One Last Thing
Sometimes, with all these new Internet-based technologies to choose from, it’s easy to forget one of the older, more reliable methods of communicating in real-time with your learners: the telephone.
When we get a group of learners together on the phone, we call that a teleconference. And one of the oldest distance teaching methods involves sending out course materials in the mail or by email attachment and then discussing them over the phone with a group of students. Students can, as well, work on small group projects over the phone, even if they don’t live in the same city. So remember to include the use of the telephone in your course planning.
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The latest, greatest technology to catch on in the virtual classroom is real-time, web-based meetings, aka, “web conferencing.” Web conferencing is a neat way to work together when you can’t all be in the same place. But, unlike the asynchronous parts of the virtual classroom, it does require that you all participate at the same time. This creates a challenge for participants in that if you have folks scattered about the world, some of them might have to join the meeting at some pretty strange times of night or day.
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Yes, there is. Although asynchronous discussions are perhaps the best form of discussion for learning purposes, a chat is a useful tool for brainstorming, working out logistics, getting to know one another online, or any other purpose that is well served in "real time." In a chat, everyone is online at the same time, firing instant messages back and forth with their keyboards.
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Ok. Really. We mentioned all the terrific discussion board options in our previous postings, because they are “technically” the most full-featured and most stable options available. But there are a whole handful of open-source discussion board options that are just fine, especially if all you’re trying to do is teach a course or two. For the good open-source boards available these days, you can easily find an ISP that includes them with your hosting account. Then you may be able to get support for the discussion software from the ISP.
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An "online discussion" is a written conversation that unfolds across days, weeks or months.
It’s a kind of group email. It differs from email in that more than two people can easily participate, follow along, build on the "threads" of the conversation, store and retrieve what they’ve said.
Is an online discussion just like email? No. Is it just like a spoken discussion? No. It has its own rules, its own etiquette, its own keys to success. For much more on online discussions and how to lead one that truly encourages learning—without doubling your workload as a teacher—check out the Faculty Web Book we keep touting.
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Most people use whatever email client comes with their computer. But there are a few points to consider, if you’re not already committed to a particular email software package.
First, the biggest group of people use Microsoft’s full-featured Outlook or, at least, Outlook Express. It comes as a part of the Microsoft Office Suite and it has all the bells and whistles you could possible want. The danger, of course, is the same as with any Microsoft product that touches the Internet; the “crackers” are out to get Microsoft and they spend thousands of hours writing trojans, worms and viruses specifically targeted at Outlook. So, if you decide to use Outlook, be sure to also install security protection.
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The biggest instructor complaint about technology? Too much email from participants! Why does it happen? Because both instructors and learners don’t know how to use email. They use it too much, too unskillfully.
Hot Tip: Yes, there is a skill to email. And we’re going to teach you that skill. In less than a minute, you’ll know how to make email your servant, not your master.
Here’s how:
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A handsome course Web site is only half the story. Although a Web site gives your students access to information online, it doesn’t really replace or augment your face-to-face teaching. Especially if you also meet regularly with your students in a classroom, all a Web site accomplishes is to save you the trouble of photocopying and handing out paper!
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