TECHNOLOGY WORKSHOP:

Course Material on the Web and WebCT

Purdue University North Central,

15 August 2002 

Jonathan Kuhn,

Revised 6 August 2002

What sort of course material can be posted on the web and WebCT?

• contact (syllabus) information

• deadlines for course assignments

• homework assignments

• previous (practice) quizzes, tests, finals

• (appropriately disguised) scores, grades

• off campus course-related web links

• lecture notes (web*)

• online quizzes and homework assignments (WebCT*)

Why post course material on the web and WebCT?

• Pros

  • convenient distribution of course material (web*)

  • interactive, timed, graded, quizzes and homework assignments (WebCT*)

• Cons

  • time consuming

  • copyright issues

My experience with the web and WebCT

•  started using internet fall 1995 (Michigan)

•  PDF (portable document file) files, fall 1996 (Minnesota)

• computer projection of internet material, spring 1998 (PU/NC)

• portable computer projection, spring 1999

• dual class-online course, STAT 301, fall 1998

• WebCT online quizzes, STAT 301, spring 2001

• online enhanced class, WebCT online quizzes, STAT 503, fall 2001

• pure online course, STAT 301i, spring 2002

• online homework assignments, STAT 301i, spring 2002

• online homework assignments, STAT 503, fall 2002

An example

STAT 301i Elementary Statistical Methods

How to get started

There is presently only ad-hoc support for getting started in posting material on the web at PNC.  WebCT is based and supported from West Lafayette.    

TECHNOLOGY WORKSHOP:

WebCT

Purdue University North Central,

15 August 2002 

Julie-Ann M. McFann, Ph.D.

Revised 6 August 2002

What is WebCT?

WebCT stands for Web Course Tutor.  It is a web-based software tool that allows an entire course (or part of a course) to be given online. 

•  online tests and homework assignments

•  automatic grading

• discussion (asynchronous or synchronous)

• posting of course material (syllabus, lecture notes, homework assignments and so on)

• student workgroups

• student presentation pages

Why use WebCT?

• Pros

  • allows online tests and homework assignments

  • works anywhere there is a computer with an internet connection

  • convenient asynchronous learning

  • automatic testing  and grading for class-based courses

  •       discussions are threaded and do not fill up email inboxes

  • site is private and can only be accessed via password

  •   tracks students’ page visits (can see if students actually visited assigned pages) and number of posts

  •       can ‘supervise’ student workgroups

• Cons

  • less human contact

  • easy for students to cheat on unsupervised tests

  • time consuming to set up and support

  •     students’ real or imagined access to technology

  •       supported from West Lafayette

  • students encounter technological problems that keeps them from accessing site

Examples

STAT 301i Elementary Statistical Methods  (online course)

EDPS235: Learning and Motivation  (hybrid course)

 Things to consider

•       For a hybrid class, how will having WebCT enhance student learning?
•    Although knowledge of http is not required, it is helpful
• Training sessions and technological support are in West Lafayette

How to get started

Go to the multimedia instructional development center (West Lafayette) web link and sign up for a course on how to use WebCT.

http://www.midc.purdue.edu/webct/index.asp

When requesting a WebCT course, make sure you note that you are at PNC and need the WebCT2 server.