The following questions are some of the most common ones that first-time online instructors have about online classes and the WebCT courseware. WU Webtechs (webtech@washburn.edu)
Q: How do I get training?
TRAINING
A: The WebTechs offer training at least twice a semester, usually during the end of the second month of classes. Because of the low number of instructors available during the summer, there are no summer training sessions. To see the latest training schedule and to sign up, visit our web page: http://www.washburn.edu/its/seminars/webct.html
Q: What if I can’t make it to a training class?
A: Westrongly urge all online faculty to attend a training class. These classes are the best way to learn about WebCT. Faculty members at-a-distance (outside the Topeka area) may take our WebCT Faculty Training Course via WebCT. While WebCT does not encourage faculty be taught this way, we offer the online training as a matter of necessity. If you have already arranged for online training, or if you are a current faculty member who would like to refresh his/her skills, you will need to use your WebCT ID and Password to access the course. If you do not have an ID, please contact webtech@washburn.edu
Q: I want to communicate something to my students. Should I post it in the Discussions, Calendar, or a Content Module?
A: The best rule of thumb to repeat important information everywhere. If you want students to remember an ITV (Interactive TV) session or an upcoming exam, it is best to post the notice in numerous places. Make sure important dates are in your syllabus (or a separate class schedule, if you have one) in a Content Module. Also post ALL important dates to the Calendar. Finally, it doesn’t hurt to post reminders in the Discussions area.
Q: I want my students to read an essay I wrote. Should I post it in a Content Module or Discussions?
A: If the information you want to post is more than a couple of paragraphs, it would be better to upload it to a Content Module as an .html file. Also, remember that Discussions will not retain formatting unless you type in HTML code. So if your document has formatting, it should be uploaded to a Content Module. There is one more reason to use Content Modules over Discussion posts for information of this type. When a course is recreated for use a second time, the Discussions area (like Mail, Presentations, etc.) is usually reset. When this happens, all posts -- even those by the instructor -- are wiped clean. The Content Module stays intact.
Q: I don’t know how to write/convert documents into HTML. What do I do?
A: For your first two semesters of online teaching, the WebTechs will be happy to convert your documents to HTML and upload them to your course. The WebTechs do require that you turn in all requests two weeks in advance, and ask that you send electronic files not hard copy printouts.
Q: I want to have a quiz online, or maybe an assignment for the Assignments Dropbox. Is there a difference?
A: Think of Assignments as a place where students hand in papers. If you have students writing documentation, you probably want them to submit it to the Assignments Dropbox. (The exception to this is when you want them to see each other’s work. See the question about Presentations below). If you have a quiz/test/exam or survey that you want to place online, it would go under Quizzes.
Q: So, what’s the difference between the Assignments Dropbox and Presentations?
A: Whereas assignments submitted to the Assignments Dropbox are only viewable by the instructor, assignments submitted to Presentations are viewable by the whole class. Moreover, Presentations must be submitted in HTML (not as Word or Word Perfect documents). In addition, the instructor (or the WebTechs) must set up Groups for the presentations. This allows instructors to pair up classmates or set up even larger groups. Conversely, groups of one (a single student) can be created.
Q: A student dropped my class, what do I do?
A: One of the few things the WebTechs will not do is remove students from your class. Because of a number of issues involved, we ask that you Deny Access to the student rather than deleting him/her from your student roster. To do this, select the Manage Course link on your designer menu. From the Manage Course screen click on Manage Students. Select the student by clicking on the link in the first column of the student's record. The individual record will appear. Select the Deny Access button beneath the record. If you have multiple students whom you wish to Deny Access, you may do so in one swoop. After clicking Manage Students, choose "Select students to view" from the Manage Students action menu. Click Go. Put check marks only by those students you wish to select and click on the View button. When the selected students appear, choose "Deny student access" from the Manage Students action menu. This will Deny Access to all the students you are currently viewing.
Q: I have denied access to students who have dropped, but they are still taking up space like ghosts. Can you explain how to move students denied access to the end of the roster?
A: You can't move Denied Access students to the end. What you can do is hide them from your view by selecting the other students. To do this, go to Manage Students and choose "Select students to view" from the Manage Students action menu. Click Go. Put check marks only by those students you wish to see and click on the View button. If you ever want to see the whole roster again, you can select the "Show All" link at the top of your roster.
Q: Instead of denying access to this student, why can't I just remove him from the course?
A: If you delete a student from a course and they decide that, after all, they didn't want to drop the course, you and the student have lost all work up to that point that the student has done. The power to add or remove a student is strictly reserved for the Online Classes Administrator.
Q: How do I re-organize students in the roster so they appear in alphabetical order by last name?
A: To sort a roster by Last Name, go to Manage Students and click on the Last Name button at the top of the column. This also works for First Name, User ID, etc. The list will sort according to whichever button you select.
Q: How do I post quiz grades for students who took the exam in my office instead of on-line (due to one emergency or another)?
A: If your student mails you a hardcopy of a quiz or assignment, the easiest way to record the grade is to add a column to your Student Management. From Manage Course, select Add or Modify Columns. Under Modify Columns, select Add and click the Go button. Give it a name like Quiz 1 - Manual Entry. Make sure you choose the correct type (Alphanumeric, Numeric, Calculated, etc.). For most exams and assignments, you will want to choose Numeric.
Q: I have something I need the WebTechs to convert/create/upload for me. How far in advance do you need it? What will you or won’t you do?
A: For a faculty member in his/her first semester of online teaching, the WebTechs will do virtually everything necessary to create the course. Keep in mind that the start of each semester is very busy, so it is recommended that instructors begin creating content three months in advance. WebTechs will convert this content to HTML and upload it into the course. WebTechs will also generate question databanks and quizzes. All materials for online use – regardless if it is for Content Module, the Dropbox, or Quizzes – should be turned in to the WebTechs no later than two weeks before it is needed online. Anything later than that, and the WebTechs can not guarantee that the information will be uploaded on time.
Q: How much help can I get from the WebTechs? And how long will they be able to help me?
A: WebTechs, while continual and unceasing in their labors to make things as pleasant as possible for all parties involved in online learning, do have some limitations. As faculty members, you are entitled to full assistance from the WebTechs for your first semester teaching online. We will do (if possible) everything we can to get your course up and working for you. After that, as outlined by the below table, we expect you to learn some basic skills, and eventually become fairly autonomous in working with online courses.
- 1st Semester: Full assistance from WebTechs
- 2nd Semester: Syllabus tool, Discussion Messages and Topics, Mail, Calendar, Quizzes (Settings and Grading), Assignment Creation and Grading, Chat
- 3rd Semester: Content Modules (Add and Modify), Grade Book (Add/Modify Columns), Manage Students, Manage TAs (if option still available)
- 4th Semester: Quiz Creation, HTML Conversion, Quiz Question Databases, Presentations
Please note that these skill expectations are tied to the instructor, not the course he/she is teaching. An instructor who begins teaching a second course after one year of online teaching will be expected to have third semester skills.