In surveying both vendors and practitioners, we found that there was a wide range of viewpoints regarding the amount of faculty training required. Vendors were rather optimistic, noting that only a few hours are necessary. Practitioners, on the other hand, gave a range from three to four all-day workshops to as long as a semester or two to really get to know the program. Later some advanced users will often find both products limiting because they will want to do original creations beyond the design limits of the package. They can pick and choose from a wide assortment of free or inexpensive programs and tinker to their hearts' delight, so what they have to offer reflects who they are and what their class is about.
Many universities offer Web course support services.
Moreover, populating the contemporary college campus is a savvy group of students who are adept at the technologies mentioned in this article and who can work with faculty to produce world-class applications and programs. Moreover, art majors have been given a new lease on life with the growth of the Web and often make excellent Web page designers. One need only look at many college home pages to see effective student design work. The world of distributed learning is full of wonderful opportunities for faculty to think about the ways they teach and for opening up a vast array of new communications channels. And for many of you, Web-based teaching will be an invigorating experience.