Navigation simplicity is important, it will ease frustration if the students can return to menus for guidance and are able to proceed to the next step with ease and confidence.

In the classroom as we know, it is somewhat of a challenge after 1/2 hr of class to hold the attention of the students. An online course is an asset to the course curiculum, as the students can log on and off when they see feesable. Therefore, in essence, the student will get close to the maximum attention spand needed to understand and complete the arranged assignments. I feel this is a great asset for the students learning and understanding capabilities.

How do you manage the quiet participants?

I think it would be good to have synchronis sessions at regualr intervals and you could use wiki as a mode for this.

What is the best method of recording video feeds for online classrooms? Are there free software programs for this method?

What is the best way to get the students to interact in online classrooms?

I think the idea of students introducing themselves in the forum is a great idea. I personally do that in the real-time class with my students on the first day of class. However, if I require, as their first assignment, to write a brief bio about their academic background, career, or experience, I am afraid that some will feel less than others. For example a housewife returning to school may feel shy sharing her academic background with others, who may already have advanced degrees. What do you think?

As a Instructor in a Technical school I think the Online programs that we have set in place at other campuses is going to be the thing of the future. Looking at other discussions its hard to answer some of the question our give ideas, when the program we roled out is totally different then what I have seen in the forum discussion's. I beleive that the student should be able to gain access to the materials that he or she is studying, that there is a group that they can turn to for help when in need, as far as online discussion with the Instructor, well thats were we are different, First the student does 2 days of online training and testing then 3 days of lab work with the Instructor, so if building a syllabus for this course. Would you build it on the 2 days of online training or the whole 5 days.

I am contemplating what is the best method to engage learners. The first thought that comes to mind, is to use a scaffolding technique such that you take a topic in which a student has an interest and then build a project or assignment around it. What do you think of that idea? Do you have other ideas?

Presence of the instructor is an absolute must so that student's feel that they are in a "community" that is active and controlled. The instructor must always maintain a professional student/teacher relationship making very sure to keep things professional and not personal.

I believe this will be a challenge for some students, but at they continue to engage in discussion forums they will become more proficient at communicating effectively. It will also give the student time to really think of what they would like to say and not be intimidated to share it.

I still say classrom setting is the best.

Graet topic. What is the best method for engaging students in a classroom?

Well, at this point I still do better attending a classroom. on-line learning can be difficult for some students. Much better to have a face to face lecture and interaction based on topic.

Helpful information, I enjoy reading the different teaching techniques and ways to interact with different kinds of students.

In some instances students are asked to make revisions or improvements on their essay assignments. What techniques do you use to check the revisions have been made? Are their file comparisons or editing tracking features that you use?

I have noticed many of the disruptive students are disruptive not because they are trying to be but because they have already recieved this information and are somewhat bored. What I try to do is include their knowledge and understaing of the subject matter into the class discussion and usually their attitude becomes much better. What other methods are being used for this situation?

I utilize the content portion of the Portal for storing large amounts of information for students to study online. Some of the files must be zipped because of the large file size. Most students cam access this but some cannot. Is there a larger storage area than the portal here at Brown for instructors and students to utilize?

If you have taught a blended class, do you feel the students get more out of the online portion or the in class portion?

If tests are administered online, how can the instructor be certain the person taking the test is doing so in an academically honest manor?