COLLEGE EXPANDING TV COURSES; CLASSES CONVENIENT, FLEXIBLE METHOD OF EARNING CREDITS.

Byline: Stacy Brown Daily News Staff Writer

College of the Canyons has expanded its College by Television classes this summer, offering six courses in one of the most convenient methods of taking credit classes.

CTV makes it possible for students to earn transferable college credits by taking courses offered on public television and on the local public access cable channel.

``Students can tape the programs and watch them in the place and time of day that works into their own schedules,'' said Jan Keller the Assistant Dean of Learning Resources.

Several courses are offered each year. Students review the programs at home, complete study assignments, attend seminars and take midterms and final examinations.

``Taking courses this way is often more convenient and provides more flexibility than regular classroom attendance,'' said Sue Bozman, a school spokeswoman. Janice Smith, the college's education assistant for the program, says it's a benefit for all.

``The program is a good solution for single parents who may have no child-care help during summer months and for people who work full time,'' said Smith, whose daughter Jamie Smith took a psychology course in the program.

``It was a better class (for me) than others because not only did you have books and other materials but the videos really helped me to catch things I might have missed. Everything sinks in so much better,'' Jamie said.

Jamie earned an A in child psychological development last summer and is pursuing a career in preschool education.

Some of the classes are on the public TV station and some are on Channel 20, public access. Bozman said if the students don't receive Channel 20, they still have other options. ``They can have a friend tape the show, they can rent the tapes and keep them for the semester, or they can view the tapes at their convenience in the college library,'' she said.

Janice Smith also said while it's not a traditional way of education, the students are rewarded the same. ``There is no asterisk on their transcripts, no one would know they took the course this way. The records will only say that credit was received for whatever course they are taking,'' she said, adding that the program is not unlike schools that offer independent study classes.

Among COC's summer courses are cultural anthropology, American government and politics, U.S. history, introduction to psychology, developmental psychology and introduction to sociology.

COC generally has offered four to five CTV courses during its regular spring and fall terms, but due to increased interest from students, the college is expanding its offerings to 10 courses during the fall and six courses this summer, Bozman said.

To take the CTV class, students can register by mail or in the admissions and records office on campus. Bozman said registration also is available on Saturdays, when there is an on-campus orientation session.

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Photo

Photo: (color in SAC edition only) Jamie Smith, 19, holding her 2-month-old son Jon De La Cruz outside their Canyon Country apartment, completed a class by television.

Hans Gutknecht/Daily News