Web conferencing and ICTs to enhance undergraduate science teaching

Abstract

The last decade has seen a great variety in the ways in which instructors have incorporated the World Wide Web into their traditional classroom courses; however, this combination has not always translated into changes or improvements in teaching and learning. The real challenge has proved to be not the addition of web resources to the traditional classroom, but the thoughtful combination of those resources in such a way that they enhance the educational process. This fact, added to the advancements in technology that allow for a smooth and more user-friendly integration by non-technologically savvy instructors, has resulted in successful mix of strategies that enhance the classroom learning experience. This article presents a case study that shows the changes in the design of an undergraduate science course that moved from a passive use of the Web to a more interactive and participatory use of web resources, including the incorporation of synchronous and asynchronous modes of communication and a novel use of web conferencing. The authors describe in detail the development and implementation of interactive educational technologies integrated into the course and how synchronous and asynchronous communication has enriched the teaching and learning process.