Vol. 19, No. 17 |
Jan. 27, 2000 |
ROTC program part of
distance-learning pilot project
distance-learning pilot project
| The University of Delaware Army Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) program, conducted by the Department of Military Science, has been rated the 10th best program in the country for F.Y. 99, which includes the academic year 1998-1999.
According to Lt. Col. Paul Pusecker, military science, UD Army ROTC was among the top 4 percent of the 270 programs nationwide, based on such factors as recruiting, number of commissions, retention rate, scholarship utilization, advanced and basic summer camp ratings and institutional incentives. At the end of the 1998-1999 academic year, UD commissioned 18 second lieutenants, four above its requirement of 14. By the end of the current year, Pusecker said, UD also should exceed its Department of the Army commissioning quota. Pusecker said much of the credit for the success of ROTC at UD should be given to the quality of the department’s instructors and cadets and the work of his predecessor Lt. Col. Paul Thorson. Pusecker also credited the University, which he said provides an extremely supportive campus environment, especially when compared to other ROTC programs at colleges around the country. In addition to UD, the Department of Military Science is responsible for Army ROTC programs at six other academic institutions, including Delaware State, Salisbury State and Lincoln universities, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Wilmington and Wesley colleges. Since delivery of classes to all of these sites creates logistical, planning and personnel demands, UD Army ROTC staff were eager to volunteer for an innovative Distance Learning Initiative suggested by Cadet Command in Fort Monroe, Va. In early January, Pusecker and seven other military science professors representing the pilot project schools attended a Hi Tech Test Conference to discuss distance learning initiatives. Also participating are Pennsylvania State, West Virginia and Western Illinois universities, Indiana University of Pennsylvania and the universities of Southern Mississippi, Wyoming and Washington. “Because of the geographical disparity of our units and UD’s early use of distance-learning technology,” Pusecker said, “it made sense for us to be a part of the pilot partnership program. It’s satisfying that what we are doing here will have an impact on ROTC programs throughout the country. In fact, the historian at Cadet Command contacted us to gain information about University of Delaware teaching initiatives. We expect that information to be included in the Cadet Command’s annual report.” At the January meeting, Pusecker said, the mission was described as “how military science departments can use automation/ Internet initiatives to enhance and improve the instruction we deliver to our cadets. As it turned out,” Pusecker added, “we are involved in much more than the use of basic distance learning techniques.” Several useable concepts, which eventually will be applicable across all 270 Army ROTC programs, were discussed, Pusecker said. These include:
Before the recent meeting, Pusecker said, UD already was involved in distance learning initiatives with ROTC. UD military science instructors have used Newark campus video teleconferencing facilities to teach senior-level military science courses to students at Delaware State and Salisbury State universities and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. These presentations, which were broadcast to a convenient central location at the Delaware Technical and Community College campus in Georgetown, provided ROTC students at colleges located at the southern end of the Delmarva Peninsula the opportunity to meet at the Sussex County site and view the Newark-originated class presentation, saving time and travel for both the instructor and students. This past semester, a course on military history at Old Dominion University was broadcast to students at that campus, UD and West Virginia University. Based on the success of this undertaking, Pusecker said, more course presentations of this type–which are appropriate and can be viewed by students anywhere in the country–will be developed in the future. Last year, and continuing this year, two semesters of a senior-level military science class are being presented to a group of students using web streaming technology. This class, which provides some degree of interaction among the instructor and off-site participants, is archived on the UD Army ROTC homepage the day after it is presented and available for cadet review and reinforcement. To handle increased use of interactive technology, a Cadet Resource Learning Center has been installed on the second floor of Mechanical Hall. The area, containing several personal computers that have been provided by the Department of the Army Cadet Command, is available for students to review class lectures, conduct research and communicate with instructors. Pusecker stressed that certain instruction, such as courses in basic leadership, decision making and field training, are not appropriate for distance learning or Internet instruction. However, he said, an increasing number of courses and situations that can take advantage of interactive computer technology will be considered by the Army for instruction in the future. –Ed Okonowicz |