| Some time ago I began to take online courses in | | | | more. With these tools the college can really give |
| a number of subjects. I was thrilled with the ease | | | | the student an interactive quality learning |
| and convenience of learning in my own home. I | | | | experience that is almost as good as a real live |
| found the content of the courses challenging yet | | | | class room. In this way almost any subject can |
| enjoyable. As time went on and I got further into | | | | be covered, especially subjects that are difficult to |
| the courses I began to see that with a little more | | | | learn from text books alone. It takes very little |
| organization on the part of the faculty I could be | | | | time to master this tool. In addition, students who |
| given tools to help me in a number of ways, | | | | have downloaded this tool onto their computers |
| among them to interact with other students. | | | | can use these online conferencing tools to talk |
| It is also true to say that it is easier to learn by | | | | with and interact with tutors, mentors or other |
| listening to the spoken word than to merely read | | | | students when formal lessons are not in progress. |
| written material. In addition other tools could be | | | | There are programs that give unlimited access |
| offered to students that would make the learning | | | | and unlimited time usage. Hor conference is one |
| experience more interactive and challenging. | | | | such program. |
| Here are my suggestions for creating an | | | | Fourthly, flash, or mp3 recordings of lessons, |
| interactive campus. | | | | lecture or sessions allow students to recap and go |
| Firstly, it can be time consuming to wait for | | | | over material that they might not have |
| written material to come via currier or the post, | | | | assimilated well from written material or online |
| not to mention expensive. I propose that online | | | | lectures. As they have full control of the replay of |
| facculties should make all of their written material | | | | such events they have time to formulate and |
| available in PDF format that can be downloaded | | | | think about any questions that may need |
| directly as needed onto the students computer or | | | | clarification. |
| into hard copy. This will prove less expensive for | | | | Fithly, and have already seen this one on some |
| all concerned in the long run because as the | | | | internet study programmes. Pages should be |
| content is generated electronically it costs nothing | | | | designed that present the student with spot tests |
| to generate. | | | | and quizzes on the subjects that he or she is |
| Secondly, I suggest that all good faculties should | | | | learning so that the student has something with |
| have forum pages for students and tutors or | | | | which to relate his progress before attempting to |
| mentors. This will both allow students to | | | | write a report or work that is required at the end |
| communicate with staff and with other students | | | | of a module. This also adds a fun element to the |
| also. This had tremendous advantages. Firstly it | | | | study programme and cuts out some of the |
| can be created so that only those with a | | | | dryness of learning only from text. |
| password can enter. Secondly, it can be a source | | | | Finally, the college's website should be devided into |
| of reference that is a treasure trove of | | | | two primary sections. The first is the marketing |
| information. Note however that each faculty | | | | and promotional section which is the part that we |
| should have it's own to prevent confusion. | | | | are all familiar with and the second section of the |
| Thirdly, a conferencing tool is a great way to | | | | website needs to be the learning center with sub |
| present real time, online lectures and seminars to | | | | devisions for each faculty and further sub |
| a vest number of students. The advantages of | | | | sections for each course if the courses begin at |
| this is that they all enjoy the same quality. Unlike | | | | regular intervals or semesters. |
| phone conferencing, computer conferencing has | | | | True, it is easier for learning centers to put a |
| one great quality and that is only one person can | | | | folder with material into an envelope together |
| speak at a time and the lecturer is the only one | | | | with a few DVD's and the email address of a |
| who can interrupt. Other qualities include full | | | | tutor/mentor but my contention is that the online |
| screen mode, the possibility to use white board | | | | learning process can be so much more. |
| tools, slide shows, flash video movies and a lot | | | | |