--- Forwarded Message from Rob Reynolds <[log in to unmask]> --- >Date: Tue, 22 Oct 2002 14:44:19 -0500 >From: Rob Reynolds <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: Re: #6909 Quia materials for Spanish textbook >In-reply-to: <[log in to unmask]> >To: Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum <[log in to unmask]> ------------------ Carroll, I've used the Quia materials with Plazas and have also used Quia for some time as a supplement to other language and non-language courses. I have found their materials, support, and general infrastructure to be outstanding. Their java-based applications are bandwidth-friendly (many of my students have used this over a phone modem quite successfully) and their response to user needs has been outstanding. And, lest I sound like too much of a homer regarding hosted applications, let me add that this has not been my experience with other companies offering hosted applications. Quia's advantage is that most of the employees are ex-Oracle workers and their database structures are efficient and very robust. I have been happy enough with their product that, back when budgets were good, I even considered hiring them to provide an alternative course management system for our university. Hope this helps. Rob Reynolds, Ph.D. Director, IT User Services University of Oklahoma (405) 613-5319 [log in to unmask] On Tuesday, October 22, 2002, at 02:22 PM, LLTI-Editor wrote: > --- Forwarded Message from Carroll Hightower > <[log in to unmask]> --- > >> Date: Mon, 21 Oct 2002 14:29:41 -0500 (CDT) >> From: Carroll Hightower <[log in to unmask]> >> Reply-To: [log in to unmask] >> To: [log in to unmask] >> Subject: Quia materials for Spanish textbook > > ------------------ > > Hi, everyone! I wonder if any of y'all can help us out here. In our > department we have been using the elementary Spanish textbook "Sabias > que...?" (third edition) for some time now, along with workbook > exercises > in electronic format. Currently we are using Mallard to deliver these > exercises via the Web to about 800 students of Spanish; now > McGraw-Hill, > the publisher of "Sabias que...?" plans to offer the materials in > electronic workbook format through the Quia website. I am familiar > with > Quia as a site where you can design your own exercises, but was > wondering > if anyone else out there had any experience using textbook materials > offered for purchase and use through Quia. Currently we run our own > Mallard server on campus, and therefore can offer students a rapid > response time to problems and issues. We wonder what it would be like > to > have these materials reside on an off-campus server, what Quia's > support > is like, about privacy issues, etc. Currently only one other > McGraw-Hill > textbook, "Vistazos," has a similar workbook offered through Quia. I'm > also aware of a Heinle and Heinle book, "Plazas," that has accompanying > Quia materials. I'd be interested in any experiences you could share > with > me. We want to ensure that our students have the best experience > possible > with these materials! > > Thanks so much in advance for your time, > > Carroll > > ========== > > Carroll Hightower > Director > Language Resource Center > University of Mississippi > [log in to unmask] > 662.915.6981