Exemplary
VWSU Courses
This is a short list of exemplary courses offered at WSU using
advanced educational technology. They were highlighted for their
outstanding pedagogy as much as their technical execution. There are
many more courses each with good approaches to
online
learning at VWSU. These are examples which highlight specific
features of online learning that VWSU embraces.
Virtual
Economics 101, Fundamentals of Microeconomics
- This course makes use of the accessible MSWord & MSExcel
document down-loads.
- Home work and exam scores are posted by ID number for quick
on-line reference.
- The entire virtual class can be down-loaded in one convenient
"archive" file.
- Excel files nicely preform some dynamic calculations and
demonstrate economic principles in a simulation-type fashion
Economics
102 Principles of Macroeconomics
- This course makes nice use of the Newsgroup function of the
web.
- This course has lectures in HTML format on-line, with graphics
linked to the lectures. Since the "clickable" lectures are set-up
in a "schedule table," the student always knows where they should
be during the semester.
Teaching & Learning
445, Educational Technology used in Schools
- This example demonstrates several important features of online
distributed learning communities, the natural and authentic
collaboration between diverse learners. This course unites online
learners in public schools with preservice teachers in Pullman,
thus using technology to over come distance barriers.
- This course highlights the excellent use of the text-based
aspect of the Internet to unite learners through shared writing
and editing.
- This course also highlights the elegant use of the Website to
manage the coordination and scheduling of course objectives.
French
306, French for Reading Proficiency
- This is an outstanding example of contract based learning and
pacing.
- This course uses the Virtual Classroom Model built and managed
by Burke/Miraglia. This
cross campus collaboration on course development and management is
becoming more common and necessary.
- This example demonstrates several important features of online
distributed learning communities in local settings.
Veterinary
Medicine 499, Problems in Small Animal Medicine
- This course is an excellent example of Problem Based Learning.
- This course also highlights the opportunities for cross
university collaboration. Several of these students are enrolled
at other universities. (This opens the question of cross
institutional credit acceptance.)
- This course is also making nice use of live chat rooms to host
discussion of course posed problems. Reviewing the chat
transcripts shows interesting learning well beyond the original
problem posed or topic discussed.
Physics 201
- This course demonstrates a nice use of Adobe's PDF Reader and
well as some other technical features of frames use.
- Instructionally, the site also coordinated assignment and
assessment activity. The Help pages seem to be well positioned to
offer extra support to students. with question about the homework.
This list was last updated September 9, 1997. As new courses come
online that you think deserve attention as leading examples of online
education please email:
KCFacemyer @wsu.edu