Side Image
Page Banner
WebCT for Faculty

Welcome to the MSOE/WebCT Connection. The following will introduce you to WebCT and give you information on how it can be integrated into your courses.


What is WebCT?  
WebCT is course management software that facilitates the creation of web-based educational environments. One misconception is that WebCT is strictly for online courses. That is not the case. Rather, WebCT uses a web browser as the interface to accessing course materials. This is no different, in some respects, than what many MSOE faculty are currently practicing - using the Internet for delivery of course materials. What sets WebCT apart is that it offers a suite of tools to enhance course web sites, including a course calendar, electronic mail, conferencing system, on-line chat, student progress tracking, grade maintenance and distribution, auto-marked quizzes, automatic index generation, course content searching, access control, and much more. Faculty can choose which tools to employ and/or make available different tools at different times during the course.

How are MSOE faculty using WebCT?  
Here are some of the ways MSOE faculty are currently using WebCT.

Syllabus
Providing a syllabus to students is one of the simpler uses for WebCT. Putting the syllabus in WebCT gives students constant and immediate access to the course syllabus.

Handouts
Many faculty are using WebCT to distribute course handouts. In some cases, WebCT is used as backup to in-class handouts. In other cases, handouts are posted to WebCT for student downloading. This provides a convenient way to make handouts available without incurring unnecessary copier costs.

Lecture Notes/PowerPoint Presentations
If you are using PowerPoint for your lectures, you can provide students with a text version of the PowerPoint presentation or the PowerPoint slides. This makes an excellent way for students to review lecture material for exams and quizzes. It also ensures student note taking includes the essential material you are covering in your lectures.

Communication Tools
WebCT provides an array of communication tools that enrich the learning experience.

    Mail: WebCT has a class e-mail system that enables faculty to have a centralized location for student e-mail. Since this is a closed system, no extraneous spam or outside e-mail is received. Rather, the e-mail is limited to students and the instructor. For example, having students submit assignments via WebCT e-mail provides you with a permanent record of student submissions.

    Discussion Board: This is an asynchronous discussion board that can increase student participation. Posting a topic and requiring student discussion can elicit responses from students who normally do not participate in classroom discussions. Another use is to post short assignments, with students being able to view others' responses or answers to the assignment.

    Chat Room: While real-time chat is mostly associated with an online course, this function has also proven useful for classes where students work in teams. Students have requested access to the chat function so that they can collaborate online and minimize face-to-face meetings and the inherent logistics problems.

    Calendar: The online calendar is an easy way to have a centralized location of due dates, events, and test dates. In addition, if dates change, the WebCT calendar tool is a good way to inform everyone at once of the change.

    Whiteboard: WebCT provides a digital whiteboard, which the instructor can draw on, and students can see in real time (synchronously).

Student Grade Books
One feature that students overwhelmingly comment positively about is the access to grade reports that WebCT provides. The WebCT grade book function allows faculty to post grades for assignments, quizzes/exams, and other graded material in a secure, password-protected environment. Students can quickly determine their class standing. This also allows faculty to release grade statistics including mean, median, and range of grades for an exam or other activity.

Online Quiz/Survey
WebCT has several powerful tools to enable online homework, quizzes, testing, and evaluations. This can reduce the costs of printed test materials, as well as minimize the time spent scoring exams, and returning the results to students. In addition to saving faculty time, students also like the immediate feedback that is optional in an online exam.

Take a tour of WebCT  
If you would like to see how some MSOE faculty are currently using WebCT, send an e-mail to the WebCT coordinator (Mary Jo Suminski) and you will be sent instructions for accessing WebCT.

How do I get access to WebCT?  
Send an e-mail request to the WebCT coordinator (Mary Jo Suminski) identifying the courses AND sections that you want on WebCT. You must carbon copy your department chair in this e-mail request. You will be notified when your course or courses have been placed on WebCT.

How do I use WebCT?  
A number of tutorials are available for WebCT. A tutorial that provides a quick overview of setting up the major elements of WebCT is available by clicking here. In addition, once you have entered the WebCT web site, visit the WebCT Resources web pages.

Where are my WebCT courses?  
If you need to access your courses on WebCT, they are located at: webct.msoe.edu