Web

Features

• Faculty (or their designees) post course-related material for students to access and download to desktop workstations if necessary.
• Multi media supported.
• Material may be password protected if necessary to restrict access.

Strengths

• Faculty member retains the most control.
• Good way to publish material and have it grow and change through the course of a semester; very good for incremental adjustment.
• Use of web browsers becoming part of basic computer literacy.
• Minimal server load to support even large bodies of material.

Weaknesses

• An active means of communication: reader must go log on to the Web to see if there is any new information (though some new tools can do the checking for you).
• Difficult (or impossible) for students to submit material for discussion.
• Not as easy to post/publish information as NetNews; some knowledge of html (or appropriate staff) required, as well as server access.
• The default configuration for published material is public, though access restrictions can be put into place relatively easily.

Strategies for Effective Use

• Look for examples of material and presentation styles you like by "surfing the web."
• Various style guides exist, including one created by ISC and one created by the School of Arts and Sciences.