Dr. Goldberg says faculty members should keep the programs' overall capabilities in mind as they consider possible purchases. He says professors tend to want more and more features as they get comfortable with on-line teaching. To help professors make the best choices, many institutions have formed committees or appointed researchers to make recommendations. When professors at the University of Manitoba began requesting Web-course tools last year, the university conducted a study of several popular programs. Mr. Angel says that most programs help professors convert their courses to on-line form, but offer no guidance on wider issues of course design.
Students also gain access to the courses through their Web browsers.
Professors may customize their on-line classrooms by manipulating color schemes and buttons, and may place images and audio files on their pages. CourseInfo requires special server software that can be run on an institution's computer network or, for an additional fee, by the CourseInfo company. Professors can create a sample course on the company's Web site. TopClass is a Web-based system that uses a data base to store information about each class and student. The server software creates Web pages on the fly as students ask for them, making it easier for professors to modify their on-line materials.