Bit 'n Java

Over the past few years, I have been exploring a new concept in education, the online classroom. It is a unique solution that incorporates many different technologies that can enhance the classroom. Whether it will completely replace the traditional classroom environment, that will remain a topic of conversation.

The main features of online learning environments include:

• Discussion forums
• Course information
• Outside web links
• Videos
• Repository (place to put assignments to download)
• Online assessment (tests and quizzes)
• Many more…

The general thought is that online classrooms should be a extension of the classroom to augment what happens. It should exist as a place where students can get more information about what they are learning as well as somewhere they can discuss with other students their opinions and thoughts. For some students, it may be the place where they excel if they happen to be the quiet type who are not comfortable with speaking their ideas outloud in class.

There are several different systems available on the market now. They range from Free to fee based. Here are some of the most popular.

• Blackboard
• Angel Learning
• Haiku
• Moodle (Open Source and FREE)

For those who are new to the online classroom and would like to experiment a little, I would suggest checking out Moodle. It can be setup on your local computer or installed on a web host for either FREE or a very small fee.

If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment or contact me.