Integrating WebCT With Your Classroom Choosing Your Level of WebCT Usage

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Integrating WebCT With Your Classroom- Choosing
Your Level of WebCT Usage

• Don Bell Web Learning ConsultantHenry Scarton
  - Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering
  Mechanics
• http//www.rpi.edu/web/webct/instr/colloquium.ppt
• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• May 11, 2004

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Choosing Your Level of WebCT Usage

• Level 1 - Administrative Use
• Level 2 - Supplemental Use
• Level 3 - Essential Use
• Level 4 - Communal Use
• Level 5 - Fully Online Use
• Adapted from The five levels of web use in
  education Factors to consider in planning online
  course, by S. W. Harmon and M. G. Jones, 1999,
  Educational Technology, 39(6), p. 28-32.

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Level 1 - Administrative Use

• easiest/simplest level of use
• most courses benefit from admin usage
• instructors can begin at Level 1 and progress to
  higher levels over time
• admin information, course syllabus or outline,
  assignment list, contact info
• course content is not included at this level

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Level 1 - Administrative Use RPI
Templatehttp//webct.rpi.edu/public/level1/
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Level 2 Supplemental Use

• most courses benefit from this usage level
• contains course content that supports classroom
  activity but is not critical for success -
  lecture notes, handouts, PowerPoint slides,
  articles, web links
• benefits students who might have missed class,
  not received handouts, etc.
• includes admin level information

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Level 2 Supplemental Use RPI Templatehttp//web
ct.rpi.edu/public/level2/
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Level 2 Supplemental Use Example
http//webct.rpi.edu/public/ECSE_4220_01_0401/

• All the course content materials for this course
  are in WebCT. The lecture notes (in PDF format)
  are made available in WebCT at least 2 hours
  before the lecture.

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Level 3 Essential Use

• student cannot be a productive member of the
  class without regular web access
• most content provided through website
• significant time investment required to
  create/convert content
• instructor/designer/TA skill requirements higher
  need web literacy, basic instructional design,
  web page/site design

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Level 3 Essential Use RPI Templatehttp//webct.
rpi.edu/public/level3/
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Level 3 Essential Use RPI Template
http//webct.rpi.edu/public/level3/
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Level 3 Essential Use Examplehttp//webct.rpi.e
du/public/ECSE_4750_02_0401/

• Grades, comments, help and example programs are
  maintained on the WebCT site for this course.
• Computer assignments are submitted via the WebCT
  mailbox.

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Level 3 Essential Use Exampleshttp//webct.rpi.
edu/public/ECSE_4750_02_0401/
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Level 3 Essential Use Example
http//webct.rpi.edu/public/ECSE_2660_00_0401/
WebCT used for- FAQs, Q A in Discussion
tool- Calendar for assignments, handouts,
schedule, announcements- Content 149
documents- Grades management distribution-
Content references- Contact information
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Level 3 Essential Use Examplehttp//webct.rpi.e
du/public/ECSE_2660_00_0401/
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Level 3 Essential Use Examplehttp//webct.rpi.e
du/public/CSCI_1100_00_0401/

• WebCT contains
• all handouts
• lecture materials
• important announcements
• homework assignments
• studio exercises and solutions (after they are
  due)

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Level 3 Essential Use Exampleshttp//webct.rpi.
edu/public/CSCI_1100_00_0401/
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Level 4 Communal Use

• still face-to-face time (perhaps less often)
• web site central focus of course activity
• constructivist approach to instruction -
  students generate much of course content through
  online discussions, chat sessions, range of
  web-based activities
• requires much higher levels of instructional
  design skill and IT support
• only appropriate for a few RPI courses

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Level 4 Communal Use RPI Templatehttp//webct.rp
i.edu/public/level4/
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Level 4 Communal Use RPI Templatehttp//webct.rp
i.edu/public/level4/
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Level 4 Communal Use Examplehttp//webct.rpi.edu
/public/MGMT_6350_0101/
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Level 4 Communal Use Examplehttp//webct.rpi.edu
/public/MGMT_6350_0101/
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Level 5 Fully Online Use

• course entirely online, no face-to-face
• This level should be a sophisticated,
  constructivist virtual learning community
  (Harmon Jones, page 29).
• students and instructor need sufficient technical
  skills for successful course
• difficult to develop/manage unless an EWP
  sponsored course with dedicated support resources

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Level 5 Fully Online Use Examplehttp//www.webc
t.com/exemplary/viewpage?nameexemplary_2003_danch
ak
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Level 5 Fully Online Use Examplehttp//www.webc
t.com/exemplary/viewpage?nameexemplary_2003_danch
ak

• Students expected to complete weekly readings
  prior to each online synchronous session
• Synchronous Sessions - the class meets for
  approximately one hour each week using on-line
  chat followed by studio exercises. Students
  expected to make the most of these meetings,
  complete studio exercises, and participate in the
  discussions.
• Asynchronous SessionsMost of the course content
  is delivered on-line. Students are expected to
  participate in discussions and activities,
  individually and in groups using WebCT.

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RPI Example of Level 3 - Essential
UseEngineering Dynamics WebCT Course Sites

• essential use course site - students must use
  site for homework assignments/grades
• syllabus, homework assignments and exam solutions
  in Acrobat (pdf) format
• homework assignments within a WebCT content
  module Maple/MatLab/SolidWorks application files
  included with homework
• grades/schedule in Excel spreadsheet

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RPI Example of Level 3 - Essential
UseEngineering Dynamics WebCT Course Sites

• multi-section course site integration
• main course site for core course content
• sections sites for section grades only
• students have access to main site and their
  section site move easily between sites
• saves professors duplication of effort
  uploading/maintaining content and reduces disk
  space usage

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RPI Example of Level 3 - Essential
UseEngineering Dynamics WebCT Course Sites

• Some advantages of using WebCT
• paperless - saves time - no photocopying, no
  handouts in class all relevant course content,
  info on the site
• more content notes web site links
• can reduce office hours answers, solutions,
  grades available online
• Can improve organizational structure

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RPI Example of Level 3 - Essential
UseEngineering Dynamics WebCT Course Sites

• Some advantages of using WebCT
• electronic content notes easier to read, access,
  update than hand-written notes
• can distribute electronic files (e.g. MatLab,
  Maple, etc.) and grades to class
• can collect assignments in electronic format
  easier to read, grade

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RPI Example of Level 3 - Essential Use
Engineering Dynamics Main WebCT Site Homepage
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RPI Example of Level 3 - Essential Use
Engineering Dynamics Main Site - Syllabus
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RPI Example of Level 3 - Essential Use
Engineering Dynamics Main Site - Homework
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RPI Example of Level 3 - Essential Use
Engineering Dynamics Main Site - Exam Solutions
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RPI Example of Level 3 - Essential Use
Engineering Dynamics Section 1 Site - Grades
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RPI Example of Level 3 - Essential Use
Engineering Dynamics Section 1 Site Grade
Spreadsheet
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Summary - Choosing Your Level of WebCT Usage

• consider the 5 levels of WebCT usage when
  designing/redesigning your WebCT course site
• - Level 1 - Administrative Use
• Level 2 - Supplemental Use
• Level 3 - Essential Use
• Level 4 - Communal Use
• Level 5 - Fully Online Use

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Summary - Choosing Your Level of WebCT Usage

• Factors in choosing a level of usage
• your level of technical expertise
• your students level of technical expertise
• your teaching style, students learning styles
• what seems to work best for your subject
  particular course