If you are like me, then you are technologically savvy enough to navigate the Internet - enjoying the occasional video, buying music, emailing for work and personal needs, uploading photos and links, joining groups, playing games, catching up with old friends, or promoting either or both business and pleasure on social network websites. I have no technology background yet years of exposure to the dear old world wide web has taught me a thing or two.

As online teaching and learning technology improves, distance learning students will find technology that is straightforward and simple to use with no more knowledge or skill required than what most of us already have.

So, distance learning students, check out a few of these online teaching and learning technologies that are currently being used at both online and campus-based colleges and universities:

1. A Wiki is a database or a bunch of linked web pages and new pages can be created and existing pages can be edited by multiple users.
2. A webconference is an online meeting via the Internet where teachers and students can communicate thoughts, ideas, and presentation materials in real time.
3. Blackboard is what is called a learning management system that provides an online forum for students and instructors to post and share anything from grades, quizzes and other content. Blackboard also offers a tool called “Learning Objects” that allows for blogs and wikis.

Any of you distance learning students out there know of any other cool online teaching and learning technologies? Feel free to share your experiences in the comments section below!