Special Issue: WebCT Revolutionizes the University Environment

Inside this Issue
Faculty Reap the Benefits of Many Strong Relationships
UGA Professors Discuss WebCT
OISD and UCNS WebCT Workshops
Special Reference Insert

World Wide Web Course Tools (WebCT) is course management software that facilitates the creation of sophisticated Web-based educational environments.

WebCT arrived at the University of Georgia in the spring of 1997 when a group of faculty selected it to provide Web-based instructional resources for the campus. Since WebCT's arrival over 20,000 students and faculty have interacted with the software in more than 650 courses. In a little over a year the software has incorporated the vast resources available on the Internet into the landscape of the University of Georgia.

WebCT was created by Murray W. Goldberg, a faculty member at the University of British Columbia. It is a tool that can be used to create entire on-line courses, such as the ones in the University System Independent Study Program, or to provide supplementary materials or resources for existing courses.

WebCT supplies many features that enhance the learning opportunities on the web. Some features of WebCT are: a bulletin board for encouraging group discussions, a chat facility, private class e-mail, auto-graded on-line tests, student progress tracking, group project organization, student self-evaluation, grade maintenance and distribution, access control, navigation tools, automatic index generation, course calendar software, student home pages, course content searches, audio, video, picture/graphics databases, and much more. WebCT is considered a restricted environment because each student needs a login and a password to access course materials.

WebCT is supported centrally by University Computing and Networking Services (UCNS) and the Office of Instructional Support & Development (OISD). Staff from both organizations are available to assist in using WebCT. A listserv (arch-www@uga.cc.uga.edu) where you can post questions and receive information about changes and upgrades to WebCT is available.

WebCT workshops are offered by OISD and UCNS each semester. All of the workshops are conducted in the OISD classroom, Journalism 275, which is across the plaza from OISD. Check the UGA WebCT web page or the OISD web page for a current schedule of workshops and seminars. For information about departmental or group workshops or individual consultation call OISD at (706)542-1355.

[Photograph: George Matthews of University Computing and Networking Services leads a WebCT workshop in the OISD classroom.]