Use this page to record feedback that you get from students regarding distance classes. Please include your name, as shown below, so we'll know who to continue the conversation with. It's OK to be repetetive and commenting on others' entries is encouraged.

DON: Here's a comment from another online ED 237 student that indicates (again) how important it is for us to be really organized:

Don, Here are my two files for task one, archive and states. I hope I followed the directions correctly. They were not as clear as past assignments. But then again, how clear can you be with a tech class that is being taught distance? :) Anyway, hope you are doing well and have a great holiday season!

SKIP: Two of the nine students in my current distance class told me that they have dropped out of math classes because they were being taught using only audioconference and they felt as if they could not keep up.

SKIP: My distance students were thrilled with the possibilities of publishing and sharing PowerPoint slides via Google Docs and wondered why more distance classes didn't use this form of sharing and interacting.

SKIP: My on-campus students are telling me that they'd like to see more distance features in our face-to-face classes--specifically, have some meetings via Elluminate instead of coming to class and more distribution of content via podcasting.

SKIP: Recent study from the University of Wisconsin found the following:

"It is clear from the survey results that undergraduate students would value the webcasting of lectures and that, given the choice, would prefer a course in which lecture content is recorded and streamed over one that is not.

Benefits of making up for a missed class, watching lectures on demand for convenience, improving retention of class materials, improving test scores, and reviewing material before class indicate the perceived value of streaming services as a complement to in- class interactions.

Results showing interest in having course material available online after course completion indicate potential benefits for alumni interaction and continuing professional development."

PDF summary (8 pages) is available here.

DON: Here's a quote from an ED 237 (completely online) student:

Here is my first task. Technology has given me the opportunity to learn right here at home. Technology reaches out through connecting people at first but now it is also doing more than just connecting friends and families, it is also giving people more opportunities to create art, activities, jobs, and education through technology.

SKIP: From this article on Yahoo News:

It turned out YouTube was also full of math videos. After watching a couple, the psychology major says, she finally understood trig equations and how to make graphs. "I was able to watch them at my own pace and if I didn't get a concept, I could easily rewind it," Nissim says. "It was a lot clearer once I watched the video."

 CHRISTINE: (Actually, this is Skip copying and pasting Christine's comment from below to this section so that everyone will be sure to see it.)

I got this email from one of my students this fall:

"I want to thank you for all your efforts in both producing and posting class documents on Blackboard (the Power Point Presentations are especially helpful). I'm sure these extra learning tools require a significant amount of time and energy to produce. I just want express how helpful these tools are in increasing learning and participation as a distance student."