Grading Non-WebCT Quizzes in WebCT

Sometimes we just want to give a quiz in class without the use of WebCT. The question becomes how to post those results so the stundents can view them on WebCT and so the grades avarage into our WebCT gradebook.

This white paper explains how to handle it.
http://www.ric.edu/faculty/revans/webct_files/Posting%20Grades%20for%20Quiz%20not%20Part%20of%20WebCT%20Quizzing.mht

Reducing File Sizes in WebCT

Not too many years ago we were careful about the size of our files. We had to be or they would not fit on a 1.44mb diskette. Now our digital cameras create pictures over 1mb each. But with computer hard drives reaching into the terabytes, it is easy not to pay attention to the size of the files we save.

WebCT is a great tool for faculty. It helps us organizers our courses in such a way that we have easy access to class materials and offer the same convenience to our students. Although it was designed to use HTML pages, WebCT accepts and displays all type of files and becomes a repository for all we decide to dump into it.

Why should we be concerned about file sizes? The more bloat on the WebCT server's hard drive, the slower it runs and the more frustrated our students and we become. We can control the size of our courses and here are some examples of what we can do.

http://www.ric.edu/faculty/revans/webct_files/Reducing%20File%20Sizes%20in%20WebCT.mht

Importing Calendar Entries

The Calendar Tool in WebCT is a great way to keep the students aware of what is due when, but it is a slow process to update especially at the beginning of a semester when multiple entries need to be added. Another approach is to create the entries in a comma delimited text file, and then import the data into the calendar all at once. Excel makes this task even easier. It is an efficient way for designers to add multiple calendar entries. WebCT allows the designer to import calendar entries from a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet.

http://www.ric.edu/faculty/revans/webct_files/Importing%20Calendar%20Entries.mht

Office 2007 issues with WebCT

Students are arriving with new computers and the new Office 2007 suite of applications. Some schools have already adopted the new software and teaching it begins this summer or fall. While getting prepared for an advanced office class this summer, I have run into more than one problem in WebCT--it does not recognize the X file formats!

The following White Paper describes each issue and suggests one or more work-arounds. From what I can see on the WebCT site, nothing is planned to correct the problem at this point. It affects versions CE 4.1 and CE 6 that I know of.

http://www.ric.edu/revans/webct_files/X%20Files%20in%20WebCT.mht

Tracking Students in WebCT

I strongly suggest to students a daily look at their WebCT account. They never know when I will be posting assignments, quizzes, new white papers, posting bulletins, or sending email. Missing an important email could be a critical mistake.

However, all I can do is suggest. They choose to take the suggestion seriously or not. In WebCT there is a way to monitor each student’s access to the various pages in WebCT.

This white paper walks you through the various tracking pages available within WebCT

http://www.ric.edu/revans/webct_files/Tracking%20Students%20in%20WebCT.mht

Grade Book Formulas

The fact that WebCT records grades and has a way to download those grades in a format which can be imported into Excel is convenient. However, the gradebook can do so much more. By adding calculation columns, WebCT will calculate grade averages and remove the need to download to Excel all together.

This White Papers details setting up formulas in the grade book:

http://www.ric.edu/revans/webct_files/Gradebook%20Formulas.mht

The Compile Button

In WebCT mail, there is a button allowing you to compile. Compile what? If you have taken any programming courses, you may think of this as a way to create an executable program. This is not the case at all. When mail is compiled it is merged into one printable file.

After a number of discussions with a particular student, you may want to review all the communications between you and s/he for the entire course. You can go through the emails one at a time and read/print them. This is time consuming and there is a possibility of missing one or two.

This White Paper explains how to use the Compile Button:

http://www.ric.edu/revans/webct_files/The%20Compile%20Button.mht