort of comfort level is important at the University, Wojtaszek said.
Moreover, it is hard to put personality in a computer screen, she said.
Bacigalupe, however, said he did not totally discount virtual classrooms, but believed they could potentially serve as a study guide.
"It's okay to have technology," Bacigalupe said, as long as we avoid "going too far with it."
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