May, 2009

Online Classroom - May, 2009 - Full Issue PDF
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Bells, Whistles, and Learning Online
By Jerry Kapus, PhD
Instructors have a myriad of technological tools available to enhance online instruction, such as blogs, wikis, and streaming audio and video. I have been particularly interested in streaming audio and video to deliver course content in a dynamic mode that captures the energy of the traditional classroom presentation while taking advantage of the Web’s functionality to combine text, audio, and images.

Tips from the Pros - 5 Tips for Using Streaming Audio and/or Video
By Jerry Kapus, PhD
If you are thinking of adding streamed audio and/or video presentations to your online course, here are some things to consider.

An Inexpensive Way to Bring the World to Your Course
By Rob Kelly
When Joseph Pisano considers which technology to use in his classes, it has to do at least one of three things: save time, make learning more effective, or enable him to do things he wouldn’t be able to do otherwise. One technology that offers all these advantages is Skype, a service that enables him to engage his students in synchronous video conferences with experts at low or no cost.

Teaching Mathematics Online
By Lawrence Jerome
Teaching mathematics in the classroom only partially prepares the instructor for the specialized needs of teaching mathematics online. Chalkboard and whiteboard lectures need to be transferred to Word, with formulas, equations, diagrams, and graphs—all of which requires excellent writing and graphics skills. If the in-class instructor has been used to working and lecturing in a computer lab, those skills can be transferred to the online environment.

Online Teaching Fundamentals: Who Says So? Pump Up Your Online Courses, Part 7
By Patti Shank, PhD, CPT
In this series of articles, I have been discussing practical ideas that you can adopt or adapt for your online courses. The goal is to help you find new ways to engage your online students—and yourself! This month, I’ll discuss an issue that affects many higher education courses—use of online resources.

Teaching Online With Errol: Preventing the Number One Complaint of Online Students: Poor Instructor Feedback
By Errol Craig Sull
I recently completed a three-year survey of more than 3,000 online students, asking one question: “What is the number one problem you encounter in taking online classes?” Of the 49 different problems listed, 64 percent of the students chose items related to poor instructor feedback.