While the basic course structure and format have not changed since the first semester, there have been a substantial number of small changes, each of which appears to have contributed to the overall success of the course. Initial Meeting - Originally, students came to the laboratory any time during the first week of the semester to get the syllabus and to obtain an orientation to the course. This was time intensive and often students did not read the material carefully. After several semesters, an initial session that all students are required to attend was introduced. At this meeting, a multimedia course overview is presented.
Students get to see the other students in the class and also get to know the instructor.
Answers are provided to questions, and students see an example of the use of technology. This presentation is also available for review in the laboratory. This makes the initial orientation much easier and results in fewer questions later. During first week students signed up for an initial lab session where they were taught to use the course delivery software. These sessions were time consuming and much material was covered that was difficult for students to retain.