Minutes fo r February 2, 2006 - 4 P.M. - 5 :30 P.M. AS192
In attendance at the DLMG meeting: Sharon Dandorf, Claudia Browning, Mark Bond, Nicole Lohrbeer, Rita Kasapis, Rodger Schenks, Ginny Fisher, Shereen Lerner and Peggy Johnson .
Faculty participated in a workshop to use SoftChalk Lesson Builder for creating web pages/lessons. It is an extremely user-friendly way to create attractive web pages that have interactive activities included (crossword puzzles, multiple choice questions, matching) and navigational tools provide. You can download a free 30-day trial of SoftChalk by going to http://www.softchalk.com
You can access SoftChalk software on the computers in the pod (central area) of the CTL whenever you wish. Save the lessons you create and upload them to your online course. The student does not need any special software to view their lessons created in SoftChalk. Any browser (Internet Explorer, Mozilla, Netscape etc.) can view the pages.
If you wish to purchase SoftChalk, contact your department chair first. Departments have budgets to purchase software. Perhaps he/she will purchase SoftChalk for you when you explain that you will be using it to create attention-grabbing, interactive web pages for your online course.
Directions for using SoftChalk and an example SoftChalk lesson can be found at this URL: http://www.mc.maricopa.edu/other/ctl/_ctl_SD/resources/helpdocs/how_to/index2.htmlClick on the Web Pages heading when you arrive at this page and then menu will expand so you can see the Soft Chalk resources. COMING ATTRACTIONS
At our next DLMG meeting, Sheila Merritt will be showing her online Communications course to us. Sheila has created and teaches two different online courses and has much experience to share. She uses the selective release feature of WebCT extensively. Sheila also uses forms to keep track of student submissions and communications.
Peggy Johnson