WebCT news at SFU

As the end of classes approaches, enclosed are some quick links to information on moving grades to SIMS, adding co-instructors and advance preparation for the next semester.

Move Final Grades to SIMS

Save time in calculating final grades: if you have access to the TEACH tab in WebCT, you can use the Grade Book to create a file that is ready for uploading final grades to SIMS. Step by step instructions are available here: http://wiki.sfu.ca/webct/index.php/Student_grades#WebCT_grades_and_SIMS

Course Tools: modify access dates and add co-instructors

The WebCT administrators at Simon Fraser University have recently added a new tool called “Course Tools”. Once you add the tool to your WebCT course container, you are able to add and remove members (Primary Instructors, Instructors, Designers, Teaching Assistants and Auditors), and be able to modify the start and end date access of your course container. To add the “Course Tools”, please consult the following instructions.

Request new course container

Get ready for the new semester planning: beat the early semester rush and request your Spring 2009 WebCT course container now. Use the course request form found at: http://webct.sfu.ca

How did the fall semester go?

Take a moment to consider how the fall semester went. Is there anything you’d like to streamline? Use more frequently? Are there any in-class activities or learning or administrative materials that can be transferred to the online environment? Did you link to or upload sufficient content for the students?

Course planning: decide on your objectives

You may wish to try something new this semester. There are some instructional scenarios compiled online, or consider the following options:

Reflective practice: a “journal” topic (found in the discussion tool) may enable you to encourage weekly reflection.

Group Work: The “group manager” tool can create custom or automatic groups, and provide a private group forum in the discussion or chat area for group members.

Self-tests: The “assessments” tool can be used to create either quizzes or self-tests (ungraded, and for immediate feedback).

Surveys: Why wait until the end of the semester? The “assessments” tool can also be used to survey your students at the beginning of the semester to assess prior knowledge or expectations, or mid-semester to find out what they are thinking and how their learning is progressing.

WebCT resources

We continue to edit and update the WebCT wiki: http://wiki.sfu.ca/webct , where you can find extensive downloadable documentation on specific tools.  We have made some organizational changes to the wiki to highlight available materials, and the most popular wiki pages. The site also contains links on instructional scenarios  a page listing all the tutorials and documentation available, and a list of custom changes that the administrators at SFU have implemented.

Today someone asked about having two sections (for example, D100 and D200) in one WebCT course container. This happens regularly, as it means as an instructor, you only have to load up content once, and design and coordinate one course container.

When you (the instructor) use the course request form, you can use the Crosslisting option on the course request form to do this.  Start by requesting a course shell for one your course sections, and when you get to part two of the course request form (where it confirms your course number and title), you will have an option to choose to crosslist.
In a course container with two class lists, all of the students would be merged in the gradebook. Students are identified in the Grade Book by their section number, however, so you could search for all D100 or D200 students (for example) in order to see only specific students. To search for students, open the Grade Book, click on the “Grade Book Options” icon, and choose Find Students from the drop down menu. You can then choose the column, and the condition (”begins with”) and search for D100 (for example). Unfortunately, the system will not save your saved searches, but it will separate the students lists for you.

All of the content and tools in the course container4 would be visible to all, but if you did want to have some section-specific content, you can use the selective release to only show content (or discussion groups) to students from specific sections.