This page, which is avialable at http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/~agoodman/webteaching/, was prepared by Alyssa Goodman, for a discussion of Educational Initiatives in the Astronomy Department at Harvard University, on November 11, 1997.

Present Benefits

• Easier and faster access to course materials
• Courses "linked" to outside world
  • material can be put in context, using hyperlinks
  • material available to all, assuming site is accessible on Internet
• Better archiving of course materials

The Future

• Student participation in course site design
• Increased use of videoconferencing as network speeds increase
• Increased use of "hyperlinked" application software, using Java-like technology
• Additional use of "live" computer demonstrations & links as projection technology improves
• On-line textbooks
• Inter-institution collaboration in teaching
• Increased institutional support for web-based course content (e.g. Harvard ICG (see toolkit), Registrar)

Current Examples from the Harvard Astronomy Department

1. Full Course Content Available on the Web

Astronomy 208 Home Page: "The Physics of the Interstellar Medium"

2. Administering a Course on the Web

Astronomy 98 Home Page: "Junior Tutorial"

3. Student-created Course Web Site

Astronomy 97 Home Page: "Introductory Tutorial

4. Additional Courses with Web Sites

Astronomy 14: "The Universe and Everything"

Science A35: "Matter in the Universe"

Astronomy 206 Homepage: "Stellar Physics"