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WebCT Overview

WebCT (Web Course Tools) is one of many Web-based educational environments (LMS - Learning Management Systems) available today. WebCT is easy to use and one can create sophisticated Web-based courses that otherwise might be beyond the reach of someone without programming experience. WebCT can be used to create entire online courses, or supplemental sites for existing courses that use only a few of the available components. WebCT both provides the environment for Web-based courses and the interface for the instructor to build these courses.

What is a Web-based Environment?

A Web-based environment is an integrated set of course tools that provides functions for:

Information distribution
Communication
Student Assessment
Class Management

A Web-based environment offers a consistent integrated course environment for the learner and integrated management and development functions for the course designer/developer/instructor. While it is possible to develop a course Web site and use a variety of additional Web tools (e-mail, etc.), a well developed integrated system will bring together components and the whole will be more than the sum of the parts. An environment can provide a "sense of place" or a "virtual classroom" to quote one of our faculty, Victoria Dowling of the University Without Walls.

Features of Importance to Faculty for a Web-based Environment

Asynchronous communication (bulletin boards, etc.)
Synchronous communications (chat, whiteboard)
On-line quizzes
An easy way to manage and to put course content on-line
Access control (password protection)
Student progress tracking
A method to keep grades on-line
The ability to use standard html for course content

WebCT Tools

Communication

Asynchronous - Calendar, Bulletin Board (with private, multiple forums, attachments), e-mail (internal with attachments; forwarding to Internet address without attachments)
Synchronous - Chat, Whiteboard

Student Assessment

Quizzes with automarking (multiple choice, matching, short answer, calculated)
Essay/paragraph quizzes, not autograded survey, self tests, student progress & tracking, student results management
Assignments (dropbox) that may include instructor files and/or student files; graded by instructor
Surveys, self-tests, student progress & tracking, and student grade management capabilities.

Class Management

Student database management, result release, online marking of quizzes
Tracking student participation

Course Management

Course Backup (stored with course; can also be downloaded and used to populate new courses)
File upload/download (zip/unzip support or WebDAV drag/drop)

Course Content and Student Study Tools

Content Modules, Index , Glossary, Search, Image Database, Compile, Calendar, CD-ROM content integration, Student Presentations, Student Homepages