WebCT: Handouts & Tutorials
Prerequisites for Teaching with WebCT
Faculty and staff should have the following prerequisite resources and skills for working with WebCT. If you do not have some of the skills listed below, we will be more than happy to help you acquire these skills through our workshops and/or one-on-one assistance.
Resources
- Access to a personal computer (PC or Mac)
- Internet connection (i.e. ISU internet connection)
- Access to a scanner or staff member who can create scanned images
- Netscape Navigator 3.0 or higher or Internet Explorer 4.0 or higher
- HTML editor (such as Netscape Composer or Macromedia Dreamweaver) or knowledge of HTML code
- Word processing text editor (such as MS Word or Corell Word Perfect)
- Zip/Unzip software (such as WinZip or PKZip)
- Adobe Acrobat Reader (for viewing PDF files)
Skills
- Working knowledge of files manager system on a workstation
- Knowledge of Windows or Macintosh environment
- Ability to create digital course content files in a word processing, graphics, or HTML editing software program
- Ability to scan images and create digital image files
- Basic knowledge of HTML for purposes of editing webpage within WebCT (Course content pages are NOT wholly constructed with WebCT; they are constructed first on a workstation and then uploaded into WebCT. They can, however, be edited for minor changes within WebCT.)
- Understanding of the Internet; familiarity with use of Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer browser
- Basic understanding of client/server relationship
- Basic understanding of graphic design elements (use of color, spacing, images, etc.)
WebCT is a robust program. The prerequisite skills listed above assume the user will want to use WebCT to post course syllabus, content, assignments, etc. and allow students to upload material into the course site. If you intend to use WebCT for its communication tools only (e-mail, bulletin board, calendar) you need not know how to create web pages. If you intend more extensive use of WebCT (utilizing its management system, quiz module, etc.), you will need more knowledge than is listed above. The more abilities you have, the more you will profit from using WebCT.