Sometimes a classroom can be defined by more than just four walls, a ceiling and a floor. A classroom can expand to include areas all over the state or even the world.

Through ICN (Iowa Communications Network), students can be taught from professors who are overseas in classes offered by Iowa State.

These classes, which are taught on various subjects in nearly every department, open doors to traditional and non-traditional students who would otherwise not be able to take certain classes.

However, the effect on the professors and students who take a class from the original staging area is not necessarily beneficial.

Tim Borich, associate professor in community and regional planning, is a veteran of ICN courses. He has taught four courses via the network, covering everything from grant writing to citizen participation.

Currently, Borich is teaching Community and Regional Planning 355/555, a class that focuses on community economic development. The class originates on campus but is taught to students who have never even visited ISU.

Borich said his class is often taken by businessmen involved in continuing education and other non-traditional students.

“The benefits of teaching such a class is having practitioners involved in the industry, in the class,” he said. “The mix of the professionals and the first time students creates a healthy combination of experience and fresh ideas.”

Andrew Timko, senior in community and regional planning, is a student in Borich’s class. He said he signed up for the course knowing it would be an ICN class.

“I don’t know if I enjoy ICN class, but I am cool with it,” he said.

Timko said he also believes the experience has been valuable.

“I really like working with the professionals in the area I am planning to enter,” he said. “The different people we’ve had from the field have been really great.”

However, the connection of several classrooms across the state doesn’t create positive responses from everyone.

“The nature of the class really limits small group exercises,” Borich said. “My presentations have to be nearly all lecturing or videos.”

He also said the technology sometimes inhibits interaction.

“It is difficult for students to ask questions without embarrassing themselves,” Borich said. “With both me and the students, we are either on-stage or off. Unfortunately, there is no in-between.”

Timko also noticed problems with interaction in his class.

“There’s a little bit of an intimidation factor when you’re asking questions, but you get used to it,” he said.

Timko, who has taken an ICN course at another university, said at times, technology can be the main drawback.

“There are a lot of bugs that constantly need to be worked out,” he said, which include audio, video and computer problems.

Jessica Utesch, freshman in animal science and pre-veterinary medicine, is taking ICN course Animal Ecology 130. Utesch said she did not know the section was an ICN course when registering, and she said she is not enjoying the experience.

“Nobody asks questions, and there is no personal interaction,” she said. “I think somebody has used the microphones to ask a question once all year long.”

Utesch said there is a different lecturer for the class every day and that sometime he or she is not visible.

The only advantage is that all the session are taped, and Utesch said students can watch the tapes if they miss a lecture.

Although there is mixed support for ICN classes, Borich said he sees ICN courses as having a future in higher education.

“I think the key to ICN courses is in the packaging,” he said. “If you put them together as a part of a degree program or as a series of courses at a community college that translates to ISU credit, you might get more support.”