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Meet Dolores Davison
Professor of History and Women's Studies
Interview with Dean Sinou

Sinou: How did you get into on-line teaching?

Davison: In the summer of 1998, I went to Moscow for a 2 month research trip, and thought that it would be a good idea to do some work while I was there, so I agreed to teach History 17A online. I have been doing it ever since, and believe me, doing my first quarter from Russia prepared me for virtually every possible problem!

Sinou: I know you burn the mid-night oil often. Is online teaching more work?

Davison: I think that it can be more time consuming; certainly creating the classes seems to take me more time online. Because of the immediacy of online teaching, students expect that you will get back to them within minutes, and so in that sense there is more urgency (at least I feel a greater sense of urgency) to return emails as quickly as possible. I also think that there are more variables with an online class (technical problems, questions about specifics in the syllabus, etc) that need to be answered on a more regular basis.

Sinou: What keeps you going--teaching term after term after term?

Davison: The money! (just kidding!) I think online education enables the college as a whole to provide education to a much larger contingent than chalk-and-talk alone. I have been able to "meet" students from all over the U.S. and the world, and in the last two quarters have had several military personnel who were stationed overseas taking my classes; it is great way to serve a large population, and for me to benefit from the experiences of a very diverse community that I might not encounter otherwise.

Sinou: What would you say is the biggest challenge that you face in your online classes?

Davison: Academic integrity continues to be a major issue, both in my traditional and my online classes. There is also the issue of retaining students; because there is not the face-to-face interaction, I think it is easier for some students to lose interest, and I try to counter that by making the posted, online lectures similar to my in person lectures.

Sinou: Where to from here? What are some of your visions for the future in your teaching and career?

Davison: Well, first I need to make it through the tenure process! (only two more years, thank goodness!) I would like to see us put the History of the Middle East online, as I think we would gain a great deal of student interest in that course. I taught the History of Russia and the Soviet Union online for the first time last quarter, and the class almost filled, so there is clearly an audience for such courses. I would like to develop a Women in American Cultures class as well; that is one of my projects for next year!

Sinou: Do you have any tips of advice for students pursuing an education?

Davison: Don't be afraid to try something new; sometimes those experiences are the most rewarding. My favorite graduate course was one on Islamic history, that I had not planned on taking and was talked into by a friend, and I ended up getting a minor in it! And don't be afraid to approach your professors; we are people too, and we all want our students to succeed.

Sinou: Anything else you'd like to share?

Davison: I am really proud of how far distance education has come in the last few years here at Foothill, especially since you came on board as dean. We offer an AA degree in history (and several majors) entirely online, and while I do not see the traditional classroom disappearing, it is gratifying to be involved in one of the most important educational movements of the last few decades.
 

____ Dolores Davison is currently in her second full time year at Foothill College in History and Women's Studies. She taught part-time at Foothill for six years before being hired full time, and began using ETUDES to teach online in the summer of 1998. She currently teaches the History of the U.S., History of Russia, and Introduction to Women's Studies online, as well as teaching Western Civilization, U.S. History, History of Asia, History of Russia, History of the Middle East, Introduction to Women's Studies, and Women in Global Perspective in person (and typically all in the same year). She has a bachelor's degree in European History from UC Davis, a Masters in Russian history from the University of Oregon, and is ABD (All But Dissertation) in the PhD program in history at the University of Illinois, Chicago. She is an avid sports fan and is particularly devoted to the San Jose Sharks hockey club and the University of Oregon teams.

11/30/2006

Past Weekly Features:

Sandi Watkins
Lyn Paulos
Jerry & Angie
Rick Martinez
Dolores Davison
Mimi Will
Academic Dishonesty