Online Course Development Shells
A course development shell such as that from eCollege, Blackboard, or WebCT can be very useful in allowing rapid and well organized general course content, including text, hypertext, graphics, multimedia, and video, and including media streaming, into courseware for an identified course. This can apply to lecture, demonstration, threaded discussion, evaluation, document sharing, and other pedagogical aspects. However, some training is desirable relative to use of such course shells; and special tools, and training or technical support are increasingly needed for hypertext, graphics, multimedia and video, including media streaming development. I am assuming delivery of developed courseware is a separable and separate context, to be facilitated by in-house or out-of-house networking systems and personnel.
Administrative data and editing of such data, including course roll sheet information, general student information, etc. may also be automated and easily accessed through such course shells.
Some e-mail management processes may also be afforded.