Tim Patterson lives in Indonesia -- half way around the globe from Newark -- yet he’s working on a master’s degree at NJIT. All of the classes for his degree – a master’s in Professional and Technical Communication -- are online. The degree is offered through the Division of Continuing and Professional Education. 

A traditional face-to-face master’s wouldn’t work for Patterson. It’s not only that he’d have a bit of a commute -- 20,000 miles round trip. He and his wife have four children and he is self-employed. So even if he lived nearby, he wouldn’t have time for face-to-face classes. Online learning, in his case, was the solution. 

“I greatly appreciate the ability to pursue the master’s program entirely online,” says Patterson. “It offers me flexibility in terms of geographical location and time scheduling. And it also allows me to work full time, rear four children and still attend courses online.”

In this interview, Patterson talks about his life and studies and business in Indonesia.

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Why did you move to West Java, Indonesia?
I was born in Neptune, N.J., and spent the first eight years of my life in Colt's Neck, but I haven't been back there since 1970. I first came to Indonesia in 1989 to work in a government educational program funded by the World Bank and sponsored by the Harvard Institute for International Development. The program aimed to improve the level of competence of government officials and civil servants.  But in 1995, I set up my own small business here and have been a multipreneur ever since. I mainly operate education and test preparation programs for children in grades K-12. But I've been involved in setting up intranets for organizations in Indonesia, as well as developing Web-based programs to help improve work their flow systems.

Why did you pick the master’s of science degree in Professional and Technical Communication (MSPTC)?
I felt my background made me the ideal candidate for the MSPTC program at NJIT.  I began looking for master’s programs in 1998, and that’s when I came across NJIT, the nation’s “Most Wired University.” I was impressed by that. And though I haven’t lived in New Jersey for some years, I was born there, so that might have also affected my choosing NJIT. And once I discovered the master’s program in Professional and Technical Communication, I knew it was the right program for me. I have an undergraduate degree from the University of Phoenix. Now I’m just a semester away from finishing my master’s; I expect to graduate in May 2008.

What is it like in Indonesia?
I guess one big difference between American and Indonesia is the lack of seasons here. On the equator, the sun rises at 6 a.m. and sets at 6 p.m. every day of the year. The only seasons we have are the wet season and the dry season -- dry as in no rain, but the humidity is always way up there.

Which online classes have been your favorites?
So far, I have truly enjoyed every class in the program. The class on visual design, for instance, brought out the hidden artist in me. Another class, Hypertext Design Studio, forced us to go beyond traditional Web design, and to look for innovative ways to present Web pages. We aimed to create each page to give viewers a unique experience. And a class called Communication Theory and Research, which I expected to be boring, turned out to be one of the best classes I’ve ever taken. The class gave us a good grounding in research methods. And studying communication theory actually opened me up to some new perspectives on the world and one theory in particular completely changed my world view. It’s rare that a class has that affect on me.

Your classes are online, but do you work on projects with fellow distance learning students in your program?
Yes. One class I took last semester for example, called Communication in Tech. Transfer, allowed the students to form teams and work on real projects for actual companies. The class began with a simulation exercise, but then the teams moved on to deal directly with companies. My team developed a Web site for a chemical company in New Jersey. One of our team members, the manager, communicated with the company executives and coordinated the project; a second team member designed the site; a third created the site, and a fourth student assembled the documentation. This project was a great learning experience, and it gave us the opportunity to put apply the theory we studied in the first part of the course.

What are the benefits of studying online?
Studying online presents many benefits. One can save a lot of time by not having to fight traffic to get to school, look for a parking space and walk to class. The time saved can be spent doing extra research and studying. And being free to choose one's own time to log in and participate daily in class, moreover, makes online studying ideal for people with busy schedules. In my case, since I now line in West Java, Indonesia, I simply would not be able to study any other way. Studying online, though, does require a lot of commitment and self-discipline, and it's a lot of work.

You run your own business. Do you use what you learn in your classes in your business?
Absolutely. Since 1995, I have been self employed here in Indonesia. I have mostly been involved in tutoring and the foreign language instruction. I have taught English and French and tutored K to 12 grade students in a broad range of subjects. In addition, I have been involved in setting up intranets for organizations here and developing Web-based applications for them. My NJIT classes have greatly affected how I present information to students and clients and have given me some better tools for developing Web sites and Web-based applications.

Might you change your career after you finish your master’s degree?
I have a number of plans that on the back burner – plans I hope to work on after I graduate. And the master’s program is providing me with a broad range of skills that could lead to new opportunities. The next step in my professional growth, for example, involves expanding my business and taking it online. This requires a wide spectrum of skills ranging from graphic design and Web design to marketing and documentation. The master’s program has gone beyond my expectations in that it has taught me so many new skills. The program has also aroused in me an interest in research, which might lead me to further academic growth. And in case my plan to expand my business fails, which is always a possibility, the master’s classes have given me the skills to find a good job at a company. So, in the end, the master’s program has taught me a lot and given me a career options. It’s a great program, and I’m happy to be a part of it. 

(By Robert Florida, University Web Services)