WebCT @ EMU

WebCT Vista is a Web-based course management system that allows faculty to put course materials and assignments online so that students can access it. Using a standard Web browser (preferably Internet Explorer, see computer requirements for specific information), WebCT provides instructors and students access to these materials anytime and anywhere an Internet connection is available.

Instructors and students with little or no knowledge of HTML can easily use this tool. Instructors often adopt WebCT for one or two particular features and then discover other tools as they become more familiar with online instruction and WebCT. There are many features. A quick summary of them includes:

Online Course Information

• Syllabus and Course Materials: Forms for creating and linking instructor and course materials. These tools require little or no knowledge of HTML. Course materials might include a syllabus, handouts, images, video, and audio.
• File Manager : File manager makes it possible to upload digital content and then link it into a course. This is useful for updating a course over several sections from semester to semester.
• Note Taking: A note pad is available for student note taking while progressing through a course.

Communication Tools

• E-mail: Class specific e-mail.
• Discussion Boards: Threaded discussions for promoting out-of-class electronic discussion and interaction.
• Chat and Whiteboard: Communication tools for real-time online interaction.

Feedback and Assessments

• Assignments: Assignment can be individualized or assigned to groups of students. Due dates and cutoff dates can be set, with feeback mechanisms to provide comments and encourage instructor-student interaction.
• Quizzes and Surveys: Online quiz builder which enables quizzes to be scored immediately with results being available to the instructor and student. Self-tests can be graded or ungraded.
• Grade Book: Online tool for automatically calculating student scores from quizzes, assignments and discussions. Additional columns can be manually added as needed. Grades can be released for student viewing.
• Progress Tracking: Course statistics enable the instructor to determine which students have accessed various parts of a course, how often and when.