Online Course Platforms
Birgit Deir
Online Course Platforms:
What is it?

Course material has been made available online






Textbook
Workbook
Lab manual
Tests
Audio
Video
Online Course Platforms:
Learning Tools

Learning tools for today’s digital generation






Chat
Video chat
Tutorials
Practice tools
Adaptive training
Internet links
Online Course Platforms:
Instructor Tools

Learning tools for today’s digital generation






Announcements
File Repository
Assignments with due dates
Gradebook
Self-grading exercises
Legible student writing
Online Course Platforms:
Advantages

Immediate Feedback





Right or wrong
Hints
Answers
Sample answers
Students feel comfortable with online work




Digital natives
Spend a lot of time with technology
Learn with technology
Expect technology
Online Course Platforms:
Quia

Used for different textbooks



First used as online workbook/lab manual




Workbook and lab manual simply put online
Identical content
Simple to use and reliable
Few extras


Ciao - Cengage Learning
Deutsch heute - Cengage Learning
Create games
Gradebook
Online Course Platforms:
Centro

McGraw-Hill




Dos mundos
Quia at core
Quia embedded in Centro
Centro offers extras



Dashboard
Tutorials
Chats
Online Course Platforms:
Centro Course Setup







Professor receives book key from publisher
Professor creates account
Professor creates course
Professor generates course code
Student creates account
Student enters course code
Student enters book key after purchasing it
Online Course Platforms:
Centro Assignments


Choice of textbook or workbook/lab manual
Grading


For example:
Graded
Practice
Self-grading
Instructor-graded
Feedback

For example:
None
Score and key
Online Course Platforms:
Supersite vhlcentral

Vista Higher Learning


Package options and pricing





Sag mal
Supersite
Supersite and WebSAM
Supersite Plus
Supersite Plus and WebSAM
My choices


Loose-leaf or no textbook
WebSAM required
Online Course Platforms:
Blended Learning

Online in vhlcentral






Read new concepts
Practice new vocabulary and grammar in structured
exercises
Practice Pronunciation
Read cultural texts with exercises
Watch cultural video and answer questions
In-class


Practice vocabulary and grammar in interactive exercises
and with free responses
Use new concepts in communicative, unscripted exercises
Online Course Platforms:
Blended Learning (continued)

In-class (continued)



Summarize culture
Tests (better: proctored outside classroom)
Homework



Review vocabulary and grammar concepts in all types of
workbook and lab manual exercises
Video-chat, if available
Prepare for quizzes
Online Course Platforms:
Connect

Textbooks





French: Vis-à-vis
German: Kontakte
Italian: Avanti
Spanish: Tu mundo (new version of dos mundos)
Purchasing Options


Always ebook
WBLM activities optional
Online Course Platforms:
Connect Learnsmart

Adaptive practice tool




Covers different aspects of each chapter
When assignment is done correctly, it disappears out of
question pool
Students self-assess
Students practice where they need it
Recommendations

Select course material




Before classes start




Review textbook and all ancillaries
Get trial account for online material and try it out
Choose components and price of course package
Learn to use the online platform, get training
Make sure online platform works in your school or on your
campus
Set up course and prepare student login material
With your students

Be patient when real or perceived software problems occur