Too often, institutions begin their Web-based development process by selecting the tools first, then allowing the tools to determine the pedagogy. This method leads to courses and processes that are dictated by technology instead of using technology to enhance the learning process. The selection of tools should come well after determining your need, your understanding of how you want to develop courses, and your practice with online teaching. The tools you select should reflect your specific environment, technical capabilities, and strategic plans for your information systems future. Also, the tools you select need to provide some room for growth and change (scalability). Linked resources for tool selection provided in this chapter are below.
Browser and Viewer Resources:
Netscape
Internet
Explorer
Adobe
Acrobat
GhostScript
Quick Time
Real Player
Microsoft
Office Viewers
Shockwave
Searchable Materials
Determine what method you would like to use to find materials on your site.
You can draw on a variety of indexing programs and utilities to make it easy
for users to search all the information you distribute on the Web. This saves
time and prevents frustration in navigating the complexities of multiple pages
and directory structures. A number of free indexers or search engines exist
in addition to commercial products. Several organizations provide good information
about indexing and searching via the Web.
UKOLN
TERENA Task
Force
American Society of Indexers
Quiz Tools
There are several available, and many are free and can be integrated into your course through the use of simple hyperlinks. Most of these free tools also offer some type of feedback generation, as well as gradebook capabilities. Most of them require you to use their server to host the quizzes, and several have advertising associated with them. A few offer a small fee purchase price (usually $200-$500) if you wish to place the tool on your own server. Some of the free quiz tool offerings are listed below.
Authoring Tool
for Web-based Tests Merex Corporation
Hot Potatoes
Interactive Test
OSTEI
Quia
Quiz Center
Class Management Tools
Knowledge
Pathways - Global Knowledge
Knowledge
Mechanics
Content
Delivery Server
Jupiter
Suite
Reviews of Class Management Tools