I don't really know how innovative I have been. I have generally incorporated the stuff learned in the workshops into each of the courses I currently teach. Here's a brief description of what I have done:
Microsoft PowerPoint:
I really love this program. I'm at a point where I don't feel comfortable without access to a teaching bunker so I can use PowerPoint when I teach. I have taken advantage of the library's electronic reserve to put my PowerPoint slides on reserve. I have been able to include graphics and video in my presentations and then put that material on reserve. The students have had no problem getting to the material. The reserve material has to be prepared using Adobe Acrobat Exchange. I recommend folks learn how to use Exchange.
Communications:
I have listservs for all my classes. I find a great way to get people to use the listserv is to post test grades only via the listserv. I have had no problem teaching students to use e-mail and other informatic stuff like Netscape and the WWW. I have students take advantage of on-line resources in preparing term papers. Students seem to really dig the net and are very motivated to surf. In messages I get from students, they say things like "Thanks for opening my eyes to the net" or "The internet is really great." Some students seem to complain about getting a lot of messages via the listserv (perhaps because they are on a lot of listservs already).
Future:
I'm really intrigued by preparing a web-page for my classes. I'm going to try to teach one day a week of one class via the web Fall semester. I'm also working on a project with a colleague, Mary Beth Oliver, to develop web materials for teaching social science research methods.
For additional information on this innovation, contact:
spatters@vt.edu