I recommend you browse Edmonds Community College's manual for on-line course protocol. ECC has organized its on-line course offerings effectively. The on-line course help manual includes the following sections:
Another starting point is the World Wide Lecture Hall, a listing of on-line Web courses put together by the University of Texas at Austin. This service exhaustively indexes courses by subject.
You might also want to browse the University of Phoenix 's Key Features of Online Education page. It includes sections:
See also the Online section of the university catalogue.
I have included a variety of examples, from courses conducted exclusively on-line to courses supplemented by Internet and Web site resources. When possible, I have directly copied excerpts from course descriptions or introductions. Some of the excerpts are rather long because I believe they will give you an idea of the methods used to conduct courses in a virtual classroom.
"The Sociology of Cyberspace is a collaborative project with coordinating professors from a variety of disciplines including sociology, physics, philosophy, business, art, English, women's studies, and computer science. The course will examine the contemporary revolution in human interaction via computer. Using both postmodern and traditional media theory, we will discuss the social construction of the virtual world and new virtual communities with emphasis on the new culture, institutions and norms in the experience of cyberspace. Topics include: new concepts of space, time, and order; electronic subjectivity and anonymity; new representation of gender, race and class; emergence of new languages of expression; and the revolutionary impact of hypertext and multimedia technologies on human thinking and learning."
Writing Classes on the World Wide Web For Spring, 1996
"This 'no frills' WWW page is a result of the discussion that's been going on recently (late November-early December 1995) concerning plans for upcoming classes writing, rhetoric, and literature classes that in some fashion have to do with the World Wide Web. I last updated this on March 9, 1996. I've tried my best to make these alphabetical by the name of the teacher. By the way, no examination of classes on the Internet would be complete without a visit to The World Lecture Hall, Keith Dorwick's 'Writing for the World' homepage, The totally fabulous Voice of the Shuttle Project, and the equally fab ACW Homepage."
A Resource for the On-Line Classroom
"The purpose of the OCC Web Page is to serve as an annotated directory pointing to homepages with information on online courses being taught in colleges in the U.S. and around the world. We welcome brief descriptions and URLs from instructors and professors who have developed exemplary courses as well as from those who are just starting out or experimenting. We're hoping that this exchange of information will be of service to participants as well as to those who are contemplating or want to learn more about on-line teaching.
"The homepage is associated with OCC-L, the On-Line College Classroom electronic forum, which is devoted to discussions, announcements, papers, etc. that are pertinent to those who are teaching (or planning to teach) college classes on-line."
MIS 311F: Business Foundations (UT Austin)
Good model for an on-line course. "The creation of the Business Foundations Program is the best thing the College of Business Administration has done is the last twenty years. It provides each of you with the opportunity to study your primary field of interest (from Anthropology to Zoology) and at the same time acquire a solid introduction to the major disciplines and tools of the modern corporate world. I am delighted to have been associated with this program since its inception in 1992. I take more pride and feel a stronger sense of accomplishment from this course than any other undergraduate, masters or doctoral course I've taught."
W6index (English 060 Hawaii CC)
"Workplace Writing with the World Wide Web (Project WWw/WWW or, for short, Project W6) intends to enhance the instruction and life-long learning opportunities for students enrolled in English 060 (Technical Report Writing) at Hawai'i Community College here on the Big Island of Hawai'i ."
Indiana University On-line MBA course
PBDS 750.185 Imaging Ideas and Information
"By examining some elements of the history of prints, some theories of representation and meaning-making, and some current technologies and the practices they enable, this course will enable students to understand just how difficult it is to answer questions like 'where does the information in a pictorial statement reside?' or 'how does transformation or translation between media affect the kind of information and ideas pictorial statements can make?'"
Technical Writing II, Algonquin College
"This package is about technical writing and about the design, writing, revision and production of technical documents, often by teams of people working with computers in organizations. The aim of the package is to present resources, examples and approaches which will make it possible to make a start on any technical writing project, to use effective techniques to bring it to a conclusion, and, to help people learn from the process."
On-line course offerings with complete manual of instructions.
Western Civilization I: History 104
"Welcome to Western Civilization, Stone Age through the Twelfth Century Renaissance, History 104 at Edmonds Community College. I am Dr. Eileen Soldwedel, your instructor, and Bryce Carpenter is our colleague. In our first venture into computerized instruction, we wish to acknowledge the inspiration and example of Dr. James O'Donnell of the Department of Classical Studies of the University of Pennsylvania, a pioneer in instruction on the internet, who has generously shared his experience."
Syllaweb--English 231, Technical Writing Roane State Community College
"Specific reading and writing assignments, online activities, and writing topics will be announced/discussed each week over an e-mail lecture. You may receive this lecture any time from Friday afternoon to Monday morning. If you have not received it by Monday noon, call me. This outline/calendar is intended to provide you with a general idea of what the course will cover, when it will cover it, and important due dates.
"Each Monday's formal writing assignment is due at 8:00 a.m., Eastern Standard Time, each following Monday morning unless otherwise specified. For the two longer assignments (Proposal and Formal Report) you will have several weeks. Even these assignments will be divided into managable steps, however, which will be due each Monday morning as usual. Informal postings to WRITETECH will be ongoing, although I may occasionally give you a time frame within which to respond. Much of this discussion will cover reading, writing, and Web assignments."
VOICE OF THE SHUTTLE: ENGLISH LITERATURE
"The World Lecture Hall (WLH) contains links to pages created by faculty worldwide who are using the Web to deliver class materials. For example, you will find course syllabi, assignments, lecture notes, exams, class calendars, multimedia textbooks, etc."
English, Rhetoric and Composition, Technical Writing (The World Lecture Hall)
English 511 Spring 1996 Randy Bass English Department
Course Units:Electronic Words || The Rhetoric of Electronic Texts: the Culture of Print || The Rhetoric of Electronic Texts: Hypertext || Hypertext and Literary Theory || The Status of the Text, the Archive, and the Canon in Electronic Spaces || The Human-Computer Interface: The Body & The Community || Postmodernity, Identity, Media: Theory || Postmodernity, Identity, Media: Pedagogy
Computers and Writing (E309M) Course Description (UT; Instructor: Albert Rouzie)
"Computers and Writing, E309M, is a course that uses networked computer technology to explore and analyze the effects of new information and communication technology on writing, media, and culture. It is a writing course about writing in the computer age. We will explore, through readings and our own writing activities, different forms of "electronic discourse" made possible by the computer revolution, including hypertext, multimedia, electronic mail, Usenet newsgroups, MUDS and MOOs, and the World Wide Web. We will make use of both traditional print and electronic media for reading and writing activities."
Biology 100/101, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Web-supplemented courses that include links to lectures, supplemental information, resources, exams, and tutorials.
Basic Chemistry, Louisana State University
Site contains course information, old exam samples, how to e-mail the instructor, and chapter notes.
Info Net Economics -- Syllabus (University of Michigan; Instructor: Jeffrey K. MacKie-Mason)
"Welcome to the syllabus page for Econ 495, Information Networks Economics. This page contains all of the official information and requirements for the course. There are links to other pages with a class schedule, assignment due dates, paper ideas, Internet tools, and reading resources.
"This is an honors seminar on economic issues surrounding the development of an information network infrastructure. The focus will be on the emergence of integrated services, broadband public switched networks. We will consider a variety of old and new media through this lens, with an emphasis on convergence and the driving forces of new technologies.
"Some of the questions we will address: Why do networks develop, and will current voice, video and data networks converge into a single, integrated information 'superhighway'? Should the government guide network development, or even pay directly for the national information infrastructure? How should scarce network bandwidth, information services and information itself be priced? Who owns information, and how can intellectual property be protected?
Most of the resources for this course will be found on the Internet. Your written work must be submitted over the network, and will be in the form of hypertext documents that can be published on the network.
MCOM 479/670 Spring 1996 (Towson State Univesity; Instructor: Thom Lieb)
Journalism. "Principles of writing and designing for publication on the Internet's World Wide Web. Students will use computer technology to explore existing Web sites using text and graphics browsers, create hypertext documents and create Web sites for themselves or organizations of their choice."
Contains outlines and summaries of each lecture in the course and links to reference materials relative to course content. You can send questions, comments, and suggestions to the instructor and/or to individual teaching assistants. Syllabus, calendar, lecture notes, assignments, exams, and links to related materials.
"calculus@internet is a CD/WWW metatext providing a multi-approach, multi-platform, multi-technology resource for first and second year college and university students and instructors investigating the Calculus and related topics."
Campaign '96: Third-Party Time? (Harvard; Kennedy School of Government)
"Campaign '96: Third-Party Time? is a hypertext case study for PAL 201, the Kennedy School's course on Elective and Advocacy Politics. The case was developed by the Case Program at the Kennedy School."
Writing to the World-Wide Web: Other Writing Classes Engaged in Web Work (RPI)
"Welcome to Thomas Edison State College! A national leader in distance education, Thomas Edison enables adult learners to complete baccalaureate and associate degrees wherever they live and work. The College's first graduate degree, the Master of Science in Management, accepted its first students in January 1996. At Thomas Edison, students in any state or nation can earn credit for college-level knowledge acquired outside the classroom. There are no residency requirements. Browse through our pages to discover who we are and what we do."
Computer User Proficiency
"Each applicant will be required to demonstrate their proficiency with the computer. Students will need to have the following basic skills:
- Basic familiarity with dial-up telecommunications
- Familiarity with navigation of menu driven software
- Knowledge and use of text editors
- Experience with/knowledge about the Internet
Thomas Edison has developed a computer system that facilitates electronic access to the College. Students accepted into the Masters program will be given the software to access the College's Computer Assisted Lifelong Learning (CALL) Network."
Some Services Available Through CALL
On-Line Computer Classroom Courses
"Through the CALL Network, students are able to interact electronically with faculty mentors and fellow students, regardless of their geographic locations. They participate in open class discussions and regularly scheduled class discussions that are posted and guided by the faculty mentor. By using this electronic class discussion, students can communicate their thoughts and comments to the discussion at hand, read the comments of other class members and get feedback on the discussion from the mentor. All courses use textbooks and study guides, require regular written assignments and proctored examinations."
Academic Advising
"Enrolled students can use CALL to communicate with their academic advisor using e-mail. In addition, students can view their academic record on-line by requesting their program plan, and can view a summary of their financial statement."
Computer Pre-tests
"The College's Office of Test development and Research is in the process of implementing Computer Pre-Tests (CPTs) through the CALL Network. CPTs are short tests that sample a user's knowledge of selected TECEP (Thomas Edison College Examination Program) subject areas. They are designed to familiarize the test taker with the general nature and level of difficulty of the TECEP examination. CPT results are scores that students may find useful in assessing their readiness for a TECEP exam."
CALL-PC Computer Lending Program
"The College has instituted the CALL-PC Lending Program to assist enrolled students in gaining access to a PC. A limited number of PCs are lent to eligible students for whom the availability of a computer and use of the CALL Network will reduce barriers of access to aid in the completion of a degree program."
"The On-Line Computer Courses (OL) use computer communications to link distance learners with each other and their faculty members. This is more than just an electronic form of mail delivery; it is a more interactive way to learn at a distance. OL courses put students in contact with fellow students and faculty, and provides for participation in course discussions."
"Students can connect to the OL using their own telecommunications package, the Internet or by requesting communications software which has been developed by the College. This software, available only to enrolled students, automates the dial in process and facilitates the sending and receiving of assignments via e-mail.
"During a semester, students participate in seminar discussions using their computer to log onto the OL. Class interaction is carried out using the class discussion option which allows students to read and respond to their classmates at a convenient time. There is no specific time when one must be logged on for the class discussion; thus, students can maintain the flexibility of distance learning. (Faculty present topics and respond to discussions providing guidance and focus for the class). These discussions allow students the opportunity to share ideas with other students, regardless of where they live, making available the opportunity for a unique regional sharing of ideas not normally available in the classroom.
"Additionally, students are able to have informal discussions among their classmates. This provides a real opportunity to exchange ideas and increase the informal aspects of learning. The specific courses which are available vary from semester to semester. For information about On-Line Computer Courses, visit our Course Catalog, or contact DIAL via phone at, (609) 292-6317 or via e-mail."
International University College
"At IUC, we are forging new frontiers in education. Today, it is possible for you to enroll in individual courses or to earn a Bachelor or Master of Arts in Business Communication. You are able to participate in courses by using your computer and the Internet/World Wide Web to send assignments, communicate with Teaching Faculty, and interact with your classmates.
Our success with the graduate program led to our consideration and thoughtful development of a curriculum that would allow adults to complete the requirements for a Bachelor of Arts in Business Communication. Based on the needs of adult learners (convenience, flexibility and applicability to work), we designed a Bachelor's completion degree by integrating three fields of study: human communication, management, and new communication technologies. IUC's instructional model meets your needs by using a multiple media approach to the study of communication, which include skills and knowledge that are critical for the twenty-first century workplace.
At IUC, we have a unique "language" of our own. The "Content Experts" are the experts in their field, who design the course structure. "Teaching Faculty" are experienced instructors who facilitate student learning. A "Study Guide" is a print-based, content specific guide that is designed and written by the Content Expert. A "Virtual Classroom" is the electronic, learning community where students and Teaching Faculty interact using Internet listservs and the World Wide Web.
Excerpt for Mission Statement: International University College makes use of pedagogical techniques which reduce the time needed for direct instruction yet maintains a high quality of instruction. It employs current educational technologies that relax for its students limitations of time and place characteristic of traditional institutions. These characteristics make International University College's programs particularly suitable to a student body of independent learners who are geographically dispersed."
New Clark College Distance Education Opportunities
Virtual Poetry, Dr. Gerard Donnelly-Smith
"Our first on-line English course, pioneered through efforts by Dr. Donnelly-Smith. Students can register and participate in a completely electronic version of our Poetry course offered through the Humanities Division. Students interact with Dr. Donnelly-Smith by effectively using e-mail, a discussion group, and accessing their required reading and texts through the World Wide Web. If you are interested in this course, check out the course syllabus and/or contact Dr. Donnelly-Smith for more information."
English 3371: Advanced Writing (on the Web); Victor Vitanza, UTA)
Course Description: "This is a course in learning how the Computer via the internet and the World Wide Web (WWW) can be used in doing research and writing. You will learn how to receive/send electronic mail and to engage in discussion on a listserv established for this course, how to navigate the WWW, to write basic hypertext markup language (html) and to build a homepage for your project, and to improve your writing in general, but especially in the light of conventions for electronic discourse. You will publish your individual and collaborative papers/projects on the webpage for this course."
I recommend you go here for a variety of student projects Dr. Vitanza has facilitated and published on the Web.
University of Western Florida's Virtual Classroom
Listing of on-line course offerings.