Glencoe’s Distance Education Courses
Glencoe’s Distance Education Courses, available on WebCT and Blackboard platforms, feature the same course content as the printed texts and tutorials. These interactive online courses unite education and technology in a distance learning format that students can access through your school’s Web server using a standard Web browser. Features:

• Electronic mail enables students to communicate with the instructor and with other students.
• Secure course management system allows you to manage individual sections of the course.
• Content can be customized using open HTML standards.
• Students’ progress can be tracked through all course material.
• Automated testing enables you to quickly assess students’ performance.
• Coursework can be individualized to fit each student’s abilities.
• Links to Glencoe student Web sites containing more information and links to other sites.
• Start-up Guide shows students step-by-step how to set up and navigate the online course.

PageOut
PageOut is a versatile and easy-to-use program that allows you, as the instructor, to create a virtual classroom through a series of templates. You can hold regular class discussions in the Discussion Area or post lessons for students to read at their own pace. Use one of the styles already provided, or upload your own graphics to design a site that is uniquely yours. Post a full syllabus, lecture notes, assignments, even tests. The Discussion Area allows you to talk with students online. You can even customize quizzes and have them automatically graded and added to your gradebook.

With PageOut, you can create a course Web site that can be an extension of your classroom or it can be the classroom itself. The possibilities are enormous.

Using PageOut Distance Education in Accounting there is a wealth of valuable information online for students studying accounting. Throughout the Glencoe accounting textbooks you will find Internet activities that can be incorporated into a distance education course plan.

Internet activities are included as homework and experiential activities. These can be particularly valuable for accounting students because so much research is posted online and so many accounting organizations have created excellent Web sites filled with valuable resources.

Student Responsibilities
In any distance education course, students are responsible for maintaining their own Internet connection. Instructors usually find it is necessary to provide directions for students in getting to the course Web site and getting started. You may want to communicate with students by e-mail or by traditional mail before classes start.

In addition, students will be responsible for completing their own assignments and either uploading or e-mailing them to the instructor on time.

Motivating Students Online
It may seem difficult to motivate students without the face-to-face interaction of the classroom, but distance education provides many possibilities for keeping students focused.

Many instructors find it helpful to communicate with students regularly by e-mail to remind them of assignments being posted. In addition, distance education allows instructors to provide detailed feedback on student assignments through e-mail. Students can communicate easily with each other in the Discussion Area, getting questions answered and learning about each other, just as they would in a traditional classroom. Automatically graded tests give students instant feedback on their progress in a course.

The world of distance education is growing rapidly because it meets the needs of both instructors and students. By making full use of this new medium you can reach out to new students and make an even greater impact on their learning and their careers.