The role and impact of technology in the classroom has long been debated. A recent meta-analysis on the topic finds considerable support for the value of computer-assisted instruction in post-secondary education; see the full article at: Review of Educational Research.

One quick, easy way of integrating individual students' names into announcements and mass emails is to utilize the token feature. Tokens are shortcut codes that, when posted, inserts each respective student's name in place of the code.

To utilize tokens in your announcements, follow these steps:

Step 1: Write an announcement/email/discussion/feedback and enter the token below where you would like the students' respective names to show up.

$FIRST_NAME$

Step 2: Save or post the announcement…

The article "Six Ingredients for the 21st Century Classroom" highlights the following key transformations for shifting to next-generation learning spaces:

1. Start with the physical shell.
2. Eliminate shadows and dark spots.
3. Maximize seating arrangements.
4. Get faculty involved in the process.
5. Provide easy ways to "power up."
6. Design with the student-instructor dynamic in mind.

Read the complete article at Campus Technology.

Read the following educational blog from IDEA.org for a comprehensive look at the question "What is an online course?":

http://www.idea.org/blog/2012/01/11/what-is-an-online-course/

Recent research finds that when examining factors impacting learning in the online classroom, "consistency, or less time variation, is a statistically significant explanatory variable, whereas effort, or total minutes spent online, is not" (Patron & Lopez, 2011, pg. 1). As such, perhaps the key to effectively learning in a virtual environment rests not in total time investment in the course, but rather in consistently engaging in learning activities over time to maxime the cognitive gains…