This saves an enormous amount of time for the instructor. Students sometimes need the comfort knowing that instructors are not looking at their messages. Students can act out the simulation within the course folder. Students can answer the questions, and send them to a restricted folder to which only you have access. Instructors can make available to the entire class special software which they want their students to use.
Students download it, and run it on their home computers.
We often hear faculty members express concern over the amount of time it takes to engage in electronic communications with their students. We find LearnLink one way to open up the channels of communication and discussion between instructors and students and among students themselves, in ways that are not possible in the classroom. We also find that instructors begin to enjoy the frankness and stimulation of discussions with their students. If there is still concern about time constraints, instructors can have their TAs run tutorial groups inside LearnLink. As well, students take responsibility for their own learning.