The latest complication to my planning for classes is the duplication in online delivery systems. I've used MyMC for quite awhile now and it's allowed me to post files and a "daily log" where I briefly summarize the day's activities. The students grow to depend on it, and it keeps me organized. (Since I've been using WebCT, however, I see many features in WebCT that are far superior to MyMC.) This semester I'm teaching a class with MyMathLab (a publisher's site that contains an online homework system), which contains its own organizational system, and duplicates many of the features of MyMC. How do I use both systems together with efficiency?
When I offer my blended Trigonometry course, I will be using WebCT along with MathXL. MathXL is the stand-along homework system found in MyMathLab, but it also contains a few of the organizational features of MyMathLab, such as announcements. My responsibility with respect to this duplication issue will be to provide a clear organization that encourages students to see the outline of the course, find their materials easily, and complete their assignments on schedule.
It seems obvious to me that WebCT gives the students the outline of the course, so that must be the primary delivery system, but I have to make sure the students realize this. I must make sure that students check WebCT for announcements and due dates, and they must realize the entire course is available to them at any time if they just long on.
I cannot force students to log on daily; instead I must make sure that get a benefit from logging on each day. So not only must the online activities be relevant and useful, but the outline and structure on the course site must be immediately apparent when students log on. This is a reminder to me to review the entire site very carefully for this characteristic before the course begins.
2 comments:
Alison,
I, too, feel that there is an overabundance of online delivery systems. With our blended learning classes, we will be using WebCT, as a replacement for MyMC, but we'll still be using MathXL or MyMathLab. We will be using WebCT for email with the blended classes.
This makes for a LOT of extra work for us as instructors. We still have to work within MyMC with our regular classes. Hence, we'll be using college email, MyMC, WebCT, MyMathLab and/or MathXL. We'll be going crazy! There is no room for other external sites. My MA091 students are confused as it is with where they need to go for what.
Nancy
Allison and Nancy - I agree with your assessment of communication tools. We are being told again and again about the new Web 2.0 tools that will streamline communication with our students, blogs, wikis, tweets, facebook, podcasts, emails, and IM - oh my! I like being able to reach students where they want to learn, but not necessarily where they want to play. As a student I would want a clear dividing line between school and social life, and if my teachers started showing up where I hang with my friends that would be just plain creepy! I like keeping my communication tools inside of WebCT (or MyMC) because then students know where to look for them and hopefully how to use them.
John
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