Click here to return to Dr. Stith's home page
I have an article published in Technological Horizons in Education Journal (March, 2000) that outlines my experience with WebCT and a web site for my Developmental Biology lecture course. I summarize the enhancement of my course by summarizing student evaluations, and note that hit rate did not correlate with final grades. I summarize the use of a bulletin board, email, posting of keys and announcement, use of online quizzes, placement of video and animation on the web site for our students. Our student body consists of mostly older, students who are returning to college and often have a long commute. We do not have dormitories and we are a "typical" urban university due to these characteristics. I think that this type of student benefits from a web site more than the traditional student who lives on campus.
I would like to expand upon information from this article and provide sample handouts for online quiz instructions and student surveys (see below). In the future, I plan a comparison with WebCT and Blackboard (a program that I am currently using for the web site).
I worked with May Lowry (University of Colorado, Education) to develop a handout to be used when we first visited the computer lab and first logged into the course web site. How we introduced the students to the WebCT web site is noted at:
http://www.cudenver.edu/~bstith/useweb.html
Pros: 1. Almost all students adjusted to use the use of the computer and web surprisingly fast. They went through the procedures faster than I anticipated and the students finished early.
2.I did not have to have the students activate their university account, which requires a bit of work, nor did they have to learn separate email software. With some web site programs, such as Blackboard which does not have email, this is not true.
3.Working in groups, the students with less computer skills learned from the more skilled students (and overcame their fear of computers).
Problems (most are related to group interaction):
1.Students skipped steps or did not check them off as they went.
2.Students let others do their work (they worked in student groups).
In one exercise that we preformed in groups in our computer labs (but could be performed by students while at their home or office computer), students searched the web for videos on fertilization. The students would then view videos on different web sites and make measurements of the speed of travel of a calcium wave that occurs at fertilization. I tried to minimize directions and allow the students to use creativity to find the sites and to measure the wave, and then compare the wave for different species. As this comparison of wave travel in different species is not something found in textbooks, this is a real research experience. How we used the web for research:
http://www.cudenver.edu/~bstith/resweb.html
I wanted to capitalize on current student excitement about the web and write papers based on their research on the web. I gave them a series of newspaper articles, and asked them to expand the topics discussed in the article using the web and other sources.
Instructions given to students for these short papers, see http://www.cudenver.edu/~bstith/shtpaper.html.
I provided help searching the web for research or the scientific papers http://www.cudenver.edu/~bstith/otherweb.htm
See quotes from these student papers showing the usefulness of the web in researching a topic:
http://www.cudenver.edu/~bstith/quotes.html
http://www.cudenver.edu/~bstith/quinstr.html
I found that the main problem with online quizzes is that the student is "bumped" off in the middle. I emphasized that the students should use university computers in our labs if their modem connection or home computer was problematic.
A more complete summary of student evaluations (than that found in the THE Journal paper) on the use of WebCT for the web site follows:
I gave a student survey (given on 5-5-99, just before finals week) (for exact format, see:
http://www.cudenver.edu/~bstith/survey.html) and found that the web did enhance a majority of the students experience in the course. In addition, the web enhanced their literature research and the writing of the papers. Based on the survey, next year I
will reduce the number of papers from 5 to 4, and consider giving more points for the papers. In addition, from reading the survey, I will post "thought questions" to the bulletin board (see student comment: "bulletin board; could post a question per
week or something that would increase more involvement.")
1. Do you have a computer with web access at home? 13 yes, 6 no.
2. How many hours a week were spent with: Lecture notes: 4.44 ± 3.8 s.d. (n=17; range 1-14 hrs/week). Text: 4.7 ± 4.6 s.d.
(n=17, range 1-20 hrs/week). Web: 2.9 ± 2.8 (n=18; 0.5 to 10 hrs/week).
3. If you did not know the answer to a question, which source did you go to first -circle one of the following: Teacher
-zero.;Web (with lecture notes)-8.;Text-10.
4. The web site was valuable to your learning in Developmental Biology:
very much-11 ;a little bit-8 ;not much value-0
Explain (use back of page if necessary):
Positive comments:
"I have learned web has amazing information about many subjects. I also used it for Repro" (another course). "More recent information." "A better way to communicate with other students in class." "Easy access made studying easier." "Getting grades
without disrupting teacher." "A bit adventurous which makes it "entertaining" and light." "Easier to check and update notes versus reading book looking at my hand-written notes." "Some items I did not remember from GB, so they were looked up on the web." "Help in not only explaining concepts from a different perspective than text but also helped in consolidating ideas. Also encouraged me to use web to further explore ideas." "With notes, but sometimes overwhelming with other links." "I felt my learning primarily came form lecture and studying the text. The web site supplemented my learning with the videos.""It was especially valuable in researching information for the written reports. In attempting to locate data for the reports, I found myself delving into other areas related to the course, but not necessarily the report topic, to look at interesting sites.""Sometimes my notes weren't accurate or clear--lecture notes on website helped with this. It was also nice to have "TO Dos" on the site to help remind you of stuff due in the near future."
Negative comments:
"I am a lab oriented person and I love research. I would prefer a real lab rather than the computer, its just not the same."
"Looking up information on the web was time consuming and I found that it was easier to look up things in the text or notes." "It is useful only if I can actually get to where I want and what I need." "It was good but at times confusing. The quizzes helped a
lot, but I didn't like the two computer exploration days. The videos didn't seem to help all that much-frustrating to access.""The web did not contain a lot of information that I felt was relevant to the course. Web sites are valuable for writing the papers, but
should not be considered the sole source for discovering new information.""The web provided very update information for the papers; but the book was easier in that it was consolidated into one source; it also had a ton of information." "Would have been
more valuable if I had easier access to web (computer at home). Used the web site as much as possible while on campus."
5. Rate the value of various parts of the web site:
a. bulletin board: ;very much -3 ;;a little bit-5;not much value-11
b. email (ignore the fact that you may have used your own email separate from the web site's):;;;very much-5 ;a little bit-8 ;not
much value-6
c. posted lecture notes: very much-18;;a little bit-1 ;not much value-0
d. viewing your grades:very much-16 ;a little bit-2 ;not much value-0
e. viewing the histogram of all grades
very much-6 ;a little bit-6 ;not much value-6
f. use of online quizzes:very much-12 ;a little bit-6 ;not much value-1
g. use of two videos on the web site:
very much-8 ;a little bit-5 ;not much value-5
3. Did you find the use of the web (e.g., use of web searches for your papers) valuable?
very much-16; ;a little bit-2 ;not much value-1
Explain:
"Easy to update references then go to journals" "good way to find up to date info" "encouraged not only exploring ideas further, very valuable in all future classes as well as life in general" "web served as an all purpose "library" right at your fingertips"
"It is much more time friendly to have access to valuable information regarding paper topics on the web." "because it provided more up to date information than the book." "much easier than the alternative- the library" "I definitely know how to use the
web for research much better than I did before. I tend to learn visually-so the videos helped a lot.""was able to access
researcher's web sites."
4. List problems you encountered with the use of the web site (including any problems with Online quizzes):
"Printing the lecture notes took a while to figure out, once understood, very valuable."
"Difficulty viewing videos.""It was hard to search sometimes- you had to be very specific and concise with the keywords.""Opening website occasionally. The quizzes posted some problems.""I emailed you once and you said you didn't get it.""getting dumped offline.""the only thing was sometimes it took a while to download information, but other than that, no problems."
Referring to quizzes: "misspelling of one letter in a word will lower grade. Put a correct answer- computer counts as a mistake."
"On quizzes, I would go in to see if the quiz was there not realizing I needed to exit out and the computer thinks I spent 46 hours on the quiz." "On the first quiz sometimes I couldn't answer the last question b/c the computer wouldn't let me.""Correct
answers marked wrong. Not being able to submit it for grading, I had to let the time run out on one before it let me turn it in-big waist of my time." "Also, one quiz incorrectly graded me.""Plurals were marked wrong."'Sometime, when I don't understand
meaning of questions, I couldn't ask you...but I like to use of the web site.""graded correct answers wrong""having to wait for responses to be recorded"
5. Were the 5 papers valuable to your learning experience in developmental biology?
very much-16 ;a little bit-3 ;not much value-0
Explain:
Forced me to expand and implement all these years of biology""I learned so much doing them""I really learned a lot.""if there were a bit shorter it would help""made me delve more deeply into subjects I would have otherwise known little about.""I
was forced to explore the topic much more than just using the text.""There were too many.""too many papers, fewer longer papers would be more helpful.""I learned a lot because I learned some materials before we actually had the lecture.""Definitely
need to be worth more points for the effort involved. I spent a lot of tiem on them for them to be only worth 10 pts.""I think the more scientific writing I do, the better I get.""Because they re-emphasized concepts introduced in lecture, also they illustrated
the great wonder of projects being done..."The topics of the five papers varied enough to allow me to research in many different areas of Developmental Biology.""usually in other classes learned only lecture stuff. But in this section, I had to learn so deeply.""It enabled me to translate "book knowledge" into "applied knowledge" by reviewing experiments which researchers have used to derive topical info.""sometimes the text went on and on ...the papers helped to clarify some stuff.""It gave us the opportunity to look up information above and beyond course content. I really did not know how to use the Internet, other than looking up music. The research on the web will be useful for future classes.""Yes, but too many"
6. Any suggestions on how to improve the use of the web site for future classes?
"Adding in depth details to concepts is nice.""I cannot think of any""none right off hand""add more illustrations and videos to enhance the learning experience.""bulletin board; could post a question per week or something that would crease more
involvement.""eliminate some stuff""more online discussions and quizzes""less on-line quizzes. More use of the bulletin board-maybe post thought questions and who answers first will receive extra credit."Easier acess""the computer lab was to
confusing.""Take class time to look at videos and do research more often.""actually, I liked the way the web site was set up.""really cool idea to spend time in the lab learning how to do it. Be more specific about what each site offers."
7. Did the use of the web change your attitude toward the use of the computer in teaching? Note that there were about four
negative responses out of 19 (highlighted in bold below).
"Yes. This was my second on-line course but the web coupled with the class lecture cemented many topics and discussion.""Yes, for the best. Learned more about internet.""Yes, I think it was a great idea even though it was hard to learn at
first because I had no previous experience on the web."""Yes.""yes-its definitely more helpful.""a little""no""Definitely. I love taking the online quizzes more than once. The material stays in my head.""yes, at first I was frustrated but it turned out to be
pretty useful. Especially quizzes and grade-posting.""I like having the lecture notes on the web, in addition to the calendar.""not really""yes, I had never used a web site as a teaching accompaniment before.""No, it didn't""No, still don't like the concept
of complete online courses. Always scary if you wait until the last minute to take exam-something happens with the computer.""Yes, I've actually registered for an online summer class. It has taken some of the "mystery" away from using the web.""Yes, I liked having access to lecture notes.""Yes-although I considered it a valuable research tool in past, have a better idea of how powerful a resource it can be.""I did know how web could be used for teaching, but the web contains an enormous amount of information, and I enjoyed looking for it."
Although there are web sites with more complete listings, I note here a short list of web sites related to Web Enhancement of courses:
Web-based instruction resource sites:
http://www.cudenver.edu/~mryder/itc_data/net_teach.html
http://www.personal.psu.edu/faculty/w/dwdm2/main.htm
http://www.unb.ca/web/wwwdev/resources.html
http://www.filename.com/wbt/index.html
http://www.umanitoba.ca/tools/courseware/title.html
Exploring technology and school reform (EdWeb):
http://edweb.gsn.org/
Web courseware developers listserv web site (they also hold a yearly conference):
http://www.unb.ca/web/wwwdev/
A comparison of web courseware: Learning Space, TopClass, WebCT and Toolbook II:
http://www.umanitoba.ca/ip/tools/courseware/evalmain.html
Undergraduate Teaching Resources in the Biological Sciences:
http://www.wisc.edu/cels
A review of distance education:
http://www.ihep.com/PUB.htm
Blackboard presents advantages of online teaching at their web site:
http://www.blackboard.net/resources/learn.html