August , 2007

Online Classroom - August 2007 - Full Issue PDF
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Internal or External Email for Online Courses
By David Reavis, CCP, PhD, and Charles Mohundro, JD, PhD
Choosing the right tool for email in Web-based classes can streamline the communication process for both students and instructors. Choosing the wrong email tool can frustrate everyone involved by requiring more time and effort than necessary for communication. To make the best choice, instructors need to understand the differences between internal and external email systems, and find the mix of features that best supports the course objectives and work habits of the students and instructor.

Tips from the Pros - Reuse Can Save Time
The following are some ways that Hayden Davis, professor of behavioral sciences at Palomar College in California, recommends saving time in teaching online.

Free Resources That Streamline Online Course Development and Implementation
By Guy Lochiatto, MassBay Community College
Free resources provided by textbook publishers can help streamline the development and implementation of online courses. This article provides examples of how these free resources can be included in a typical class, such as Principles of Management, and describes how the free resources relate to the Bloom Taxonomy categories. The article also offers hints on selecting the right course textbook.

Online Teaching Fundamentals: Taking Advantage of the Natural Characteristics of Media for Online Instruction, Part 1
By Patti Shank, PhD, CPT
Media can be powerful tools for instruction, but if selected without adequate thought they can be a time- and cost-consuming waste of resources. In this and subsequent articles, I want to help you select and use media in your online courses wisely.

Teaching Online With Errol: Retention of Students: You CAN Make a Major Difference!
By Errol Craig Sull
As online instructors, we are pretty much all there is for a student in terms of the school; there are no offices, no student unions, no landscaped acres, no cafeterias, no dorms, and no sports teams that help in enticing students to stay enrolled. Thus, the student’s experience with the school falls especially heavy on us. (If you teach for a school that also has a traditional campus, this does not minimize your role in retention; one negative learning experience by a student can quickly overshadow all other positives.) Lose a student and not only will the student’s learning for that course be lost but this can also trickle down to the school’s reputation, fewer courses—and less need for instructors! To do all you can to keep your students involved and retained, consider the following.