Teaching Online

By utilizing already existing resources (listed below) at SCU, or by developing new online course materials, we can help faculty create pedagogically sound classes designed for delivery over the Internet. For information, please email David Armstrong , Michael Ballen, or James Linehan.

Online teaching may be for you if you are:

• a self-starter and self-disciplined – you need to be able to plan ahead and work independently to meet deadlines
• independent with strong time management skills - you must make a commitment to keep up with the course and put in the necessary 15-20 hours a week
• responsible and complete student feedback on time (or even early!) – catching up in an online course is extremely difficult
• comfortable expressing yourself through written communication in a text based environment
• willing to share your ideas and work with your students in the online environment – participation is key to succeeding in an online course
• willing to initiate contact with the students when problems arise – with either the technology or the course content – otherwise they won’t know you’re having difficulties
• not intimidated with using with using new technologies and comfortable accessing the internet

Computer Skills:

Proficiency with the following:

• Basic computer tasks
  (e.g., rebooting computers, finding a lost file on your hard
  drive)
• Word processing
  (e.g., open, spell check, and save word document)
• Email – sending/receiving, attach a file to an outgoing email
• Web browswer software and navigating the Web
  (e.g., search the web using a search engine, download and
  install programs or plugins, create bookmards or favorites)
• Playing a CD-ROM

Minimum Technical Requirements:

• Easy access to an Internet ready computer
• 133Mhz Pentium or higher, or Mac G3/iMac or better
• 128mb RAM or better
• Internet connection (modem 56K)
• Sound card/speakers or headphones
• Monitor with at least 800 x 600 resolution
• CD-ROM drive
• Email account
• ANGEL account: if you don’t have an ANGEL account, go to the ANGEL
  home page - http://angel.scu.edu – choose the Request an account link and fill in the asked for information. ANGEL will automatically set up an account and alert you via email as to your username and password. Notify ANGEL support on campus to change your Rights to Faculty.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader: available at
  http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html
• Current anti-virus software:
  Sophos is available free of charge to SCU students,
  http://it.scu.edu/projects/sophos/
• Browsers: latest version of IE or Netscape
  For PC’s – I.E. 6.0 or Netscape 7.0
  For MAC’s – I.E. 5.0 or 5.2 or Netscape 6.2
• Browser plugins (free)
  Flash plug-in – available at: http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash
  QuickTime
  Windows Media Player.
  
  Note: These are minimal computer specifications. Your experience may improve with a newer, more robust computer system.

ERes
ERes is the most widely used Electronic Reserves system in the world. It contains a host of features which Web-enable other traditional library services, and a robust course Web site management system. ERes enables you to make documents available on the Web, and to manage those documents. You can scan documents in, but you can also place files of any format on electronic reserves, for example, word processor and PowerPoint files.

• ERes Tutorial (will open in a new window)
• ERes Website (will open in a new window)

ANGEL
ANGEL is a full-featured online course management system. If you want an ANGEL faculty account, please contact David Armstrong, Michael Ballen, or James Linehan (see above).

• ANGEL

WebBoard
WebBoard is an online class management system used by many faculty members at Santa Clara University. Educators are finding many diverse uses for WebBoard on campus such as virtual office hours, student-to-student discussions, curriculum development and distance learning.

• WebBoard Tutorial (will open up in a new window)
• WebBoard Website (you'll need to create your own login, see tutorial)

Power Point
PowerPoint has many features that can add life and excitement to your classroom presentations. Bellow is a link to "Fun With Power Point".

• Fun with Power Point

Online Testing
With today's technology, tests can easily be given and graded online-- freeing up the instructor from the grading process. These tests can be offered to the student at any time. If you would like help creating online tests and quizzes, please call or email David Armstrong or Michael Ballen. Below are some reference materials for online testing (they will open up in a new browser window).

• CourseBuilder for Dreamweaver (we have this software available for faculty)
  Macromedia CourseBuilder for Dreamweaver is a powerful extension application to Macromedia Dreamweaver for creating Web-based learning content and interactive Web pages. With CourseBuilder and Dreamweaver 3, you can quickly create compelling, Web-native learning content and deliver them across multiple platforms and browsers.
• Web Exam Creation Tool (an example of a javascript quiz, we can do these)

Online Learning Tools and Applications

• Pacific Bell "Wired" Learning
  What happens when a design team of former teachers and librarians collaborate to create Internet and videoconferencing applications for K-12 schools, community colleges, and public libraries? This page describes and links to online lesson plans and resources created by the Pacific Bell Knowledge Network Applications Design Team.
• Teaching and Learning on the Web
  This searchable collection includes sites that range from courses delivered entirely via the web to courses that offer specific activities related to a class assignment or perhaps courses that offer class support materials via the web.