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[zuzu_]

4. Rich content. Students lose my lectures but gain web exhibits, primary source databases, popular and academic history articles, podcasts, vidcasts, and blogs relevant to the course. They hardly miss me at all...

Inspired by larryc's comment, I'd like to start a whole new thread on this topic. Where have you found great content for your online course?

Here are some of my favorites:

For pretty much any topic, search www.npr.org with some key words. I've found so much relevant, compelling content. Anything from a recording of Carl Sandburg reading poetry, to a story about Muslim fanaticism in London, to a Talk of Nation conversation with Tim O'Brien about how war changes the warrior.

For poetry readings and author biographies, search Garrison Keillor's Writer's Almanac http://writersalmanac.publicradio.org/

For narratives, I've linked to stories on www.thislife.org, www.thestory.org, www.themoth.org, and www.storycorps.org. Most recently, for a unit in African American literature and the vernacular tradition, I've found contemporary stories in the griot tradition http://www.storycorps.org/listen/stories/category/griot and recordings of oral histories of slaves at the library of congress http://www.loc.gov/podcasts/slavenarratives/index.html

For interviews with authors, Charlie Rose has an awesome video library. I recent linked to an interview with Jhumpa Lahiri (there were SIX (!) to choose from ) http://www.charlierose.com/guest/grid/all

For short films, I use stuff from Independent Lens http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/insideindies/shortsfest/ ; IFC http://www.ifc.com/videos/shorts/drama/ ; and LOGO http://www.logoonline.com/video/franchise.jhtml?ctid=1930

[larryc]

Zuzu, you should blog this stuff!

[marigolds]

Agree with Larry.  Maybe you should write a hypertextbook on how to teach online, and charge like $10 for downloads, and make your fortune!

Bookmarking so that this will show up in my new posts lists forever. 

[mystictechgal]

Those are some incredible sites, Zuzu.  I was familiar with NPR and Keillor's site, but not the rest of them.  Some really cool stuff on them.  Thanks.

[kedves]

I use thislife.org for "This American Life," but I feel hypocritical because I can't stand to listen to narrated content unless I'm driving. 

Frontline, the PBS documentary series, is a good resource.  I use it mostly for the classic programs such as Jane Elliott's experiments ("A Class Divided").

I agree, you should have a blog, Zuzu.  This sort of thing is hard to find and much appreciated.

[brooklynny]

For economic issues: the planet money podcast is fantastic site http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/
Also the blog: baseline scenario http://baselinescenario.com/

Urban Institute and Chapin Hall run wonderful webcasts about contemporary social problems (lots of child welfare)

Bill Moyers Journal is also awesome on contemporary issues/current events and you can get it streaming or in podcast: http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/index-flash.html

[niceday]

thanks!

[collegekidsmom]

Librarians will find this information useful as well. Thanks.