Web-based learning functionality

I found this action research project written by some strange woman... (me) and I have been revisiting some of the ideas in it and how they have changed with technology changes since I wrote it.

Web based learning has at least seven areas of functionality to take into account. Real time announcements so students are as up to date as possible with changes and information. Real time grading and feedback systems allowing students some of the interactions that may be missing by the removal of a tutor in person. A facility for posting materials in any format that will be accessible to both students and teachers on a variety of operating systems. External links and reading lists that students will need throughout their course in one accessible place. Automated quizzes, worksheets and tests to keep the work interactive on some level Discussion boards and chat rooms to facilitate student to student and student to teacher communication An email function that allows private communication between students and teachers about topics which should not be discussed on the message boards and forums. (Roberts, T. S., & McInnerney, J. M., 2007)

This list of functionalities is based on a course undertaken entirely on-line but how would they need to be changed or developed to take into consideration the possibility that some students will be in full attendance, some in part time attendance and some totally distance based. It strikes me that in any course where some or all of the students are distance learners all of the above points remain equally important as students must all be offered the same resources and information. This emphasises the importance of a CMS such as moodle or Blackboard as it provides a level playing field of information for all students. I think it is important however to train students and staff alike in what interactions are expected of them and how to use the information that is provided as part of an initial introduction. For example, tell students that all information will be posted as announcements on their CMS. Feedback will be sent to them and their teachers via the gradebook and set up a protocol for the answering of questions. All information should be in .pdf form and ideally labelled in a uniform way (although this could just be me being a tad OCD about filling). Staff throughout all courses/modules post links to the CMS in the same way so students do not have to learn a slight variation in the system for every module leader. As much as possible should be automated rather than 'on paper'. Although there is a level at which this becomes unrealistic. Discussion boards can be a fantastic learning tool but are worthless if they are not widely used, this also should be part of the induction packages that gives students an idea of what is expected of them and how they should be using the available forums. Likewise, in many content management systems there are a variety of methods for sending personal messages, along with institution emails and private emails. There should be a precedent set from the begging of the course regarding how students should contact various staff members.

In addition to this there is also the possibility of using social media to encourage learning and sharing of information, that however is for another post.