James A. Rhodes State College

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WebCT Overview

WebCT means Web Course Tools.  This is an online education course management package that  offers tools to aid in the offering of online courses.  Your instructor may choose to use all of these tools or maybe just a few of them.  Feel free to explore your course WebCT site.  If a tool is visible to you, you have permission to explore it.  We want your experience with WebCT to be as pleasant and informative as possible.

As a student you may want more information on these tools.  The main WebCT page is http://www.webct.com/ and there is a link from this page to a specific student area called the Student Resource Center.  If you are inside your course, clicking the e-Learning Hub link takes you to the same place.  This is also the place where you can purchase a PIN code (also called a student access code).  This code is required in courses where the instructor is using publisher-ready course material.

Use the link below to check to see if your Web browser is correctly configured to use WebCT.

WebCT Browser Tuneup

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Below is a list of the tools you will find in WebCT.  Not all tools are used in all courses.

The syllabus should give you an overview of the expectations for the entire course. This is where you should find lecture information or your course handbook. Use the compile tool to gather together the Content information and create one large file that prints easily. The calendar should contain important dates set by your instructor.  You can create private calendar entries for yourself. This tool lets you quickly search the course site using keywords. Contains special terms as determined by your instructor or the course publisher if using a textbook publisher site.

WebCT's internal email is designed to keep correspondence within the course.  It is made specifically available to registered course users. The Bulletins/Discussions tool allows for asynchronous discussion.  A topic may be posted, and students can respond whenever the check the Discussions area. The Chat tool enables synchronous discussion.  The chat room discussions are recorded by WebCT and the instructor may check or post the transcript at a later time. The White Board allows the instructor to upload a graphic and then all participants may mark or diagram that graphic.

This area allows for student downloading of assignment documents and then the uploading of completed assignments for instructor evaluation. Self tests are practice tests that instructors or textbook publishers build into the course.  Self test scores are not recorded and are for student benefit only.  Self tests may also be built into the content area of the course. What we call exams, WebCT calls quizzes.  This is the area where many instructors build in course assessment.  See Taking a WebCT Quiz for more quiz information. Go to this area to see a listing of grades for the course exercises.  Not all instructors have set up this area for student view.

This tool shows where you have been inside the course.  Your instructor has this same tool available so he/she can see what course pages you have viewed, what days you were in the course, and whether you have read or posted to course discussions. Your instructor may assign group or individual presentations to be uploaded into the course. If the instructor allows, students may be permitted to create personal pages as a way of introducing themselves to the rest of the class.