A Simple MVC-Framework for Local Management of Online Course Material

Abstract

Managing online materials for large classes can be time-consuming and error prone. In particular, it can be challenging to manage long lists of students, lecture progress, and auditorium schedules as these often change on a daily basis. We therefore introduce a simple Model-View-Controller (MVC) framework implemented in Excel that can help teachers handle daily tasks more efficiently. Examples include how to generate lecture plans, student presentation schedules, and peer-review plans for students. The authors have successfully used the system for more than five years in several courses. The framework simplifies the task of reusing material from one teaching semester to another. Teachers only need to focus on the content and not the visual appearance.