Basic Toolbox

To teach a course online, some of the tools I would equip students with include:
- a required online reading materials link
- a threaded discussion link
- email and IM addresses
- Tappedin
- OLDaily
- Help Forum
- NSBAs Toolkit link
- Teacher Tap link
- webopedia.com link
- wordpress.com for blog address
-Google.com/view for blog feeder
The email/IM addresses, threaded discussion board, Tapedin, blogs, and help forum are essentials in keeping an open communication line between the instructor/student + student/student. Without these tools, daily communication would have many missed opportunities. These tools allow open discussions at any time of the day. I have used email and the help forum to assist me with several problems I was facing, as I was setting up my blog, gator, and linking addresses to my feeder.
The Tappedin, OLDaily, NSBAs Toolkit link, Teacher Tap link and webopedia.com are essential in learning new concepts or researching information. These sites are very helpful in answering questions that arise with the use/application of technology. I really like the OLDaily site because it allows you to explore current events around the world. The Tappedin site is great too because you can post questions and have discussions with other educators about concerns (as well as contribute ideas or tips).
The online reading materials link provides students one exclusive to site to check for all required readings. Students can check this site for all of the readings they may have to do, in addition to their readings from a textbook. This site can also provide links to games or simulations that students can explore to enhance their own classroom or position as an educator.
These are some of the tools that I think are vital to have in any toolkit for a DE class. Without these tools, there would be a breakdown in communication, as well as, breakdown in professional development.
Many of these sites would not be possible to link to, a decade ago, let alone two years ago. We continue to evolve as educators, adding to our toolboxes, infinite sources of information and possibilities.