Examples of Using the Web to Enhance Traditional Instruction

1. Optional methods of integrating the web into your classroom:

method	strengths	weakness
Creating your own website, either by yourself or by using a template	Can be very personalized Relatively low tech	Requires some knowledge of web page creation
Using a textbook related website	Very easy to use Often higher quality than most of us can easily create	Not always easily customizable Quantity of material, not quality, is sometimes emphasized Sometimes requires Publisher Access Code # which costs students and is not always easy to activate
Using a course management system, such as Etudes	Integrates all aspects of class into one system, making it simpler for both student & instructor Can be use to organize other web materials, both custom or commercial	Learning curve is involved for both student & instructor

2. Some examples of web usage

--Creating a class preview: Having some information about your class helps students make enrollment decisions:

Introduction to the instructor.
Class overview: can serve as an ad for your class. Also, lets students know what they're getting into. If you're using a course management system, this would be a page outside of the system.

--Providing class information: One of the most useful things set of resources for the student. They really use web based resources to find out about what's going on in class (some schools now require them)

Example of a course website

--Class resources: Here's where you can harness the power of the web to expand your teaching. The key is to edit the number of choices available to students.

Using publisher content to compliment classroom instruction. Much of the material being produced today is very creative.
Online lectures: These can be a PowerPoint presentation that you gave in class or a text lecture. Or, if you're adventurous you can try a multimedia presentation.
Webquests: Exercises that ask students to search the web are called Webquests. A Webquests is an internet based exercise designed to:
- Further explain a subject
- Show real world applications of the materials
- Demonstrate how to use the Internet for research.
The use of Webquests in online education have been studied at San Diego State University since 1995. For more information on that study see: http://webquest.sdsu.edu/.
Good Websites for Online Research
Blogs: One of the newest forms of Internet communication is the web log, or "blog" for short. New Media Center has an good introduction to blogs, or visit the site that made blogs famous around the world, Blogger.
Free graphics: http://www.freegraphics.org/, or http://nuthinbutlinks.com/ or http://www.mediabuilder.com/

--Communication: (more of these topics will be provided in the workshop on Etudes)

Email: Every student should be required to have an email account--actually, they probably already do!
Discussion boards: These programs create asynchronous discussions that simulate classroom discussions. Most students really enjoy these opportunities to express their opinions. A terrific guide to the uses of online discussions can be found at Carnegie Mellon's Teaching with Technology site.

--Class record keeping: This is most easily done by using a course management system, such as Etudes. Once you start this, you won't quit.

3. Some concerns, cautions, and thoughts

There's a lot of junk on the web, and students need to learn how to evaluate web information. Cornell University has published five criteria for evaluating websites. The University of North Carolina also has a website on how instructors and students should evaluate web resources.
Design is important, especially for our web-savvy students. Check out Web Pages That Suck for a quick guide about what not to do. Another good resource is the Ten Good Deeds in Web Design; although it's a little dated, good design is good design.