Technology and the Web enable instructors to teach beyond the walls of the classroom. Students who were inaccessible because they were too busy or their schedules conflicted with class schedules are now within reach. Students whose work schedules do not allow them to attend regular classes or who are too far away can now have the chance to attend class in your virtual classroom on the Web.

Business communication students can benefit greatly from distance learning courses since they are often working professionals with demanding full-time employment seeking education to further their careers. With distance education, you can offer them the knowledge that is key to their advancement and they can study and practice on their schedule and at their own pace.

How will you create this virtual classroom? Using powerful and simple tools, including PageOut, a free product available to you with the adoption of any McGraw-Hill textbook and the purchase of Glencoe software application and concepts products.

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.

There is a wealth of valuable information online for students studying business communication. Throughout the Glencoe business communication textbooks you will find Internet activities that can be incorporated into a distance education course plan.

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.