Suggestions for Online Lectures: Written materials,  PowerPoints,  Podcasts and Screencasts

Written/Typed materials can be used for online lectures as long as they have Web Enhanced inserts. This web enhanced text is embedded links supplying a 21^st Century setting and allows in-depth investigations.  Written materials should be in MS Word format with 1” margins and doubled spaced for easy reading.  Again, words of importance or words needing in-depth explanation should be embedded links such as:  http://www.itws.org/tofcwesg.htm .  Although, the theme of this link is Web Enhanced Study Guides, the concept of embedded links to add in-depth materials and explanations can be used in many cases.  These lectures can be posted at school or private web sites or sent as attachments in Emails for access by students to read and study at their convenience which is an authentic attribute to online lectures.

PowerPoint presentations can also be used as online lectures since they are easily followed and read materials in a page by page format.  Online materials are especially worthwhile if they are in a small segment learning environment such as PowerPoint.  Again there is a vital ingredient which is embedded links for in-depth and further explanations.  These PowerPoint presentations (lectures) can be provided in standard format or as a web page which is easily created at the point of saving the presentation.  It is always a good idea to save the PowerPoint then save it as a web page after it has been edited for any type of errors in content, spelling and/or grammar.  The presentation itself should be in full page view while a PDF form of the presentation (if possible) should be supplied in a 3 page handout format for ease of taking notes and studying during and/or after the online PowerPoint (lecture) presentation.

The more traditional online lecture is a Podcast presentation which is used in a variety of ways and by a variety of disciplines.   Podcasts can supplement/augment a traditional course by supplying lectures that are accessible by students who could not be present for in class lectures or students having difficulty taking notes during lectures.  This luxury of pausing lectures to take notes then continuing the online lecture by pressing play is a vital element provided by Podcasts.  This ease of control of a lecture is an essential ingredient that is much enjoyed by many undergraduates along with graduates who both have very busy lives and schedules.  Podcasts can also be provided by posting on a web site or sent as an attachment in Email for students to enjoy and really learn from at a time best suited for their learning.

Finally, Screencasts by Camtasia (TechSmith) which is a combination of PowerPoint presentations with a voice background as well as annotated notes written while the voice background explains.  This use of animated visual presentation coupled with an audio background increases the potential of learning since it provides an online lecture for both types of visual and audio learners.  To further improve your online lectures simply supply the presentation itself in full page view while in a PDF form of the presentation (if possible) can be supplied in a 3 page handout format for ease of taking notes during and/or after the online PowerPoint (lecture) presentation. This way you have provided the ultimate learning setting for visual, auditory and tactile learners.  Camtasia is provides a free full version for a 30 day trial and has a special Education price along with excellent telephone and online support which is a key component.

 All of these online lecture suggestions can also be used to supplement and augment traditional classes providing access before, during and after lectures with a 21^st Century touch.