Using Your Computer More Effectively ... For More Effective Teaching (Try This) (Column‪)‬

If there is one commonality distance educators share it is that we all use a computer to teach. And we also strive to deliver quality teaching, a positive learning experience, and indefatigable enthusiasm while also embracing any trick, tip, suggestion, idea, or information that can allow us to accomplish all this in a more organized, timely, and creative manner. This bag of teaching aids can come from many sources, but one that can prove very helpful--and is often overlooked--is the computer itself: software, hardware, configurations, and tools that can offer tremendous assistance to any course we teach. Packed with varied items, you are sure to find at least one or two that can make your overall teaching efforts just a tad more enjoyable. This will be an annual column, coming at the beginning of each year, but when I find something that screams "Ya gotta share me with your teaching brethren!" I will include it in a column that publishes sooner. Obviously there are many other teaching aids of which I have no knowledge, and so I reach out to you, my readers: please send me (erroldistancelearning@gmailcom) any computer helpmates you've come across. I'll happily share them in future columns. For now, however, here is my first collection for you.