Fall 2010 Course Updates - going to an ebook

Hi everyone,

One of the items I'd like to blog about here are the changes that I'm making to the POS 111 American Government course for Fall. After hearing many, many excuses over the years for why students don't have the correct version of the textbook, I've opted to go with an ebook embedded within the course. In addition, I'm changing the quiz structure slightly (one quiz per chapter instead of two and the questions will be randomly selected from a larger pool of questions for each attempt at a quiz - I allow students to retake the quizzes as many times as they want prior to a unit closing so they can earn a potential 100% on them if they work at it).

I'd be interested in any feedback from other instructors about the pros and cons of having the textbook directly in the course, as well as any other thoughts you may have on interesting assignments in your courses. What works, what doesn't work?

Thanks,

Holly DB

We enjoyed Glacier National Park!

Hi everyone, in a previous blog message I had asked if any of you got much opportunity to get out of town while you are also teaching your online classes. I thought I'd share this photo from our trip last week. We were up in Glacier National Park for several days. I sure didn't want to come home...it's absolutely gorgeous over there right now! Holly DB

Computer recommendations and D2L

Hi everyone,

I have a question for anyone reading this. Has anyone used a Dell Mini-10 (or something similar) to teach the online courses? As some of you may have read in my other postings, our newer laptop suffered a "camper accident" earlier this summer and we now have to replace this old hunk of junk I am currently typing on. I'm wondering if any of you have used the smaller laptops and what you think of them for teaching online?

Thanks,

Holly DB

Hi again, everyone...

Well, so far this blog-thing is working (I won't go into the frustration over the weekend when it wasn't showing properly...)*smile*

Anyhow, I am planning to head west tomorrow and will be doing a little R & R in Glacier National Park. My only requirement is that I have access to cell phone service so I can log into my online classes. How about the rest of you? Do you find that you can take a little time for yourself (and your family) and still keep up with your online courses?


P.S. Meet Jasmine (Golden Retriever) and Sadie (English Springer Spaniel). They will be on our little outing as well, they pretty much go everywhere with us...

Hello from Holly DB

Hi Everyone,

Well, I decided to take the plunge and try out the faculty blog for the remainder of the summer. I don't generally read blogs, so I decided this will be my "something new" for the year.

I am a college instructor at Dawson Community College (Glendive MT) and I will be starting my 20th year this fall. Wow!! I never felt so old as the day I realized that I've been teaching longer than some of my students have been alive.*smile* I joined the CCCOnline faculty in 2001-2002 and currently teach POS 111 American Government and CRJ 220 Human Relations & Social Conflict.

I have found that I truly enjoy teaching students from a wide variety of ages, backgrounds, and experiences. It can be quite the rush! How about the rest of you? What do you find enjoyable about teaching online and/or in the traditional (f2f) classroom?

I look forward to hearing from you in the CCCOnline Community.

Have a safe and happy 4th of July!

Holly DB