[originaltext]M: Hi, Joy. I saw you at registration yesterday. I drove right th

M: Hi, Joy. I saw you at registration yesterday. I drove right through, but you were standing in a long line.
F: Yeah. I waited an hour to sign up for a distance-learning course.
M: Distance learning? Never heard of it.
F: Well, it’s new this semester. It’s only open to computer majors. But I bet it’ll catch on else where. Yesterday, over a hundred students signed up. M:  Well, what is it?
F: It’s an experimental course. All I have got to do is watch a ten-week series of televised lessons. The department shows them seven different times a day and in seven different locations. M:  Don’t you ever have to meet with professor?
F: 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.
M: 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.
F: You know, last year my department did a survey and they found out that 80 percent of all computer majors were employed.
M: Look, I’ll be working three days a week next semester and I’d better either reduce the number of my classes or try this out.
F: The only thing is: doesn’t it seem impersonal though? I mean, I miss having class discussions and hearing what other people think.
M: Well, I guess that’s why phone contact’s important. Anyway, it’s an experiment.
F: Maybe I’ll end up hating it.
M: Maybe. But I’ll be curious to see how it works up.