WebCT takes off at Stamford Campus
By Shelley Cudiner and Oskar Harmon
At the Stamford campus, the entering Class of 2004 was given a 90-minute orientation to the University’s rapidly emerging wired resources. The students were issued IDs and passwords and given hands-on instruction for using their University email and electronic classroom accounts. The classroom accounts give online access to syllabi, assignments, quizzes, course specific bulletin boards and chat rooms. The accounts also give access to web server space so students can easily transfer files from home to work to school without ever searching for that elusive floppy diskette.
WebCT (Web Course Tools) is the software that makes it possible to provide online access to course materials and to deliver interactive instructional exercises via the web. It requires minimal programming knowledge and enables the instructor to place course materials online by mouse clicking on user-friendly menus.
Interest in WebCT began in Stamford about two years ago when a few faculty started looking for better ways to offer classes on the web. Prior to WebCT, faculty had to use the mainframe to mount their classes on the web and use HTML or web editors. As more people started hearing about WebCT, and its value-added features such as chat rooms, threaded discussions, and server space for students to transfer files between home and school, curiosity heightened. To a commuter campus these are crucial features as they provide ways to reach students at home or work, submit assignments from off-campus locations and allow students access to UConn’s online resources.
A large impact grant awarded by the UConn’s Institute for Teaching and Learning in January 2000 jump-
Katherine Panak, Associate Professor in SBA, helps student William Tsoy at the WebCT Lab in Stamford
 |
started WebCT activity at the Stamford Campus. The grant funded a WebCT technical support staff of three student-employees for nine months. A significant share of Stamford’s computer resources has been allocated to support WebCT learning. Three computer instruction labs have been dedicated to the project and funding was provided to continue staffing a WebCT faculty technical support lab for the Fall semester.
Over 30 Stamford faculty and staff attended the introductory training session on WebCT provided by Kim Chambers, director of IRC, during the Winter Intersession. Consequent training sessions were directed to smaller audiences and more focused. The Stamford WebCT Support Center developed a series of workshops for in-depth introductory sessions to teach faculty the different ways they can use WebCT to incorporate teaching methods into their class. The series is based around a template and includes topics such as: the basics of creating a student account to linking to files, creating student space on the server, and importing quizzes for teaching supplements to textbooks.
In addition to introductory workshops, the WebCT lab has also coordinated workshops on creating quizzes, global accounts, grading, and use of other features. The energetic students who staff the WebCT lab have spent hours of work creating documentation, giving workshops and working individually with faculty. The WebCT lab offers a full range of support services, from working one-on-one with the instructor to mount entire classes, to just providing a little support and direction.
Faculty has found WebCT to be a valuable addition to the student learning experience. Dr. Charlie Yarish finds that WebCT increases student communication and the links to "current biological websites add excitement to the class." History Professor Mary Cygan uses the discussion list feature to stimulate discussion in class. MBA professor Dr. Kathy Pancak reports her professional business students enjoy the flexibility of accessing course material any time, any place.
Jacquelyn Joseph-Silverstein
 |
Associate Vice Chancellor Jacquelyn Joseph-Silverstein is an enthusiastic supporter of the project. Jackie feels that WebCT has brought a new facet to teaching on the Stamford campus and sums up the project this way:
I am extremely pleased with the commitment our faculty has made to the integration of technology into their courses through WebCT. I believe the use of WebCT is adding value to our students' classroom experience, as well as providing a context in which they begin to understand how information technology can be used to answer questions, solve problems and communicate in ways that will be relevant to their lives and their careers.
http://www.stamford.uconn.edu/webct/support.html
