When deciding which blocks to display, consider the comfort level of your students. If they're experienced Web surfers, they may be comfortable with a full complement of blocks displaying information about the course. Experienced Web surfers are adept at ignoring information they don't need (when was the last time you paid attention to a banner ad on the Web?). If your students are new computer users, they may assume that the presence of a block means that it requires their attention or interaction. And remember that you can turn blocks off and on, as needed.

In the next chapter, we will look at features that help teachers in managing their courses, specifically grading and activity logs.