Designing Web-Based Training: How to Teach Anyone Anything Anywhere Anytime

9.10. IN CLOSING ...

9.10.1. Summary

• Virtual classroom courses use Web technology to mimic the structure and activity of conventional classroom courses.

• Use virtual classroom courses when an instructor is necessary to motivate learners, monitor their progress, and answer their questions immediately. Or when the discipline provided by a familiar structure and peer pressure is necessary to motivate learners.

• Publish a comprehensive syllabus listing all the events, activities, and readings of the course. Link Web pages, forms, and other required resources. Likewise, include links to the roster, policies, requirements, grading criteria, discussion group, and other resources of the course.

• Actively conduct the class. The instructor should contact participants directly, keep them on schedule and focused on the course, and manage collaborative activities.

• Plan live events carefully. Ahead of time, assign roles, allocate time, spell out a protocol for passing control, rehearse the event, and send materials needed during the event.

• Keep live events lively. Vary the presentation. Require learners to participate.

9.10.2. For more ...

For more ideas on using collaboration mechanisms in the virtual classroom, see Chapter 8 on collaboration mechanisms.

If you are not tired of books, you may want to dip into these:

• Building a Web-Based Education System by Colin McCormack and David Jones [120].

• Web-Based Instruction, edited by Badrul H. Khan [121].

• Creating the Virtual Classroom by Lynette Porter ...