Teaching and Learning Using Internet On-Line Courses

Charles E. Ophardt, Professor of Chemistry,
Elmhurst College, Elmhurst, Illinois 60126, USA
email: charleso@elmhurst.edu

Main Menu Page
Rationale for Distance Learning
Online Discussion Methods
Course Materials

Overview:

Objectives:

1. Discuss and assess the advantages and disadvantages of online teaching and learning. 2. Determine whether some component of online teaching and learning will add value to your courses. 3. Evaluate and determine which online tools will be useful in course development.

Introductory Questions:

What is online or electronically enhanced teaching and learning all about?
Will I have to put my entire course on the internet or can I use the internet for short pieces to enhance the traditional in-class course?
Is it educationally and pedagogically sound?
What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of on-line teaching?
What tools and resources are available to get course materials on the internet?

These and other questions will be answered as you work your way through this paper.

Overview of Distance Education:

A distance education Internet based on-line class which transcends the time and space requirements of a traditional classroom may be very appealing to a well motivated independent learner. In the "digital age" teaching model, the teacher acts as the guide or multi-resource person to students actively engaged in independent learning from many rich sources of information now readily accessible electronically. The subject content is learned using a mixture of media, multiple resources, problem solving and critical thinking methods.

An on-line course designer must look at methods to ensure that educational discussion and learning is facilitated. A main feature of an on-line course is the establishment of instructor to class communications which may take the following forms: Asynchronous communication using email, list serves, and a web based discussion board for "any time" discussions; Synchronous communication using conferencing software (chat rooms). Resources on the Elmhurst College campus for electronic discussion boards include: Discus and WebBoard.

Resources are currently available on the "open" Internet to create a "virtual textbook" from a variety of reputable and primary sources. Electronic or virtual field trips may be constructed for various applications. Tips on how to get started in putting various components of a course on-line will be discussed. A summary of advantages and disadvantages for on-line course delivery will also be discussed, as well as, a selection of Internet sites.

Course Development Tools:

Online course materials may consist of a series of web pages designed to enhance a traditional course or may consist of many pages for a complete online course. Web pages are generally designed by the professor or assistants using html editors such as Front Page, Dream Weaver, or Adobe Page Mill. The pages are linked and stored on the college or departmental server.

Another option is to construct the course pages within course authoring software such as WebCT or Blackboard.com,which is designed to provide a framework as you design a course. The various course tools are already in place, so that you may concentrate on the course content and various other activities and not have to worry about how all of the pieces work together.

These course authoring software packages contain many of the tools that may be useful for on-line teaching, whether in a complete course or as a supplement to a course. Some of the tools included are: file management, content paths/outlines or management, student tracking for use of pages, student record keeping, electronic discussions including chat, glossary, index, image file database, other resources, and quiz creation and grading including providing helps for various wrong answers. Important Note: The course designer still must write the primary course content pages in another HTML program. These pages are then uploaded into the course authoring structure.

Rationale for Distance Learning
Online Discussion Methods
Course Materials