Acknowledgements

The development and teaching of this course was funded with a generous grant by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education, which awarded me a South Carolina Instructional Technology Incentive Grant in 1999.  My own campus also provided a great deal of both financial and moral support, and I'd like to thank Dean Joseph Pappin III, Associate Dean Deborah Cureton, and Professor John Catalano, all of whom provided administrative help and support in both securing the grant and in teaching the course.  Professor Lynn Weber, Director of the Women's Studies Program, provided encouragement, support, and all the resources of the program; Jackie McClary and Rosa Thorne—thank you for being only a phone call away.  Many other colleagues helped me in establishing and offering the course, and in my thinking and writing for this article:  on the Lancaster campus, I owe thanks to Professors Lori Harris and Bruce Nims; in Columbia, I'd like to thank Associate Vice Provost Carolyn West for both her counsel and care.  The staff at Distance Education and Instructional Support were wonderful; thanks to all there, but especially to Susan Bridwell, Carolyn Champion, Mike Sox, and Doris Stephens.  Thanks also to Fran Perry, Professor of Art here at USCL, for the wonderful painting on the home page of the article, and to Dabney and Walker Sanders for permission to reproduce the image.

Nancy Hart and Lewis Zeigler served in the Fall semester as the administrator and support staff for Blackboard; without their help . . . . Well, I prefer not to consider the alternatives.  Nancy particularly has saved my life often enough to qualify her for any lifesaver's badge.  Both responded quickly, at times even instantly, and they always worked with unfailing good humor, which helped me keep mine as well.  Thank you, thank you!

All the students enrolled in WOST J111 demonstrated exceptional patience and willingness to persevere in the face of fairly constant technical problems, and furthermore, most also showed great intellectual curiosity about our course content and methods.  I came to know many of these students at least as well as (if not better than) I know those I teach in person each semester.  It was a pleasure to work with all of you.

I particularly owe a profound thank you to the colleagues, friends, and family whom I hope missed me very much during my absence.  My Arts & Sciences lunch partners, Professor Fran Perry and Professor Todd Scarlett, had to drag me away from my office and my email many a day for sustenance.  My friend Professor Lisa Long of North Central College listened supportively when I talked (endlessly, I'm sure it must have seemed) about the course, and helped me stay grounded in the content the course was designed to deliver when I got sidetracked by the method of delivery.  My extended family very nicely just complimented me on my weight loss without remarking on my haggard appearance.  And I'd especially like to thank my husband Chris and my daughter Laura, who welcomed me back home without ever having made me feel guilty for being so preoccupied with work, however valuable and rewarding.  Next time will be less stressful for us all....  :)