Communication is crucial to students' learning process. Before the beginning of each course, I found it is helpful to conduct an online survey to better know my students (click here to read my sample survey): who they are, where they have been, what they already knew, what they want to do. Inside the classroom, I'd like to use questions and discussions to interact with students and to better understand students' individual expectations, interests and concerns. Outside the classroom, I always stay in touch with my students through email. Below is a snapshot of Penn State Angel email system used in Soils 101 (University Park, fall 2007).

Other communication features of Penn State Angel include discussion boards, live chats, announcements, news, and polls. Below is a demonstration of the discussion boards used in Turf 235 (world campus, fall 2007).