MRC News Brief, October 17, 1994. Vol. 3, No. 6

Chemical and Biological Sciences is using advanced technology for teaching and is saving Mount Royal College money in the process.

The Bulletin Board System (BBS) used by instructors Dennis Leask and Ray Sloan is so comprehensive, students don’t even need to physically attend class. The BBS allows students computer access to course assignments, lecture notes and hassle-free contact with their instructors. It also gives them access to information resources worldwide – BBS can download graphics files from the Hubble Space Telescope and weather satellites monitoring Hurricane Emily.

A student from Edmonton enrolled in a course this semester downloads all of the in-class information to his home computer. “Supplemented by telephone conversations, facsimile transmissions and mailings, it’s as though he were on campus,” said Leask. This method of instruction has worked well in the past for students wishing to take classes from remote sites such as gas or chemical plants.

According to Leask, the BBS is “a cadillac, IBM-clone-based BBS” that is ‘improving technology in the College without putting us into bankruptcy” because it runs on systems “that were ready to be thrown out”. The system also provides the opportunity to cut back on the amount of paper used for course handouts.

Of the approximately 200 students in the classes, more than 80 have active accounts and have logged more than 500 messages since the beginning of September.