Thomas University now uses the Elluminate Program with some of its online courses. Elluminate uses video, online presentations and real-time student and professor interactions during virtual classes.

University officials say with this program, students all over the world can participate in class.

"We have students overseas that are serving in our military- our heroes and they can log in from a base overseas and they can participate in a class session and get their education," Academic Technology Specialist Mary Prentice said.

"It allowed me to eliminate my fear of technology and stay in touch with where we are heading in the future with technology and I feel just ecstatic about that," Thomas University student Lester Hayes said.

Another feature of Elluminate allows live classes to be recorded and replayed, so that if a student misses a class, they won’t fall behind in their studies. Research papers, presentations, and other documents can be uploaded and transferred through the technology by students and professors.

Special presentations by guest speakers at TU can be transmitted online through Elluminate, as well as tutorial sessions, faculty meetings and lectures by professors. Student advisors and faculty can post virtual office hours and “meet” online with students. Prentice said TU is constantly finding new applications for the technology.

In a recent student survey, results showed that more than 90 percent of TU’s online students see Elluminate as an efficient way of online teaching and learning. The technology is now used in some way by every academic division at the university.