But now, Ferris is taking its degree program and venturing into new territory that will set it apart from other educational institutions. Set for the winter semester, the university will launch its online bachelor of science degree program in HVACR engineering technology.

Anyone who is up on current HVACR education trends will tell you that online learning for the industry has been an elusive goal. The United Association (UA) and HVACREducation.net have been among the few organizations able to provide heating and air-conditioning training via the Internet. Now Ferris is taking this technology and creating a whole new opportunity that is a genuine first for the industry.

GOING ONLINE

Feutz said he noticed the interest several years ago at the Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Expo (AHR Expo). Each year, Ferris State sets up a booth at the expo to educate attendees about the university’s HVACR department and what the program can offer.

Feutz explains that on each occasion several people stopped by the booth and were surprised to learn that the university offers a bachelor’s degree in HVACR technology.

“Many people wanted to know where they could go to get this,” Feutz said.

He would explain to the attendees that the only way would be to attend Ferris State, which is located in Big Rapids, MI. With expo participants coming from all over the country, several asked Feutz if the courses could be made available via distance learning.

“That was when the little light bulb came on and said that there was a market for this,” Feutz said.

This idea was reinforced when Ferris did some market research and found out that there was a great deal of interest in an HVACR bachelor’s degree and online learning.

Also, Ferris State conducted HVACR courses for individuals in Grand Rapids, MI, an hour south of the Big Rapids campus. Adult students in Grand Rapids take part in adult education through the Ferris program, which allows them to earn their degree while keeping their full-time jobs.

This program, along with the market research, made it clear to those at Ferris State that there is a real desire for pursuing a bachelor’s degree in HVACR engineering technology via online learning.

DIFFERENT KIND OF LEARNING

Feutz believes that online learning is a valuable and viable learning alternative, but he does stress that it is not for everyone.

Although the online degree program is open to anyone who has already earned an associate’s degree in HVACR technology, Feutz recommends that prospective students have some experience in the industry before signing up for the online course.

“The best education for inexperienced HVACR students will still be on campus,” he said, “but for those with experience, this is a great alternative.”

Feutz said that students will learn online everything they would learn by being in the classroom. The only difference is that students must have the discipline to participate and take part in the coursework on their own.

There are some detractors who will say that an online course in HVACR cannot work. The argument is that distance learning leaves out a fundamental component of learning any trade, and that is the hands-on training.

Feutz said that this issue has been addressed. First, since the bachelor’s degree program is an engineering technology program, the main tool used by students is the computer. It is used to perform load calculations, system selection, energy analysis, and design, along with direct digital control work. A student working on a computer can be at home just as well as they can be on campus.

Second, the three courses that include hands-on learning experience in commissioning and direct digital controls require a trip to the Big Rapids campus that varies in length from a weekend to a full week. Feutz said that these trips take place once a year and are needed to maintain the quality of the educational experience, and to verify that students are truly learning what is presented online.

The university is also in the early stages of setting up satellite sites. This would allow students to attend a training center closer to home, instead of making the trip to Michigan.

The online course is designed to be very similar to a regular classroom session. In fact, Feutz believes there are some benefits to the online version.

Ferris faculty adapted on-campus coursework for the Internet using a Tegrity Smart Cart. This technology uses a computer, projector, and three cameras to capture actual lecture sessions and deliver them from the classroom to the student’s computer screen using CD-ROMs. This means that a student working at home is actually watching an instructor on campus teach the course lessons. The Tegrity program can also project any kind of teaching aids the instructor is using, including overheads or other visual material.

The entire class is organized using course management software adopted by Ferris called WebCT. This Web-based software provides links to all aspects of the course, and includes communication tools such as e-mail, bulletin boards, and chat rooms.

These lessons are also archived, which Feutz said is a huge benefit to students.

“When you teach, most of the questions you answer are over material that you have already covered,” he said. “Students often need more time to digest new material and sometimes they just weren’t listening. So they ask questions to clarify something that you have said.”

With this in mind, if an online student is confused about a particular concept, all he or she has to do is pause the presentation to spend more time on that concept or navigate back over parts that didn’t sink in at first. Since lessons are archived, when it is time to apply a lesson that may have been presented a month or even a year ago, a student only needs to load up the appropriate CD-ROM and view the lecture again.

Feutz believes that the online program also allows students to interact with each other. Each student is required to post information or respond to questions at the website bulletin board. This promotes communication among other students, which Feutz said is essential for any educational program and especially important for online learning.

The course requires homework, tests, and quizzes, just like any other college course. Homework and tests can be submitted online or through e-mail. In some cases, quizzes will be presented to the student during a lesson. The student must complete the quiz and submit it before continuing with the current session.

GETTING STARTED

Once students are registered, they receive a password, which enables them to access the online learning area. Students also receive in the mail all of the tools they will need to participate in the course. This includes training CDs with class lectures and textbooks.

The very first course, set to begin in January 2003, is HVACR 332: Secondary Equipment Selection and Design. Following successful completion of this course, students then move on to HVAC 333: Secondary Equipment Selection and Design-Laboratory. This will require the students to spend a weekend at the Big Rapids campus for their hands-on training.

In all, participants will complete 30 credit hours through seven online courses and three condensed and intensive hands-on sessions. An additional 34 credits of general education courses and an internship is required to earn the degree. The general education credits can be taken at any community college or university and transferred to Ferris to meet graduation requirements.

For more information or to register for the bachelor’s degree program, call 800-562-9130, ext. 2351, or contact Mike Feutz at feutzm@ferris.edu (e-mail), or visit www.ferris.edu/ucel (website).

Publication date: 11/18/2002