Yes, email! It's simple and it works. Let students know that they can always contact you with questions about coursework. Reponding to email inquiries is fast, and it lets students know they're never too far from assistance when they need it.

FCS can show you how to set up your email program to automatically organize email from students, and how you can send email to all your students at once.

The same word processor most of us use every day can be used to grade papers, give students visual and audio feedback, track revisions (perhaps as students or work teams revise papers), even store a library of repetitive comments you make over and over again. We'd be happy to show you how some faculty like to use Word with their students.

We also support the use of Word in publishing.

Blackboard offers you a number of tools that make communicating ideas with your students easy and efficient. You can setup an online discussion, run a chat session during class, administer exams, collect and return assignments, and record grades for coursework. Students can even be separated into virtual groups and set to work on projects.

Instant Messaging is like a cross between an email and a phone call. Generally, we find that students don't want to get instant messages about class! But many faculty do like using this method of communication with students. If you'd like to learn more about it, visit us and we'll show it to you.

Learning Objects are a different way of thinking about learning content. Learning objects are smaller units of learning, typically ranging from two minutes to 15 minutes. They are self-contained - each learning object can be taken independently. They are reusable - a single learning object may be used in multiple contexts for multiple purposes. They can be aggregated - learning objects can be grouped into larger collections of content, including traditional course structures. Learning Objects can contain audio, video, animations, simulations, and Powerpoint slides. They can be delivered over the Internet or distributed on media like CD-ROMs and DVDs.
Click here for more information about learning objects.

We are currently investigating a number of ways of podcasting info to students - recording audio lectures or dramas and making them available so that students can download them and, if they choose, load them on their iPod or similar MP3 listening device. Let us know if you'd like to try something similar with your class.

Blogs (or web logs) are one of the most exciting new tools in online communities. They are public to the world. Usually in an academic blog, the teacher posts and students comment on the post, or students are assigned to make posts of their own and comment on each other's work. Let us know if you're interested in seeing what blogs look like or trying one with your class.

We're happy to help you learn how to use any of the equipment in Hofstra's classrooms.

In many teaching labs on campus, including the Dionne Teaching and Learning Center, instructors can control any or all their students' computers simultaneously through software called SchoolVue.

If you are teaching in a wired classroom, you have the option of hooking your students up too! The Personal Response System enables your students to share their input by means of wireless 'clickers' (similar to the devices that contestants use on game shows). You can take instant polls to make sure that students understand a tough concept, or even run in-class multiple choice quizzes. The biology and engineering departments are currently using these very successfully. If you'd like to learn more, contact us, we'd love to talk to you!