Introduction to WebCT

by Judy Griffin of Evergreen Valley College

WebCT is a tool that facilitates online education. This introduction will lead you through several exercises to help you get acquainted with WebCT and some of the expectations of an online course. Using WebCT, you will be able to log on to your course, read online materials, use course-specific email, post to a course discussion page, take online quizzes, and use a chat room.

The Internet is a complex network that relies on working connections at all points on the route.

WebCT, which relies on the Internet, is subject to all the technical problems and delays therein, so plan ahead. Avoid waiting until the assignment due date to complete your work.

System Requirements

Listed below are the minimum requirements for running WebCT. The site will operate better, of course, if your computer system functions at a higher level.

PC
Platform: Windows 95 or higher
CPU (Chip): Intel 486 100 mhz
Memory: 16 MB of RAM
Browser: Internet Explorer 4.1-5.0 (not 5.5+), Netscape 4.0-5.9 (not 6.0+)
MAC
Platform: OS 8.6 or higher
CPU: Motorola 68040 (Power PC recommended)
Memory: 16 MB of RAM
Browser: Internet Explorer 4.0-5.0 (not 5.5+), Netscape 3.0-5.9 (not 6.0+)

You will now connect to the Internet and logon to WebCT.

Use this Module as a Guide.

Because of variations between colleges, browsers and computer systems, what you see on your screen may differ from this module. Please use these directions as a guide.

For example, this module uses the course identifier "Intro to WebCT" II380 at Evergreen Valley College. The course title and number may differ at your college

Steps to logon to WebCT

Log on to the Internet. Although WebCT works with most Web browsers, Netscape and Internet Explorer seem to consistently work better. They can be found as free downloads on the Internet.

For the Intro to WebCT site, click on the following link (a new additional browser window will open): http://cvc2.org/webct/

WebCT Log On screen You are welcomed to the WebCT environment by this screen.

The first time you enter WebCT, you must successfully enter your WebCT student account, change your password, and add some other information to the account.

Click on the current college term shown here. [In this example, the term is Fall 2001.]

Enter your Username and Password

USER NAME and PASSWORD INFORMATION

Your user name is the first two letters of your first name; the first two letters of your last name; followed by the last four digits of your Student ID - in ALL CAPS without spaces.The default password is STUDENT in ALL CAPS.

For example, Maria Smith whose Student ID is 555552956 would log in as:

User Name: MASM2956
Password: STUDENT

Using the formula described above, enter your User Name (the first two letters of your first name; the first two letters of your last name; followed by the last four digits of your Student ID in ALL CAPS without spaces).

Type the password of STUDENT in all caps. You will change this generic password to one of your own choosing momentarily.

Note: Your password will always show as asterisks (*).

Click on

You should now be at your "myWebCT" page. The course(s) listed may be different on your screen.

WebCT Courses list

Steps to Change your Password and Logon Hint

On the "myWebCT" page there is a message advising you to change your password and password hint.

Let's do that now, following the instructions below.

Click on Change Password near the top of the screen.
Use this link to change your password

For your New Password

Do not use special personal codes like those used for your bank account.

Create/type a new password of at least four characters

Type the password again.

Click on the Update password link.

Click on the Continue link.
Success: Your password has been changed.

You are prompted to enter your new password again:
WebCT logon password dialog box

Click on the Change Logon Hint link near the top of the screen.
Use this link to change your Logon Hint

Enter your email address to receive confirmation your assignment submissions are received.

Enter a question and answer that the server personnel can ask you if you ever forget your password.

10.

Click on

11.

Click on the Return to myWebCT link.
Your Logon Hint has been updated

Save your ID and Password

Save your ID and password where you can easily refer to them.

To Start your Course

You are now ready to enter your course(s).

Click on "Intro to WebCT" or "Student Success" to enter the course and to continue learning how to use WebCT.

Course Homepage

The home page for Student Success or Intro to WebCT looks something like this. To navigate the course site, you may use either the icons in the center of the screen or the Course Menu at the left of the screen. Notice the red lettering for course News Flashes, which are important announcements or reminders that affect everyone in the course.

WebCT Homepage Icons The set of icons is used to access course materials, functions and activities. The icons commonly used on the homepage are listed below.
	Course Content and Materials has the Course Guide/Syllabus and other how-to materials.
	Communication Tools includes the Discussion, Chat and Mail features
	Assignments facilitates the submission of assignments.
	Evaluation Tools includes Practice Tests, Quizzes, My Grades and My Progress.

You are now ready to do WebCT Activity #1

In the WebCT Activity series, you will be answering questions and doing other activities worth a certain number of points as indicated. There are eight "activities" to help you become familiar with the features of WebCT. You are to send answers to the questions through WebCT's Assignments feature while doing WebCT Activity #6. You will be directed to type your answers into a word processor (Notepad, Word or WordPad). You may want to start typing that document as you work through the Activities, or just type it when you get to Activity #6.

To start WebCT Activity #1 from the "Intro to WebCT" homepage, click on the Course Content & Materials icon or link, and turn the page in the Intro to WebCT booklet, if you have one.