Monday, February 23, 1998
Course websites, virtual office hours concern faculty
SPEAKER Relationships between instructors, students may
suffer
By Chauntelle Tibbals
Daily Bruin Contributor
On Friday Assemblywoman Sheila Kuehl fielded questions from
concerned faculty about technology affecting their jobs.
Kuehl and faculty conferred about two major issues: the
ownership of online course material and student-faculty
relations.
Because UCLA strongly suggests that faculty maintain a web site
for their classes, some believe that is a requirement, according to
Katherine King, UCLA associate professor of comparative
literature.
"The misconception around campus is that it is required, when it
isn’t," King said.
Since fall quarter, UCLA has been charging students an
instructional enhancement fee to maintain web sites.
The university assumes ownership of any text posted on a website
unless it it is formally contested, according to a faculty member
present at the hour-long query.
"We have to anticipate the fact that UCLA assumes they own our
work," said Nancy Henley, professor emeritus of psychology.
Kuehl, from the 41st Assembly District, said she planned to take
their concerns back to Sacramento.
Faculty members also expressed concern about the deterioration
of relations with students because of virtual office hours.
Kuehl responded by pointing out that online interaction offers
both faculty and students more flexible contact times.
Faculty members will "not be interrupted by a knock at the door
at inopportune times," Kuehl said.
Although online student advising is not a substitute for
faculty-student interaction, Kuehl acknowledges the usefulness of
virtual office hours.