Designer Guide

Designer's  Guide

Beginning the WebCT Course

Webct courses can be categorized as:  

1. putting standard documents (such as a reading list) on to a (WebCT) website;  some of them teach better on-line than they do on paper (such as color slides), but most convey the same information as was conveyed on paper, although more efficiently;

2. putting non-standard information on-line, such as links to other websites, books, libraries, catalogues, which together contain far more information than could be included in a printed syllabus;

3. connecting information in ways impossible on paper;  this is the best part of the web.  in one calendar square can be included the name of a lecture, the lecturer, the time and date (all standard information) as well as links to the lecture notes for the lecture, the lecturer's email and campus addresses, phone number, office hours, publication list, bio-sketch, slides for the lecture, any labs associated with the lecture or with that day, additional reading and follow-up lectures.

Start your course by aiming at the first level.  Select the course you will use, preferably one previously taught.  Planning a new course, as you probably know, is extremely time-consuming.  Putting a course in WebCT, especially for the first time,  will take time as well.

Gather the documents and content you wish to begin with.   You need not install every conceivable document immediately.  Documents can include the syllabus, reading lists, lecture notes, lecture and exam schedules and group assignments.

Creating/Editing Course Files

Filenames in WebCT must not contain spaces.  The results of using spaces in the names are "unpredictable"; for instance, the file will display on one screen, but not another.  You may be able to see the file, but not link to it.   Use underscores (_) or hyphens (-) instead of spaces.

Likewise, if you use bookmarks inside your files, do not use spaces in the bookmark names.  It can cause difficult-to-track-down problems.

You can use any  folder on your PC  for the course files.  Enter course material in HTML format.  If your files are already in electronic format, they must be, or must be converted to HTML.  If they are not yet on-line, enter them in HTML format using an HTML editor.  Text not in HTML format will not display properly on the WebCT website.

PowerPoint presentations may be included in course material as is, but it is better to export them to HTML, then include the HTML version instead of the raw PowerPoint file.

Do not use the TAB key.  It  will not display properly. HTML will ignore tabs and squish everything together on the left side of the screen. You will get much better results by using tables without borders and putting your columns in cells. HTML will retain the format for you, as in:

1) Open a file;
2) Insert a table;
3) turn off the borders; and
4) put content in the cells.

Short explanation:  Go to Request WebCT Course and complete the form.  You will be notified when the course has been created.  UTMB has a site license for WebCT, so it is available immediately at no cost to you. 

Longer explanation:  There are two WebCT servers.  Design work is done on the development server, http://webctwo.utmb.edu.  Once the development of web material for the course is complete, the course will be moved to the production server, http://eclass.utmb.edu.  That is where students and faculty will make use of it.

When you request it, your course will be created on the development server, http://webctwo.utmb.edu.   You will do the design work there.  When the course is ready, you will move it to http://eclass.utmb.edu.   (Complete instructions are available as well as assistance if needed.)

To create a new WebCT course, we will need the title of the course, the acronym name, the course number if appropriate , the names of the instructors and the begin and end dates of the course.   For instance:

The WebCT name is the name users will see when they access the menu of available WebCT courses.

Uploading Files to the WebCT Course

Files created on your PC must be uploaded to the WebCT Course.   Uploading alone does not make them available to students.  They will not be available until the designer links them to icons, either on the Course Menu, the Home Page or on other Organizer Pages.

There are several ways to upload files to your WebCT course:

FrontPage - cannot be used to upload files with this version of WebCT.  You may use Frontpage to create and edit the files on your PC, but they must be uploaded to the course by some other means, such as WebDrive.

File Access through WebDAV 

1.   Log in as designer.  Click on the link "WebDAV Info" at the top of the myWebCT page.
2.   Scroll to the bottom of the screen, locate the name of your course and copy the "Course Files" URL (highlight it and press ctrl-C).
3.   In Windows 2000 & Windows XP
	Click My Network Places on  your desktop, then click on Add Network Place.
OR
In Windows 98
	Double click on My Computer, then double click on Web Folders, then double click on Add Web Folder
4.  Enter the WebDAV URL for course files in "Type the location of the Network Place" (ctrl-V).
5.  Follow instructions.  Choose the name of the Web folder.
6.  Finish
7.  Any files in the My Files folder on the development server can be displayed by clicking on the Web folder you've just created.  You will be prompted to enter the designer's WebCT ID and password.
Do not edit files in this folder;  the links will be mangled.  See further instructions below.

WebDrive & Dreamweaver

WebDrive (http://www.webdrive.com) and  Dreamweaver from MacroMedia MX (http://www.macromedia.com )  are commercial drive mapping software packages for Windows that work well and are easy to configure.   Files are downloaded, edited and uploaded automatically and invisibly.

Manage Files (WebCT's Upload/Download Commands)

WebCT's file handling commands can be reached by clicking "Manage Files" on the Navigation Bar (see thumbnail.)  You can upload and download files one at a time.  To handle multiple files, you must ZIP them up, transport the ZIP file, then UNZIP them. 

Moving the course to the production server

Once course design and development are complete, the course may be moved to the production server. The recommended procedure is as follows.

1. Unless the course has been created already on the production server, request that it be created now.   As on the development server, WebDAV URL's will be created automatically as a result of course creation.

The WebDAV URL, also used for backup,  is essential for moving the course to the production server.


2. Access to files through WebDAV on the production server is exactly like access to files on the development server.   Edit the display name of the Web folder for backups to include the course id, since otherwise it will be the same for every course.  For example, change the name "backup" to "Basket Weaving Backup".
3. The move is greatly facilitated by the WebCT backup tool plus the WebDAV backup web folders on the two servers.
1. Login as designer on the development server.
2. Go to Manage Course > Create Backup > Create.  A backup file for the course, a ZIP file, is created and placed in the WebDAV folder for backups for the course.  The file automatically appears on the corresponding Web folder on the designer's PC.
3. Copy and Paste the backup file from the backup Web folder for the course on the development server to that for the same course on the production server.
4. Login to the course on the production server as designer and go to Manage Course > Backup Course.   The backup file just copied should appear in the list displayed.   Select that file.
5. Execute Backup File Functions > Restore but keep current student list > Go.   This should expand the course content created on the development server onto the production server without disturbing the student list that may have been populated on the production server.  Links from the Navigator Bar and Organizer Pages to course content files and tools will be preserved.

Your new blank course will look like the image at right.   The large empty frame is the homepage.

To add a banner, text, images, etc.,  first click the "Designer Options" button at the top of screen.  Scroll down to see three sets of options.   Customize is used to select colors, banners, images, etc.  Here is an example:

1. select Modify/Add banner image; then click Go;
2. browse for desired image (image must already have been uploaded to the course, or be a WebCT default image);
3. after clicking button for the image, click Pick;
4. select banner alignment;
5. click Update.

Using the options in Modify selected textblock or add text, one can add text and images.  The text and images can be links to files, other WebCT pages, and other websites.

Registering Student and Faculty

For new courses, please send a comma-delimited text file of your class roster to Academic Computing at least a few days before the class is due to begin. Then we can register your students automatically for you. The text file should contain the following information in the format displayed:

email ID, First Name, Last Name, mname, ID, program jdsmith,John,Smith,David,999999999,SOM2006

rscallah,Roger,Callahan,Steven,888888888,SOM2006

If you find you are unable to collect some of the specified data items, the minimum data set should be First Name, Last Name, Middle Name as shown below:

First Name, Last Name, mname

Sandra,Jones,Lynn
Joseph,Costain,Ray

Alternatively the information may be supplied in the form of an Excel spreadsheet.

Creating a Link to a File (Using Add Page or Tool)

Adding a single page of links is simple.  Create a new page in any HTML editor, put all your links on it, upload it to the WebCT course, then in WebCT:

1. add tool or page;
2. single Page;
3. type in the title of your presentation;
4. "browse" for the file;
5. click on name of the file;
6. click on Pick;
7. decide where to display the link:  on the Homepage, or on the Course Menu (on left of screen), or both;
8. decide whether to display the name of link only or whether to include an icon; select icon if necessary;
9. then click the "Add" button on that screen.

Editing the Course Menu, a.k.a. Navigation Bar

On the left-hand screen is the Course Menu, also called the Navigation Bar.  It is visible on all pages and to all students.  The menu at top, labeled "Control Panel Visible to Designers" is never visible to students.

Designers can edit the Course Menu so that it reflects the materials and links in the particular course.  First, remove the menu item "e-Learning Hub."  It links to the WebCT company support and software website.

To remove a menu item, select "Change Settings" from the Control Panel.  Then select (click GO) under "Edit Course Menu."  Under "Course menu links" you will see the e-Learning Hub item.  Select that item.  Then moving right to "Copy, Move or Delete Link", select "delete link".  Finally, click "Go", then confirm your action.

Edit the Course Menu to move menu items, to delete or edit them, or to make them invisible to students (see the "Hide, Reveal or Edit Link" selections by scrolling down.) 

You cannot add items to the Course Menu by editing the Course Menu.  To do that, use the "Add Page or Tool" from the Designer Map.  (See Creating A Link To A File.)  Be certain to specify that the link appear on the Navigation Bar.

Organize a Group of Items Under One Icon

Use your FrontPage interface, or other editor.  Using Small Groups as an example:

1)    make a table with 3 cells per row for, for instance, Student Name, Small Group Assignment, Classroom Assignment.  "Small Group Assignment" can be linked to a file containing all the groups, and bookmarked to point to the particular group assignment of that student.  "Classroom Assignment" can be linked to the file containing all classroom assignments, with a bookmark at the assignment of that student.

2)    the link in the Classroom Assignment file can then link to a map locating the classroom, etc., etc.  Colors can be used also.  You can make each group designation a different color so the student could visually pick out his/her cohorts.  Lots of possibilities.

Image Database

Before you and your students can use Image Database, you must add it to your course. For instructions, see Adding a Page or Tool.

Image Database allows you to create databases of images for your students. The following table describes the default fields for each image database and the suggested content. When you create an image database, you enter the content for each field. The only mandatory field is the filename field.  These are the commands to manage an image database:

• create an image database
• release an image field
• edit an image record
• delete an image record
• add a column to an image database
• edit a column in an image database
• delete a column in an image database
• sort by column in an image database
• reorganize columns
• hide a column
• edit a column label in an image database
• delete an image database
• rename an image database

Creating Tiers of Links (Using Add Page or Tool)

Adding a single page of links is simple.  Create a new page in any HTML editor, put all your links on it, upload it to the WebCT course, then in WebCT: Select -->> Add -->> Single Page -->> your new page with the links on it.

Tiers of links are pages with links, one pointing to other pages with their own links, etc.  For instance,

Have pages A, B and C already created and containing the desired links.  Then:

1. add tool or page;
2. select single Page;         (this will be Page A)                                     
3. type in the title of your presentation;  (you could call it Page A)
4. "browse" for the file;   (look for Page A, which is already created and uploaded to the course)
5. click on name of the file;
6. click on Pick;
7. display the link on the Homepage;
8. decide whether to display the name of link only or whether to include an icon; select icon if necessary;
9. then click the "Add" button on that screen.
10. then go to Page A and repeat from 1) above for Page B
11. then go to Page B and repeat from 1) above for Page C