Frank McGowan PERSONAL DETAILS Full name: Francis (Frank) McGowan Age: 52 Current occupation: Senior Analyst Programmer (IT) Where you live: Georgia, USA Your program: BA Philosophy Start date: Sept '03 1. CHOOSING PATHWAYS How did you find out about us? was it by accident? were you searching for a philosophy course? By accident, surfing the web, searching for information on philosophy societies/studies. What alternatives were you considering at the time? None. Just prospecting. What considerations were uppermost in your mind when you decided to apply to Pathways? Access to a community of like-minded people. How do you feel about that decision now? Hopeful. 2. STUDY MATERIALS Did you take any of the six Pathways written programs? which one(s)? No. How did you find the Pathways study materials? were they too easy, too difficult or just about right? How do the Pathways materials rate in comparison with text books that you have seen or studied? Do you feel that you made the right choice of program, or given the chance would you like to try a different Pathway? why? 3. PATHWAYS WEB SITE How useful have you found the information provided on the Pathways web pages? Inspiring How might the content or layout of the Pathways pages be improved? In your view, does the Pathways web site convey an accurate impression of what it is like to study with Pathways? 4. INTERACTION WITH YOUR MENTOR Who is/ was your Pathways mentor? Dr. Geoffrey Klempner Are you generally happy with the interaction and feedback that you have have received from your mentor? Yes. How well, in your view, does the current system of providing mentor interaction work? how would you like to see it improved? It is very good. Communication is fast and effective. I even remember receiving an e-mail reply at an unearthly hour from an airport in . . . Egypt was it? How does the tuition you received compare with other philosophy courses you have taken, whether online or face-to-face? 5. INTERACTION WITH OTHER STUDENTS Have you ever participated in the Pathways online conferences? No If you did participate, how would you rate the quality of the philosophical discussion? If you did not participate, what kind of conference provision would tempt you to join the conference? Not the conference provision, more the timing — wait till I have graduated. Would you like to see further opportunities provided for Pathways students to engage in dialogue? do you have any ideas? Yes and Yes, but I need to wait until after graduation — time is extremely short for me: full-time professional job, four kids, studying BA and coaching soccer, to name but a few of my activities. 6. IMPACT OF STUDYING WITH PATHWAYS What effect, if any, has studying Philosophy with Pathways had on your life? Looking back, in my late forties, it seemed to me that my life till then was not one continuous experience but rather several mini-lives stuck together end to end. I was attracted to studying philosophy as a means of making sense of these various lives and perhaps fashioning them into a whole. Studying Philosophy with Pathways has given me this opportunity: the luxury to study at my own pace, to ponder on what makes things tick, what makes me tick. Have you been motivated to continue studying Philosophy after you complete your course? Absolutely. Have you taken another Philosophy course? or do you plan to? No and Not sure about the future as yet. What other benefits or consequences have you noticed from studying Philosophy with Pathways? My thinking has become more disciplined in everyday affairs. Analysing and setting priorities have improved. Conversations, after which I was left thinking of all the things I should have said, are fewer and further between. 7. FUTURE PROJECTS Do you have any thoughts about future projects which we might undertake? Later Some students have expressed an interest in a conference where Pathways students could meet face-to-face. How do you feel about that idea? Later Would you be prepared to travel to Sheffield to attend a Pathways conference? Later Currently, there are two free Pathways e-journals, Philosophy Pathways and Philosophy for Business. What are your thoughts about a third journal dedicated to publishing the best examples of course work by Pathways students? 8. CONTRIBUTING TO PATHWAYS Do you have any thoughts about possible articles for Philosophy Pathways or Philosophy for Business? Or have you already written a piece that you could send us? Later Have you have successfully completed the ISFP Associate or Fellowship Awards, or the first year of the University of London Diploma or BA in Philosophy? If so, would you like to join the panel of Ask a Philosopher? Yes and Later. If you have successfully completed a BA degree in Philosophy, would you like to become a Pathways mentor? Later 9. GENERAL ASSESSMENT In the most general terms, how would you rate your experience with Pathways: Strongly positive? More positive than negative? About equal? More negative than positive? Strongly negative? Strongly positive How would you summarize the reasons for your assessment? Most of the comments I have made above are related to studying philosophy as opposed to studying philosophy with Pathways. Having said that, Pathways has granted me access to this wonderful field of endeavor; access which would have been pretty-nigh impossible in any other way, given my geographical location and intensely busy circumstances. 10. PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE YOUR COMMENTS Are you prepared to allow us to reproduce any of your comments above, under your name, on the Pathways web site? Yes. Go ahead. Cite me as Frank McGowan, though (not Francis). And feel free to paraphrase, spell-correct, grammar-tweak as necessary. Or, is there something in particular you would be prepared to say for publication? **END OF QUESTIONNAIRE** Email info@philosophypathways.com if you would like to comment on this page.