Pilot Project Opens Doors to High Schools

Three dozen exceptional high school students have come from across Prince Edward Island to get their first taste of UPEI.

The university is in its first week of a pilot project that has 36 twelfth grade students, represent- ing almost every school from across PEI, taking English 192, Introduction to Literature, as a combined on-line and in class course. This innovative pilot proj- ect will not only benefit these stu- dents, but at the same time will be a concerted effort by the university to expand its on-line course offer- ings.

Dean Philip Smith said conception of the program began in early September, and involved many people. “President MacLauchlan had a desire to explore ways for UPEI to move forward with offering more on-line courses,” said Smith, “as well as making linkages with high school students.”

By adding the dimension of an on-line course, Smith said the university was able to accomplish the two goals at once. The idea and development for the pilot also had the very active support of Dr. Elizabeth Epperly, Professor, and former UPEI President.

There are currently 64 stu- dents enrolled in both sections of the course, more than half of those spaces were allocated to exception- al grade 12 students holding an 85 per cent average or more, who were also recommended by their school principal.

One of the challenges of initiating the project was to make it truly accessible. “President MacLauchlan waived this semes- ter’s tuition fees so that all students wanting to enroll and who met the criteria could do so,” said Smith.

Another challenge in get- ting the program off the ground said Smith, were UPEI’s entrance requirements. To that end, UPEI Senate was appealed to, and the regulations were changed in order to allow these students to partici- pate.

The whole process has been a learning experience for Professor Gerald Wandio who teaches the introductory english course.

“In getting the course ready for the pilot, my biggest challenge was learning how to use the tech- nology,” he said. However, in doing so, there is a sense of excitement said Wandio, in learning how to use the various forms of technology knowing that ultimately it benefits his students while at the same time it expands his capabilities as aj teacher and increases the overe”” capabilities of the university.

These are some excef, ally bright students, said Wand the twelfth graders involved in , project, most of who had alrez logged in by the end of the : three days of the project and I left some form of comment. ?

“These young people

outstandingly intelligent and ea, Mculdats

to get started, even though th’ course means extra work on es : their current course load,” ‘;

Wandio. On the other hangf

So, unless a student chooses to reveal his or her age, when they get to class, some of older or even mature students might be very sur- prised to find out that the person they have been communicating with is still in high school.

This program is a wonder- ful opportunity to give young peo- ple the opportunity to get a taste of university, to go beyond some the restraints of a high school program and to experience first hand some- thing that many of them may already be aspiring to, he added.

As well, Wandio believes that it will give other high school students the chance to be exposed to the idea of university by talking with peonle involved i» the project.

i. 1a¢ Aesuheucs oF Ascetics

2. The Wonder, The Curse,

and the Loud Black Noise

3. How Many People It Actually

’ Takes To Run A Student Union

4. The Liver In My Pie (3)

5. Death By Handshake

6. A Small Towel of Equivocation

7. Mickey Acorn’s Five Tips to Fire Safety

8. The 20 Foot Man Is Probably Just Three Men Standing On Each Other’s

9. Music 4 Airports 10. Apologia (4)

admitted he was slightly ¥ pointed not to have seen th. § enthusiasm from the older cc ¢, ing university students, which had logged on by the ¥ the week. The excitement that¢ from this type of proje: 4 Wandio, is the fact that bef"y the students meet face-to-fa one of the in-house classes. will already have been talk, each other on-line for som:

ing.

The Cadre

‘| appointed that this issue was so small I can explain. See we had enough con: tent for about 17.5 pages. However the printing process works in fours (16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36 you get it) SO we have chopped like an Iron Chef on thy-

roxine, and present you with these tight, and smart 16 pages.

While I am sure you are dis-

as well as a valid credit which they can then use to apply to UPEI or to another university,’ said Wandio. It’s going to be interesting, he said, to get feedback toward the end of February after all the students have had a chance to work with the on- line content and have also had a chance to meet in class.

The Uncommon Grocer

ball team, the East’ Oakidhd Rotter Derby Team, (5) and got seriously into weight lifting. Watch for details.

aphorism type sayings that would be

nice to close this disjointed rambling with?”

you can a smile. (7)

an Editorial last year. Have things got- ten so bad that you are now stealing from yourself Ol’ Sport ?” (8)

Kent J. Bruyneel Editor-In-Chief

Natural &

ifaw bite

Gourmet

“Expurgator?” (6) Yes. “Do you have any cryptic

Why yes. You can’t force a yawn like

“Wait wasn’t that the title of

So it goes. (9)

Now for the future. (6)

The future?’—you are say-

Yes—the future. In these pages you can look

(1)Usurped from J.D. Salinger

(2) Nicked from the Oxford Minireference Thesaurus.

(3) Boosted from Jeff Coll. (4) Appropriated from monstro.com. (5) Raped from Hunter S. Thompson.

Minireference Thesaurus.

(7) Burgled from me.

(8) Confiscated from F, Scott Fitzgerald. (9) Annexed from Kurt Vonnegut.

Plundered from the Oxford

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