Scenarios that follow in this article will put these software types in context and will help in the decision-making process of academic units in investing in tools for creating and delivering instructional materials for distance teaching and learning. A faculty member decides to re-purpose an existing course for online delivery via the Internet. The textbook adopted and used for the course in prior semesters is kept. Distant students are required to purchase the book, offered by the campus bookstore or another bookstore more convenient to them. Faculty communication with students is maintained via e-mail.
Students communicate among each other by e-mail as well.
This is perhaps the least complicated and most inexpensive way of re-purposing existing courses for delivery via the Internet. A faculty member decides to re-purpose an existing course and deliver it via videoconferencing. Videoconferencing may involve graphic production software or software to edit video footage. Also, presentation software, such as PowerPoint, has become very popular among faculty, who can use it for videoconferences as well as in their classrooms. These options are open to the instructor or course team that is planning to present a course via video.