8. 理科段子：远程教育

　　Hi, Lynn. I saw you at registration yesterday. I sailed right through, but you were standing in a long line.
　　Yeah. I waited an hour to sign up for a distance-learning course.
　　Distance learning? Never heard of it.
　　Well, it's new this semester. It's only open to psychology majors. But I bet it'll catch on else where. Yesterday, over a hundred students signed up.
　　Well, what is it?
　　It　is an experimental course. I registered for child psychology. All I have got to do is watch a twelve-week series of televised lessons. The department shows them seven different times a day and in seven different locations.
　　Don't you ever have to meet with professor?
　　Yeah. After each part of the series I have to talk to her and the other students on the phone, you know, about our ideas. Then we'll meet on campus three times for reviews and exams.
　　It sounds pretty non-traditional to me. But I guess it makes sense, considering how many students have jobs. It must really help with their schedules, not to mention how it will cut down on traffic.
　　You know, last year my department did a survey and they found out that 80 percent of all psychology majors were employed. That's why they came up with the program.
　　Look, I'll be working three days a week next semester and it was either cut back on my classes or try this out.
　　The only thing is: doesn't it seem impersonal though? I mean, I miss having class discussions and hearing what other people think.
　　Well, I guess that's why phone contact's important. Any way, it's an experiment.
　　Maybe I'll end up hating it.
　　Maybe. But I'll be curious to see how it works up.