DATE:    10/01/96
WRITER:  Susan Bedingfield, (864) 656-3875

Distance Learning Increases
Clemson Extension's Reach

     CLEMSON -- From food preparation to plant pathology,
distance learning is quickly becoming one of the primary ways
Clemson Extension reaches its customers.
     "Extension has always been in the information business. In
the old days there were more Extension professionals and fewer 
constituents, and information could be delivered face-to-face,"
said Roger Koonce, director of Clemson's communications
center.
     "It is just not that easy any more. Today, people have jobs
and families -- they're busy. Through Business Link, Clemson
Extension can eventually reach several thousand new constituents
at a time."
     Being able to reach more people is just one advantage of
distance learning. Cooperative ventures are another.
     Last summer, thanks to a cooperative effort between
Extension and the University of Georgia (UGA), Linda Redmann,
Extension residential housing specialist, was able to make the
course "Management for Families with Special Needs" accessible to
residents of Georgia and South Carolina.
     "Making resources available for everyone, not just those who
can afford to stop work or take off a year and go to school, is
the goal of the administration of both universities," Redmann 
said. "Distance learning allowed people access to the course I
taught without having to be physically on campus."
     In addition to cooperation between schools,  Business Link,
a satellite broadcast service offered through South Carolina ETV,
is another way Clemson Extension is reaching into the community.
     Business and industry pay a fee to tap into the program, and 
then they receive interactive training delivered at their site.
There are currently 37 companies from Georgia to Maryland
plugged into the Business Link system. 
      "Through Business Link, Clemson Extension can eventually
reach several thousand new constituents at a time. Company
employees can take courses, receive business news or get
technical training," Koonce said.
     Libby Hoyle, Extension food specialist, recently taught
three hourlong segments for Business Link. Her program, called
Food Link, was interactive, aimed at working parents and reached 
over 250 people at sites located across the state. Partners in
Communication, another program offered by Palmetto Leadership
Director Chris Sieverdes, reached another 250.
     "Business Link is a place for Extension to reach people who
might not turn to us for information," Hoyle said. "With distance
learning we can deliver accurate, timely information."
     Kris Presley, Berkeley County agent, was the Food Link
facilitator at the Santee Cooper Electric Co. site.
     "The people I spoke with liked the idea of having the
information come to them,"  Presley said. "One couple, who both
work at the company, ate lunch together while watching the
program.  They said that they just don't have the time to travel
long distances, so it was great to be able to get this
information during lunch at work."
     While convenience is one advantage, Libby Hoyle feels the 
toughest obstacle for distance learning to overcome is making
programs more personable.
     Walker Miller agrees.
     "There is no substitute for hands-on training. Plant
Pathology's in-service training videos for agents and master
gardeners are a way to reach our clients in a cost-effective 
way," Miller said. "But, a video is not real life. We can stop
and reshoot until the end product is perfect. That's not,
however, what may happen in the garden or field." 
     In addition, a distance learning program can takes hours of
preparation and it can be difficult to overcome the
"talking-head" syndrome.
     "It does take a lot of preparation and creativity, because
you don't want students to have to stare at the same person for
long periods of time," Redmann said.
     While teaching her course, Redmann capitalized on the
resources available at both Clemson and UGA. She used speakers,
slides, visuals and videotapes to hold students interest.
     Even with the hours of preparation and other drawbacks, 
Koonce believes that distance learning is worth the trouble.
     "Extension is on the cutting edge of educational distance
learning," he said. "While the satellite will never take the
place of one-on-one contact between agent and client, as the
technology all comes together and becomes better, distance
learning will become Extension's other information broker."
                              END