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After reading, chapter 13: Teaching Web Enhanced and Blended Classes, some important points stood out to me:

• Tips for Teaching Web-Enhanced Courses, pg. 359– Currently, I am using a web enhanced system for my live in person classes. I post my syllabus, all my PowerPoint lectures, handouts, video links, assignments and due dates, daily motivators, and grades in Blackboard. The book discusses the argument if students would come to class if lectures were posted online. I believe by posting lectures definitely can help students~even if a student learns better by listening and taking notes, having access to the PowerPoint point later can be a benefit in understanding the material. Also, I have found it very helpful to post all grades on Blackboard. In this way, students can view them at anytime , and can be aware of their standing in the class. I also wanted to mention email. Students can email me or each other or the whole class through Blackboard. I have found this so helpful. Students have emailed classmates if they missed a class to receive class notes and have created study groups by using the email tool through Blackboard! So cool!

• Establishing Virtual Office Hours, pg 367– Has anyone used an online chat software? If so, which one and how did it work? Having virtual office hours seems to be a great idea for a completely online class.

The article “Using Online Technologies to Extend a Classroom to Learners at a Distance” describes a study that was conducted by David Wiley from Brigham Young University who offered a class online free of charge where he encouraged students to participate and turn in assignments. Reading this article definitely reminded me of our POT Certification course. David Wiley used tools that we are familiar with such as WordPress, SecondLife, Elluminate, Mind Mapping, etc. The study was successful, however,  time had an impact on student’s opinion regarding open and hybrid classes. Some students kept going with the online course, and some quit. I did feel guilty while reading this part because I only finished half of the POT Certificate last year, and now I am back for more! 🙂