Due to the varying degrees of preparation and background experiences with computer technologies, often students help each other by useful responses before the instructor has a chance to reply. The camaraderie that is built through the class mailing list helps to provoke thoughtful student commentary, as students realize their messages will be posted to the entire class. Electronic mailing lists, discussion groups and special interest groups are commonplace on the Internet. Educational institutions and industries routinely use mailing lists to make announcements and disseminate vital information in an online format. The constantly evolving Web site has become an integral part of the new frontier in cyberspace.
Web presence is more the rule than the exception in today's information society.
A basic educational Web site for a community college class can include course syllabi, assignments, course announcements, practice quizzes and exams, frequently asked questions, and links to other related Web sites. Except for server down times, students can access information at a time of convenience in their schedule. This is especially true for students having home computer access. Even for students without home computers, access to information is readily available through on campus computer labs. Students may view information online or print out a hard copy for later review.