How would you like to go on a journey to Northern Ireland without having to board a plane? Rather than needing a passport, you'll use a password to gain access. Dr. Susan O'Rourke, Associate Professor and Chair of Special Education and Instructional Technology at Carlow University , facilitates a distance education course through Blackboard entitled "Irish Educational and Cultural Institutions." It is designed to prepare students for teaching experiences in Northern Ireland by exposing them to the intricacies of the Irish culture.

This course is unique in that it connects Carlow University students in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to the political and educational environment of Northern Ireland with "embedded" faculty. These educators who teach the course live in the same country that the students are studying. According to Dr. O'Rourke, this has provided students with diverse experiences. Using the technologies of video conferencing, students network with Irish dignitaries, educators, and other political figures as they hear dialect and observe the interactions among the learning community. O'Rourke says, "It gives students a more worldly experience that they would not otherwise achieve without the use of technology." The course, offered again in Spring 2006, supports Carlow's current curriculum theme of "Expanding World View." It enhances students' global understanding of politics and education beyond what can be offered in a traditional classroom.

Joe and Marie Martin, native educators of Northern Ireland, teach the course and are responsible for providing the content. In addition to video conferencing, they use Blackboard for delivering information and exchanging communication. The discussion board, an asynchronous tool, is used to enable collaborative learning given a five hour time differential. Students engage in discussions on the similarities and differences in history, arts/literature, education and politics between the United States and Ireland. Utilizing a variety of technologies, the instructors are able to connect students across geographical boundaries in ways they could not accomplish before.

O'Rourke's role as a facilitator in this educational venture is not out of the ordinary. Often times, teaching online promotes a student-centered approach, which she says, "enables them to be in charge of their own learning." She states, "What becomes essential is establishing a sense of community." She accomplishes this by arranging initial face-to-face meetings with the instructors and the students and by responding to students' comments and questions in a timely manner. Students feel comfortable interacting with each other and with the technology. O'Rourke's expertise in instructional design has certainly bridged geographical boundaries, bringing two cultures together to "expand world view."

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