CMC professor a leader in distance teaching

BRECKENRIDGE - Colorado Mountain College (CMC) professor Louis Beatty is a great teacher - from a distance.

In fact, that's how Beatty does the vast majority of his teaching. He conducts lectures, administers exams and distributes homework from his office in Breckenridge while his students are scattered across Summit County and as far away as Rifle and Aspen.

They submit assignments, ask questions and participate in discussions over the Internet through a course-management system called Blackboard.

"I start off every day responding to e-mails from my students," Beatty said. "I may not know what they look like, but I get the humor. I get the sound of their voices."

Beatty is a professor of microcomputers and directs the Microcomputer Support Specialist program at the CMC Breckenridge Campus. He teaches a variety of computer software classes, none of which require students to step into a classroom.

Beatty is a firm believer in the opportunities distance learning provides to students who don't have the time for a conventional class schedule.

"It's all about the convenience for the student," he said. "I call it, 'The 2 a.m.-in-your-underwear-with-an-adult-beverage class.'

"A working mother, for example, goes to work, comes home, feeds the kids, puts them to bed and still can take the class when it's convenient for her.

"You can do the work any time, and it cuts down on the time you have to go back and forth to CMC," Beatty added.

Telecommunications Cooperative for Colorado (TELECOOP) recognized Beatty for his dedication and innovation in distance learning by naming him "Distance Educator of the Year" this spring.

TELECOOP is a statewide coalition of public and private colleges, universities, K-12 educators, private sector business and public television stations dedicated to distance education.

"Louis believes strongly in the value and role of distance education within the community college setting," said CMC spokesman Joe Marquez. "He has been a leader in making courses for the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) program available via distance learning. This honor is well-deserved."

Beatty and his colleague, adjunct professor Lynda Riead, have developed a broad package of distance learning classes; the courses allow many students to arm themselves with the knowledge required for an MOS certification - a valuable asset that can lead to a promotion or a new job in many workplaces.

According to Beatty, lack of face time with his students doesn't compromise the learning process.

"I get to know students via distance a lot better than most people would think," he said. "The most important thing is to respond very quickly to students' questions. In some ways, distance learners have more access to teachers because they can ask a question in the middle of the night and get an answer the next morning.

"In a class that meets Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1-4 p.m., a student might have to wait several days. Distance learning is a totally new paradigm."

Julie Sutor can be reached at (970) 668-3998 ext. 203 or jsutor@summitdaily.com.