WebCT as a Tool in Distance Learning

1
WebCT as a Tool in Distance Learning

• Murali Shanker
• Department of MIS
• College of Business

2
Why WebCT?

• Flexibility to organize online content
• Several tools for student management and
  evaluation
• Standard and extended tools for student
  interaction
• Synchronization with other campus systems
• Help and support

3
Why Not WebCT?

• File management
• Web interface requirements

4
Class Characteristics

• Fundamentals of Business Statistics
• Required for all business students
• Two traditional (in-class) sections are offered
  each term
• Web class being offered for the first time this
  term
• Enrollment In-class 300 Web 30

5
Class Characteristics (cont.)

• Emphasis on real-world applications
• Information gathering exercises
• 8 quizzes and 3 examinations
• Several extra-credit quizzes
• Multiple surveys

6
Study Aids

• Online lectures with audio and animation
• Interactive exercises
• Lets Do It! Problems
• Chapter exercises
• Practice quizzes

7
Evaluation Tools

• Online quizzes
• Extra credit quizzes
• Examinations Online for web students, and
  in-class for traditional students

8
Communication Tools

• E-mail
• Chat
• Whiteboard
• Bulletin board

9
My Tools

• Dreamweaver (for HTML, JavaScript)
• Flash (for audio, text, and animation)
• Java (for animation)
• Adobe Photoshop / Imageready
• SAMBA / WebDAV for connecting to server
• Netscape 4.76, Mozilla 0.7, Internet Explorer 5.5
  (dont use), Opera 5.02

10
Suggestions

• Keep only secure materials on WebCT site. All
  other materials, keep on your (or Kent) server.
• Stick to 4.0 browsers, and avoid IE 5.5 or
  Netscape 6.0.

11
Conclusions

• For the most part, WebCT does provide a
  comprehensive approach to delivering online
  content.