6. Logging into WebCT
Username: AU Email ID
First initial + 7 letters of
your last name
Password: Same as your
network log-on password
Logon Prompt
NOTE: Your username matches your AU Email.
It could have a number at the end of it
such as jsmith5 Check your email name.
49. FAQ 1
Q: Is there another place I can review this
information or get more information?
A: Go to http://tech.ashland.edu/training
There are several items on this page that can
assist you. Specificially look under the WebCT
Resources for Students. It contains a print
manual which includes an animated help
guide and online narrated help files covering
the features mentioned in this tutorial.
50. Ashland Univ. IT
Help Desk
419/289-5405
If you have any problems or questions please feel
free to contact Information Technology at ext. 5405
(419-289-5405 off campus) or email the HelpDesk
at help@ashland.edu.
Hours:
Monday 8:00am – 10:00pm
Friday 8:00am – 12:00pm
Saturday 8:00am – 5:00pm
Sunday 2:00pm – 10:00pm
(Fall and Spring Semester Hours)
Welcome Slide
Welcome to your WebCT Orientation. This slide show will provide you with a brief orientation to WebCT.
Ashland Homepage
Accessing your WebCT course at Ashland University is easy.
Use your web browser to open the Ashland University home page at the address shown above.
Logging on
Place your mouse over the word, Academics on the top blue menu bar.
Now, click on the 4th item on the pull down menu, Online Courses - WebCT
WebCT Logon Page
You will be taken to the WebCT logon page
Now, look for the blue text, Log in to under the WebCT logo. Click on this blue text
Logon Information
You will be provided with a logon prompt window. Your username is your AU email identity which consists of your first intitial followed by up to 7 letters of your last name. Your password is your 7 digit ID number.
In some cases, your username may include a number such as jsmith5. Remember, your username is the same as your AU email
MyWebCT Page
You will now be taken to your MyWebCT page. This web page will display a list of your WebCT Courses
To access a specific course, click on the blue text displaying the course name that you want to access
WebCT Course Homepage
The next page is the homepage of your WebCT course. The look and feel of each one of your courses may be different depending on how your instructor designs your course, but almost all WebCT course have these elements in common.
On the left side of most courses, you will find the course menu. This menu will contain links to specific content and elements of the course. Simply click on the text to be linked to that area of your course.
These icons are in the content area of your course and represent links to course content or elements of the course. They can lead directly content such as a syllabus or a PowerPoint Presentation or lead to an area of the course that will contain multiple links to course content. These icons also link to area of the course such as your grades and communication tools for the course.
Navigation in WebCT
Navigating in WebCT is easy. Either use the content menu or the breadcrumbs along the top of the page.
One thing you do want to avoid is using your browser's forward and backward buttons. Using your browsers navigation buttons can cause content links to be broken
Discussions 1
One of the prominantly used tools in WebCT is the discussion board. To navigate to the Discussion area of WebCT, you can use the Discussion link on the Course Menu or click on Communication tools.
Some instructors may choose to use different icons, so please be aware of that for your particular course
When you enter the Communication Tools area of your course, look for the icon that looks like a push pen with word discussion beneath it.
Discussion 2
When you enter your course and navigate to the discussion area, you may see the discussion icon with green highlights around it. This means that there is a new discussion item.
Discussion 3
The discussion topics are listed on the left (as indicated by the left arrow) and the right arrow points to the area where WebCT tracks what messages you have read and which topics have new messages
To access a topic area, simple click on the blue text which links you into that topic.
Discussion 3
The discussion topics are listed on the left (as indicated by the left arrow) and the right arrow points to the area where WebCT tracks what messages you have read and which topics have new messages
To access a topic area, simple click on the blue text which links you into that topic.
You have two different options to view messages in a topic. You can click on the small icon with the magnifying glass on it
or you can click on the green arrow to the left of the subject text which will take you to the threaded view of the topic.
First, let's take a look at the magnifying glass view which you accessing by clicking on the magnifying glass icon.
Discussion - Reply
This is sometimes called the compiled view of the messages because it displays all the messages in one topic.
To reply to a message in a topic, click on the reply button.
You will be taken to the reply message window. This is where you can reply to the original message.
Discussion - Reply 2
You will be taken to the reply message window. This is where you can reply to the original message.
Type your reply in the message box.
When you're finished with your message, click on post to submit your message to the discussion board. Please note that you cannot edit or delete a message once it has been posted.
Discussion - Threads 2
The threaded view allows to see the progression of the discussion. It is important to remember that you should always respond "in the thread" and to not compose a message outside the the thread. This makes it difficult for readers to follow the exchange of the messages.
Discussion - Threads - Replying in the Thread 1
To reply in the thread, you need to click on the name of the message you want to reply to.
Discussion - Threads - Replying in the Thread 2
This will bring up the message To reply, click on the reply button and the reply window appears. Type your response here and click on post.
Discussion - Threads Don't Compose Message
If you close out the window and then go to compose message, your message will be outside the thread and could cause confusion for those following the thread of the discussion because your message will be a new subject outside the original thread.
Update Listings
If you are reading messages during an active discussion, you will need you need to click on the Update listing button to allow new messages to appear in your discussion board.
WebCT Mail
Your instructor may decide to use WebCT email. WebCT email works just like most email, but recepients are limited to this WebCT course only.
Just like with the Discussion example, if the Mail icon has a green highlight around it, you have new mail.
Mail - Compose & Message settings
Once you click on the Mail icon, you will be taken to the your mail box in this WebCT Course. Your inbox is for incoming mail and your outbox stores your out going mail.
You can forward your WebCT Email to an external email account by clicking on the Message Setting's button and by then entering the desired email address where you want your WebCT mail forwarded in the box provided on the following page.
Compose Mail
To compose an email, click on the compose message button
Compose Mail Window
You will now see the compose message window. WebCT email works just like most email; enter a subject line and enter your text in the message box. You can use more elaborate formatting of text by selecting the HTML editor by clicking on the button just below the message box.
To select who your message goes to, click on the browse button next to the "Send to:" message box. This will provide you a list of those people who are in your course. Simply click on the names of the people you want to send the email to.
Compose Mail Window
You will now see the compose message window. WebCT email works just like most email; enter a subject line and enter your text in the message box. You can use more elaborate formatting of text by selecting the HTML editor by clicking on the button just below the message box.
To select who your message goes to, click on the browse button next to the "Send to:" message box. This will provide you a list of those people who are in your course. Simply click on the names of the people you want to send the email to.
Chat
Chat is another item available in your communication tools. Chat is used for live, real-time chat sessions. To access chat, click on the chat icon on the communication tools page.
Chat Rooms
WebCT provides each course with 6 rooms for chatting. Rooms 1-4 are recorded for the instructor to review. The General chat rooms are not recorded. Your instructor will inform you which rooms to use for your specfic course.
Chat Screen
The chat room screen is divided into three areas, the interaction box, the Users logged on box, and the text entry box.
To interact in the chat, simple enter your input in the text entry box at the bottom of the screen and press enter on your keyboard.
WebCT Assignments
Your Instructor may decide to place course assignments into WebCT. The next series of slides will show how to access and submit assignments in WebCT.
To access assignments in WebCT, click on the assignments icon on your WebCT Homepage.
Assignment List
The assignment page will list your assignments.
To access a specific assignment, click on the blue text with your assignment's name on it.
Assignment Details
This page provides you with the assignment's details including the maxiumum grade, the due date if assigned, and instructions.
If your instructor provides a file, such as a Word document, as a reference for the assignment, you click here to download it. A new window will appear. Follow the simple instruction on this new page to download the document.
Assignment - Submitting
After you have completed the assignment as per the instructions, you probably will need to upload your assignment back to your instructor. To do that click on the upload file button and the locate your file on your computer.
This file could be on your harddrive, a floppy disc, CD or other storage device. Use the browse function to find the file.
Once you have uploaded the assignment, you then click on the Submit Assignment button to complete the submission. You can choose to include your email address to be notified when the assignment is submitted.
Assignment Grade
To check your assignments grade, return to the Assigments page and click on the word Graded below your assignment listing.
Assignment Grade - Details
You will now see your assignment results. The arrow points to your grade and instructor's comments.
Assignment - Feedback file
If your instructor is returning your document with comments on it or another document containing feedback, you can access and download it by clicking on the file name here.
WebCT Quizzes
Your instructor may also decide to include online quizzes in your Course.
To access the Online Quizzes portion of your course click on the Quizzes icon.
Quiz List
The next page lists all the quizzes for your course. Your instructor controls when quizzes are available.
To access a specific quiz, click on the name of the quiz in the list.
Quiz Instructions
Variables for WebCT quizzes are too complicated to go into in this presentation, but a good place to start when taking a quiz is by reading the instructions that WebCT provides just prior to taking a quiz. Read these instructions carefully.
Quiz Page
When taking a quiz, you can track your progess in answering questions by looking at the Question Status box.
You can save answers as you take a quiz. To ensure that an answer is saved, remember to click on the Save Answer button below the question. This allows you take a quiz a question as a time and if you have to leave the quiz before you have completed all the answers, you can save what you have completed and then when you return, pick-up where you left off.
WebCT Calendar
Your instructor may choose to use the WebCT Calendar. Just as with discussions and mail, if the calendar icon on your homepage has a green highlight around it, a new calendar item has been posted.
To access the calendar, click on the calendar icon
The WebCT calendar is fairly straight forward.
In some cases, your instructor may choose to hyperlink information off the calendar.
To access this information, simply click on link on the date
Grades
Your instructor may choose to include an online grade book for their course.
To access your online grades, click on the Grades icon.
Your grades will be displayed like this.
FAQ 1
Q: Can I access WebCT anywhere?
A: You can access WebCT anywhere with internet access. Some internet service providers, including public libraries, do block ports specifically used to deliver WebCT. If you experience difficulties, contact your service provider and/or the Ashland Information Technology Help Desk
