English major Lynda Briesemeister does not consider herself a traditional NIU student.

At 42 years old, with three kids and a part-time job reading books to children at an elementary school in Hawthorn Woods, Briesemeister barely found time to schedule the classes needed to complete her degree.

However, Briesemeister discovered she could get her NIU credits in a different way – from the far reaches of North Chicago via the Internet.

“With my family schedule, that was the best way I could get it in – online,” she said.

Briesemeister took a world literature class online as part of NIU’s external programming in the spring semester.

She said she found the course’s technological advantage to fit not only her unique circumstances but also her disposition.

“I prefer to be one-on-one because of the kind of communicative personality I have,” she said.

Kathy Wright, associate professor in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences external programming, said online courses require a certain type of person with a certain penchant for discipline.

“Not every student probably should take an online class,” Wright said. “You have to be disciplined. It’s not self-paced.”

Distinguished research professor Stephen Haliczer said he found the online courses to benefit the student – or at least the shy students who sit silently in the back of the classroom.

“Frequently, you have classes dominated by one or two people; the rest are silent,” Haliczer said. “Online, students are far less reluctant to express their views. They’re more willing to get engaged.”

NIU’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences offers several online courses this summer, including literature, history and biology courses.

Teachers hold the courses online, typically in chat rooms and on message boards – like Webboard, Blackboard or whatever program the teacher sees fit to teach with, Wright said.

Haliczer said his students will have to design a trial for a criminal accused of heresy in the 19th century. He will monitor and direct the trials.

Wright said the online courses, unlike the traditional courses, require the teachers to plan and build the Web sites according to the curriculum up to one semester in advance.

However, some teachers require their students to meet once or twice per semester for testing.