An absent student does not have to wait for the handout before beginning homework assignments. And the Windows environment allows the student to have the instructions on the same screen as the homework in progress. Comment forms and email make it easier for the student to communicate with the teacher. Faculty office hours and student availability do not have to match for communication to take place. Supplementing Mosaic with a newsgroup where students can collaborate increases the learning experience.
Students become peer teachers by sharing information or restating concepts.
Both the student who asks the question and the student who provides assistance are benefited by the process. Study groups are formed without the hindrance of location and available blocks of time. When offered the chance to obtain the support information by computer, students were eager to participate. Two students in the current UVSC application class are at remote locations. All contact with these students occurs through Mosaic, newsgroups, email, and telephone.