March 31, 2010

Good Morning Developers,

I have had a chance to review all of your course developments for 50% completion and have sent each of you my feedback. Overall things are looking great! If you have questions on any of my feedback, please let me know.

As we move toward 75% and then 100% completion, please remember that not only are your 12-week courses due at the 100% point but the 10-week conversions are also due at that time, so you will need to plan accordingly. When you think your 12-week master is at 100% completion I will then make a copy of the course for you to work in the course conversion in preparation for the 10-week Early Fall quarter.

This week's audio enhancement topic I'd like to introduce you to is UC Berkeley's online webcast and free video resources. With topics ranging from computer science to mathematics to psychology to marketing and beyond, UC Berkeley has made specific course lectures as well as campus-wide special event speakers, such as President Clinton's recent address to the campus community, free to the online community. This site, as well as YouTube's UC Berkeley Channel, offers a wealth of audio enhancement opportunities for you. And you'd be surprised how engaged our students become with these lectures.

I've used a Berkeley lecture as part of an assignment in one of my courses for a few quarters and I am always amazed at how evident it is that students have truly watched the entire 1 hour video each time. Students have responded so well to this video that they have even asked for more!

Below are links to the UC Berkeley site directly as well as to their YouTube channel. Check these out and consider incorporating 1 or 2 into your courses as an audio-enhanced lecture!
http://webcast.berkeley.edu/
http://www.youtube.com/user/UCBerkeley

Have a great rest of the week!
Heather