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Faculty Toolbox: Enhancing the Face-to-Face Classroom with WebTycho

Enid Bank

School of Undergraduate Studies

Published: May-June 2005

Category: » Webtycho » Face-to-face

Computers, software, projection devices, and the Web are among the tools faculty use to enhance teaching and learning. In the face-to-face (f2f) classroom, these tools expand the learning environment by adding an electronic component. The use of PowerPoint slides to provide a visual guide to class material is one popular tool for f2f classes; Web Enhancement (WE) is another.

Since the inception of WE in the summer of 1997, face-to-face (f2f) classes offered through Adelphi have used WebTycho to enrich the learning experience for students. Today, all f2f classes are automatically provided with WE. WebTycho has many functions that integrate well into a f2f classroom. These include:

Announcements

Here is a place to share information between f2f sessions. Reminders of due dates, assignments, and exam schedules can be posted. The announcement area is a perfect place to inform students of any emergencies that may affect the next f2f meeting.

Syllabus

Although the f2f students receive a paper copy of the syllabus, posting it in the WebTycho classroom assures added access to the data in case the paper copy is misplaced or the student wants to review information and does not have the copy available.

Gradebook/Portfolio

Students always want to know how they are doing in the class. When faculty post grades in WebTycho, students may access this information through their personal portfolio any time they wish to check on their progress.

Study Groups

For students, one of the inherent problems with study groups is deciding when and where to meet. This problem is solved by the creation of an electronic study group in WebTycho. Within the study group, the users can conference asynchronously, chat in synchronous mode, and collaboratively work on a document.

Reserved Readings

The UMUC Office of Information and Library Services can obtain the copyright to journal articles, books chapters, newspaper articles, etc., and post the full text in the WebTycho classroom. The student just clicks on the Reserved Reading function to review the information. For information on how to submit a reserved reading request, please see Electronic Reserves on WebTycho.

Conferences

In an online course, conferencing is the heart of the classroom. This is where the discussion of course material takes place. For the f2f class, discussion is held inside the f2f classroom; however, there may be occasions when a discussion might continue between f2f meetings in the WebTycho conference area. A summary of the discussion could be brought back to the next f2f meeting.

Course Content

This is a great place to post PowerPoint slides, lectures notes, FAQs, tutoring sessions, and other supplemental material. Placing them in the Conferences section is also acceptable.

A Chinese proverb states: "Teachers open the door. You enter by yourself." Once faculty open the door to the electronic classroom, students will enter. Add Web Enhancement to your toolbox and participate in the enrichment of teaching and learning.