Jim Correll, director Fab Lab ICC at Independence Community College, Independence Kansas 

Before getting into today’s topic, I’d like to say that, other than working on a plan to re-open Fab Lab ICC, I (fortunately) have very limited involvement with the difficult job of our ICC administrators and board members in trying to figure out how to lead the college through this unprecedented situation. So, my comments here come after observing what’s going on in higher education over the last few years through the upcoming fall semester. 

Someone posted on Facebook the other day, “Many universities are going to be online only in the fall. Why not save a bunch of money and get your general education (gen-ed) courses out of the way at a community college and save hundreds if not thousands?” 

Indeed, the situation with the pandemic has been and is so fluid that many higher education institutions, especially the larger ones are trying to figure out whether or not they can safely offer on-ground, in-person classes this fall or settle back for the less risky online offerings. 

Online Learning Marginally Effective 

Contrary to what we are sometimes led to believe, online learning is rarely as effective as in-person classes, especially if there is any kind of lab or hands-on learning involved. Even though I’ve never been a full-time instructor, I’ve conducted enough online and hybrid (combination of online and in-person) classes over the last fourteen years to observe that whether speaking of traditional college students or non-traditional adults, there are few people who do well with online learning content. It has to do with the fact that there are eight or ten different ways people learn and only about one of them allows for optimal online learning. 

Admittedly, the larger universities face a tough challenge. It seems to me the risk of spreading Corona virus is much higher on densely populated college campuses and in large, packed lecture halls. So, the decision of whether to offer in-person classes is much bigger in a large institution than in a smaller community college. The statement above asks a valid question. Why would anyone pay a large university the normal rate in tuition and fees to do strictly online learning when you can “get your gen-eds out of the way” much cheaper at a community college. There’s a problem however, with viewing community colleges only as a cheaper way to “get your gen-eds out of the way.” 

Community College Offers Richer Experience 

It is unfortunate and inaccurate that many in our society continue to view community colleges only as a means to “get your gen-eds out of the way.” Some view community college as the consolation prize you accept when you didn’t get accepted or receive a scholarship offer from a four-year school. But really, community college, especially at smaller schools like ICC, offer traditional college students a much richer educational experience during their first two years than nearly any of the larger 4-year schools. 

No matter which of the eight or ten learning styles, people learn by doing. When we can learn by doing in smaller environments, with direct help from readily available instructors—not graduate student teaching assistants—everyone can learn more and have a much more enjoyable experience while doing so. Couple that with opportunities to participate in art, music, theater, sports and maker activities, community college students have more opportunities to enjoy learning in ways not often possible on the larger campuses. 

Community College Offers Unexpected Benefits 

A “few” years ago, when I was graduated from Satanta high school in southwest Kansas, I was all set to go to Kansas State University; even sent in my dorm deposit. I loved music and looked forward to being in a stage band at K-State. The band director from Garden City Community College came to see me. He said “Yes, Kansas State is a great school. You can probably get into one of the twenty or thirty stage bands there and you might get to play half the music. If you come to Garden City, you can be the bass player in the only stage band, and you can play every song. I’ll give you a presidential scholarship.” I took him up on his offer and it was a great experience. Small classes with lots of hands-on learning. I ran for Student Government president and became editor of the student newspaper, opportunities that I would never have had at Kansas State. 

We all need to stop thinking of community college as the consolation prize, but rather as a way to greatly enrich the learning experience, much more than just a means to “get your gen-eds out of the way.”  

Jim Correll can be reached at (620) 252-5349, by email at jcorrell@indycc.edu or Twitter @jimcorrellks. The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of Fab Lab ICC or Independence Community College. Archive columns and podcasts at jimcorrell.com.