Our hybrid Public Speaking course combines online activities with face-to-face class meetings. Major goals were to: 1) solve departmental economic woes, 2) effectively teach fundamental speaking skills, 3) help students overcome speaker anxiety while 4) giving speeches in front of a live audience. We will show via research results, and by connencting to the Web class, how we achieved our goals.

For example, this hybrid class shifts student text book dollars to a course fee used to develop and improve the streamlined electronic text we authored in-house. We use WebCT to quiz students on text materials, grade electronically, and facilitate discussion. The course fee, which is less than the previous text book price, also provides equipment and computers for classrooms and offices, as well as additional teachers to keep class sections small, helping overcome a 25% budget cut.

In introductory Biology, challenges include limited one-on-one interaction between student and instructor, and students who differ in their level of preparedness for a college biology course. The solution we show, BIONet, puts core concepts and processes online in the forms of PowerPoint lectures, Flash animations, interactive exercises, and quizzes. Because the content is available 24/7, BIONet allows students to spend as much or as little time needed mastering course material, and makes face-to-face time more productive.

Courses such as “The Business Profession” and “American Identities” will highlight other challenges such as allowing faculty more time for research and improving student writing skills. Find out how creative uses of WebCT and other technologies can help you meet your challenges.