Course Wiki Entry

I am using this semester WECT. I choose this tool becuase this semester I have the great opportunity to teach in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction the class about Multicultural Education. Thus, I am using WECT as supplementary (support) in my teaching & learning process. I found WECT very complex, but little by little when I get familiar with the tool I am finding all the features that I need to use. not to hard to use.  I am using this tool becuase in Central America is the most popular tool and all the companies which I do consulting are using it. The challenge the I have is to master all the diferent feautures and tools that WECT has. The way that I am overcoming my doubts and struggles are:

- Being relax in my learning process and do not allow me to be frustrated.

- Reading the manual about WECT.

- Participating on the free worlshops that are available in the teaching academic and the WECT staff at NMSU.

- Asking to colleagues who have more experience using WECT.

- Reading all the information concering research about WECT.

- and the most important reading your post, when I see that you know something that I do not know. Thank you for this opportunity.

the website is:

https://salsa.nmsu.edu/webct/homearea/homearea? you need a password to log in

 

Rafael Angel Espinoza Pizarro (Rafa).

 

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I am designing a course on Moodle, called Homeopathy For the Childbearing Year.  I find the tool quite challenging, and realize that my computer literacy leaves a lot to be desired.  It seems to be at least partly due to learning style, as mechanical/technical/linear thinking is not my preference.  However, I welcome the opportunity to overcome my weaknesses and to broaden my intelligence. 

 

Moodle seems to have everything I need, once I learn the bells and whistles.  I have uploaded a syllabus (a first draft).  I have posted a news forum item and a calendar item.  Please visit the site at:

 

http://reta.nmsu.edu:16080/moodle/     You may enter as a guest (I hope!)

 

I don't know how to add students , or to add a teacher as an administrator.  I am designing a course for someone besides me to teach, and this presents problems.  But this is what I want to do more of in the future, so I need to see if Moodle is user friendly in that aspect.

 

So far it is a love/hate relationship    :)

Judy Harmon

 

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Oh, I guess I find all of Web/CT very challenging. At this time, use Web/CT because it is provided at NMSU and commonly used on campus. Web/CT is easily accessible, provides an interactive tutorial, and aligned with the standards of OTLC 580. Since it is menu driven, one always has to go to the root or access the shortcut links through the Course Menu (if one is wise enough to set up shortcuts). I think that I have mastered setting up icons on the home page and uploading documents, providing URLs, and somewhat organizing my documents in the course menu. I would like to identify an easy way to upload photos, videos, and power points. I am using more surveys to identify student needs and computer access.

 

My next venture is to create a home page that more professional and use shortcuts on the Course Menu. My plan is to move away from the icons.

 

Olive Oil

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Course Wiki Entry

     I am using Web CT for my Learning/Course Management System.  The main reason I chose this LCMS is because it is the one supported by New Mexico State University; thus I have free access to it as do the students I will be teaching in the course I am designing.  Web CT is fairly easy to use.  Given the amount of time I've spent in the past learning how to use different aspects (very little), I think it is quite user friendly.  I know from many of the discussion postings that this may not stay true as I try to do more and more things with Web CT, but for now I'm fairly happy with it.  In the past I have used Web CT as a supplement to my regular face-to-face courses.  I've posted assignments, posted grades, had my students participate in discussions, and communicated with my students via the email component of the LCMS.  What I am now doing, and plan to work on for this semester, is design a more integrated use of Web CT with the mini-session Mathematics Appreciation (Math 210) course I've been assigned to teach.  I have already worked on a redesign of my homepage (compared to what I've done in the past) and have had fun embedding a You Tube video in the welcome announcement.  I've encountered a couple of problems of students finding that PDF files take far to long to download and with some formatting issues when I've added a text block.  I'm exploring posting materials in different formats from the PDF I've used in the past, and continue to play around with formatting, especially on my homepage.  I also attended the Podcasting I RETA webinar and subscribed to a mathematics Podcast I plan to incorporate into my Math 210 course.  I will continue to explore other ways to make Web CT more integrated, based on the suggestions presented in the paper "Course Management Systems and the Reinvention of Instruction," by Craig Ullman and Mitchell Rabinowitz and the suggestions posted in our discussions about Web CT.  If anyone would like to take a look at my Math 210 Web CT page I will be happy to give you Teaching Assistant status, at least until I start posting grades for my students.

 

Elaine Cohen

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Unit 1 Wiki Entry~ 

Hello, there. This is my first Wiki post! My LCMS is WebCT 4 since that is what NMSU’s platform for online delivery. I teach CS-110 (Computer Literacy) online for NMSU-Alamogordo.  Some functions of WebCT are fairly simple such as the discussion tool and the assignment drop box. However, the hardest thing is finding out what tools are available in WebCT and where to receive help to learn them. Having the ICT service department available at NMSU has really helped build my knowledge base this semester for WebCT. Most of the classes are free so I just drive over to Las Cruces from Alamogordo.  I have found the quiz tool clunky and rather difficult to work with. But, I just uploaded my first quiz and it will really help me out with some of the grading that I do for the class.  I spent some time with Robbie Grant (ICT) on Respondus and he walked me through uploading and setting/editing my quiz via the phone. It seems that I am constantly finding out something new with WebCT or how to do something such as discussions to make the learning and teaching experience better and more appealing. Something that I have learned from our class discussions is from John Mullen is how to download all my students assignments from the assignment drop box into folders to grade. Just marvelous!

Angie Wolf

 

 

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 LCMS Tool: WebCT CE 4 by John

 

I have been using WebCT for about 15 years. Prior to using WebCT, Denise Welsh provided distribution via satellite and courier and I was managing the course via telephone, email, fax, and snail mail. The first time I heard of WebCT, I realized at once that it was a quantum leap from the systems I was then using and I knew how important it was to utilize it. When an opportunity came to attend ITAL, I jumped at it. In fact, the ITAL class was full, but Denise Welsh and I managed to convince the ICT staff that I should be allowed to take it, anyhow. So, I did not get a laptop and we paid only $50, but I got the training and software. Several years later, I attended ITAL again and this time I got a laptop, as well as more training and software. However, that first ITAL class got me up and running in WebCT in just a couple of weeks.

 

For the most part, I use WebCT for distance courses. Almost all of my students are engineering graduate students who are currently working as engineers. This gives me an edge in that most of them are used to dealing with computers. I use WebCT to publish assignments, quizzes, course notes, background information, self-checked exercises, and guidelines. I also use it to collect assignments and to grade quizzes. Student teams publish reports so other students can see them and receive feedback, in return. Students use WebCT for classwork, as well as to communicate with me and each other. I also use WebCT to deal with management issues, track students, return comments and publish grades. In those cases in which I use WebCT for on-campus courses, I use it for most of the same things, but also accept work in paper form. Interestingly, about 80-90% of my on-campus students submit their work electronically, even though they do not have to.

 

I use WebCT because it does the job and it is the one most supported by NMSU. Often, I have students taking several distance courses and I feel it is important for them to be able to go to one place, myWebCT, and check the status of all their courses at once. Also, I want students to be able to focus on the course, not trying to learn another LCMS. So, whatever LCMS NMSU supports is the one I use. In this respect, NMSU lives up to their end of the bargain, providing training and support. ICT has also integrated it into the NMSU site. The only issue I have is that ICT staff are not available evenings and weekends, which is when most of my students use WebCT.

 

As for ease of use, let me just say this. I wrote my first computer program in 1963 and have been working with computers, off and on, since. Long ago, I learned to focus on capabilities and push through the "issues." There have been many challenges, but I find a way. Each aspect of my use of WebCT is founded in principles of sound engineering education, so whether on not I use WebCT depends on the issues and alternatives. If WebCT is part of the solution, I use it. Otherwise, I find something else. For example, I'm using Acrobat Forms now for extensive surveys because it is a superior alternative to WebCT surveys. In a similar fashion, the Engineering College has a server for compressed videos, rather than relying on WebCT for that.

 

I especially like the ease of providing alternatives. For example, I can provide a graphical multi-dimensional interface for my students who think in terms of objects and relationships, but at the same time provide an equivalent linear text-base interface for those who relate well to text, just by clicking a box. I can provide enrichment material for students who are more advanced, as well as competency-based material for those who are not.  WebCT really makes it easy for me to provide a situation in which students can find what they want in ways that they feel are natural.

 

Some issues are revealed by WebCT, but are not part of it per se. For example, HTML is very nice for some things, but not very good for mathematics. Also, most students don't edit HTML. Thus, I use HTML for syllabi and documents in which linking is important, MS Word, which almost all my students have access to, for assignments, and PDF for the real nasty math stuff. In some courses, students may not have Word, in which case I provide assignments in RTF. The nice thing about WebCT is that I become aware of issues sooner and are able to deal with them more quickly.

 

Of course, it is obsolete, but my Navy training prepared me for working with obsolete systems    :-)

 

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Well it’s been awhile since I have posted to the WIKI. I am familiar with WebCT as I use it for my CMT 142 class. However there are a few tools such as setting up discussion and chat rooms that I have not used before. So I would like to learn more about those features. I have been doing research on Centra and Adobe Access. I would very much like to incorporate these online tools into my course. I checked with my department, and we have access to centra, so I will contact the person in charge to find out how I can access it. As for Adobe Access, I will have to do some further checking into that tool. I welcome any help on WebCT or the other tools that I have mentioned.

Kellie

 

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I am using EDU 2.0 for my tool.  I chose this tool because it was easy to use and free.  It allows for easy access for my future students.   It was easy to create and account and up load information and you can copy the course so it can be used again.  There are several different areas where assignments, email, exams, and grading can be applied to the course material. The tool is user friendly and a nice free tool for all users who do not have the ability to use a LCMS connected with a facility.  Since I not have a connection with a facility the other tools are fairly off limits at this time because of related expenditures.  So my other tool that I choose to use is skype with my students for synchronous communication via text or video conferencing.  I am excited about developing this orientation course and assisting new nurses within our surgical unit.  If you have any questions about this tool feel free to ask. 

 

Website: http://www.edu20.org/class/enroll/23814

password - if you want the password, email Connie in WebCT

 

 

Conni DeBlieck  :)

 

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Last semester I played around with a few different LCMS and I decided to create my course using EDU2.0.  The online course that I’m creating is New Mexico History geared toward 7^th grade students. The main reason why I chose this program is because it is free for teachers, students and parents. Most public schools have a hard enough time finding money for programs and class materials let alone computer software.  EDU2.0 is a web-based program that can be accessed from any computer with Internet access.  It is very easy for teachers to input & edit documents.  Special features include a grade book, email, wiki page, blog, assignment page, quizzes, forums, chats, debates, calendar, and the opportunity to join groups.  The format of the page with menu tabs at the top, make it easy for students and teachers to navigate through the site with ease.  This LCMS has everything I need to create a successful online course with my middle school students.  I just hope the school district I intend to use this with does not block the site:-)

 

Here is the link to my page http://www.edu20.org/class/enroll/24649   Password: Liz, please send the password to the class within WebCT, maybe via WebCT email. :)

 

Please feel free to ask questions or make comments about my page. 

 

 

Liz Wendler

 

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LCMS: WebCT CE 4

 

I chose WebCT to explore as possible LCMS for future courses. The main reason for this is that it is used by many instructors at NMSU and so students can get comfortable with one tool rather than having to learn a new system for every class. I am currently not using WebCT for any of my real courses. I have been quite comfortable with having my own website and a homework system, so I did not feel an urgent need for any LCMS.

 

I see the advantage of WebCT in providing better password protection for learning material and some additional tools. I found that it is easy to get started with basic functions in WebCT, but that you have to learn more detail or some tricks if you want to leave the look of pre-designed templates. I was exploring tools like the whiteboard, which is one that is not well described.  I will add some description for the whiteboard to the WebCT helpful information page. I need to find out more about the selective release feature in WebCT. Since I did not have a group of students to try this out with, I looked only over the setting possibilities, but did not make any practical experiences with this option. John had some advice on this feature, so while it requires more thought in course management, it is an option for individualizing instruction.

 

I found the quiz tool somewhat user unfriendly. While you can upload images or use the equation editor to display equations, this feature is not integrated with randomized quantities in the calculated question type. I tried to solve this by using variables in the equation, then specify the value for those variables in the text. I also have not found a good solution for short answer questions when the answer may include special characters. One of those examples where you need to trick theWebCT is when you would like to give partial credit for an answer to a multiple choice question. It seems that WebCT is well designed for “typical” applications, but else somewhat inflexible.

 

To get me started with WebCT I attended some of the workshops done by ICT training services. I have found all of them well organized and the manuals very helpful. In that sense I found a new resource on campus that I have not used before this semester.

 

As with all course management systems you will like it better the more you know how to adapt it to your specific course needs. Since we will soon be moving on to a new system I explored WebCT with the thought in mind that most of the general features will be available in other LCMSs as well.  I did not try to learn all the bells and whistles of WebCT since it will soon be obsolete.

 

Michaela

 

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Experiences with WebCT

 

On the 6^th of February I attended a WebCT Basics training session at NMSU.  This hands on session was very informative.  Going thru the motion on a computer, setting up a course along with an instructor has been much more beneficial than just viewing the process.  Participants made common mistakes and the instructors were able to redirect these errors while explaining our wrongful path.  The instructors also provided phone numbers for future technical support.    At this time, I have deleted the doc files I had previously loaded on the WebCT Course menu which would not open, resaved them as html files and reloaded them.  In rearranging the home page, I have done it a couple of times because I have not decided exactly how I would like the homepage. With icons or without icons. . .. with announcement space or without. . .  Overall, the menu on the control panel of the designing view makes more sense now.

 

 

The LeatherLady1

 

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I am using Web/CT for my Learning/Course Management System (LCMS).  I chose this LCMS because it is supported by ITC at New Mexico State University.  I have had free access to Web/CT for awhile and I feel that I will never know enough about it to say, I understand Web/CT and all of its tools.  I feel comfortable with Web/CT at the basic level.  This semester, I have tried to venture out away from using icons and use the main menu tool.  I have found it to be easier to navigate and to organize the course.  Thus far, I haven’t had any complaints from my students that were use to the icons from previous courses.  My course project for CEL 580 is to totally redo my SPED 532 course.  I did enjoy reading “Course Management Systems and the Reinvention of Instruction,” by Craig Ullman and Mitchell Rabinowitz and their suggestions for using Web/CT.  Our course discussions have also been a great help.

 

Jackie Wood

 

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 Web/CT

 

I am beginning to feel more comfortable using the tools in Web/CT and navigating the system. I created a test using the Quiz/Survey tool following Bethany's tutorial. My quiz was a 10-question quiz with T/F; Multiple Choice, Short Answer, and Essay questions. I posted in one of my online courses and offered extra credit for those who took it. I also figured out how to receive email notification that the quiz was taken. I received the email with the student's email (so I could give credit) with correct/incorrect responses. Since the Mac does not support Respondus, this is a helpful tool and most user friendly. I also accessed the Penn State website (tlt.psu.edu/suggestions/questionwriting) for support information on how to compose test questions. There is more to it than I thought.

 

Micaela, I found the edit quiz page a bit intimidating with the equations, etc. I guess I am not yet ready for that step.

 

Olive Oil

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WebCT/Blackboard

 

I have continued using WebCT C.E. 4 since it is the course management system utilized by ENMU-Roswell and the NMSU system. I utilize Blackboard Vista 4 (which was previously a WebCT product) at work to assist other faculty. I can't honestly say that I would have chosen another LMS other than the WebCT/Blackboard. I have "dabbled" in a few of the others and have found that they all have particular functions that are both beneficial and nervewracking. I utilize CE 4 to develop and facilitate my fully online courses for ENMU-Roswell.

 

I would have to say however that CE 4 was NOT the easiest product to use as a new designer (back in 2004). I thought that I would have no problems since I had been an online student for years and was somewhat functional in the area of technology. WRONG! I was given a laptop, an outdated syllabus, and a blank shell and a pat on the back. I have since gone on to teach faculty in designing their own courses, and still find new functions and ways to use various tools. It is a continual learning process.

 

The biggest challenge for me is time. Since I am not a full time faculty member, it is difficult for me to overhaul my courses each semester. I try to find one thing to improve each semester and hope that it has a positive impact on student learning as well as satisfaction. We are fortunate though compared to numerous other institutions that we do not have the down time that many LMS systems are seeing. 

 

Overall, I am satisified with both LCMS' that I utilize and only hope to continue my own skills, engage students, and help faculty realize that the technology is not a replacement for teaching, but a tool in which to keep their students engaged and motivated. :-)

 

Michelle

 

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 My Moodle Adventure

 

I chose to try Moodle as my LMS/CMS this semester.  I have experience using WebCT 4.0 for 5 years but tried Blackboard this summer and I hated it.  If I remember correctly though, the first time I used WebCT it wasn't that much fun either.  I decided having experience with diverse tools would be an advantage and why not try a new one if a class.  I am developing a new course on Diagnostic Reasoning in Advanced practice Nursing which will be a required course in the graduate program at the School of Nursing for the advanced practce tracks. 

 

The link to my course is: http://reta.nmsu.edu:16080/moodle/course/view.php?id=136.  Please visit although it's really pretty boring - I am starting on the down side of the learning curve. 

 

Ease of Use

 

 Initially I had some challenges.  I really couldn't figure it out until I had attended my second Moodle how-to session.  But once I had some of the basics and found the HELP buttons, I was able to post a syllabus and schedule, as well as structure the course with 5 units.  The system seems more intuitive than Blackboard and easier to use.  Of course, having worked WebCT 4.0 for so long, it is much easier for me to use.  I do think that Moodle has features that encourage more interaction - things like sending e-mails to students when a new activity is added to the course.

 

Challenges

 

As Michelle mentioned, a major challenge is finding the time to learn the system.  It has taken me 5 years to use some of the components that WebCT 4.0 offers so who knows how quickly I will learn Moodle.  It may be quicker since I have worked with a system but.....

 

That's all for now - look for more adventure updates as the semester progresses.

 

Wanda

 

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CJ's Moodle Experience

 

The LCMS I am working with is Moodle.  The course is titled The Psychology of Criminal Behavior.  I believe it is important to check out and work with diverse tools that will meet the requirements for our course development and engage student learning. 

 

I had some challenges.  Attending the two Moodle sessions helped me understand how to use some of the features such as importing my syllabus and setting up the welcome page.  The manual was a lifesaver for creating a traditional exam/quiz.  I still need to improve my site.  Bethany made a number of suggestions for improvement that I will follow through on.  A major challenge is having the time to learn the LCMS.

 

My Moodle link is:  http://reta.nmsu.edu:16080/moodle/course/view.php?id=115

 

 

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At this time there is no firm "home" for my course, so I thought that some mastery of Moodle might make my musings movable among LMSs.

 

 

My overall impression of Moodle is that it is very easy to work with.  That doesn’t mean everything will come out the way you want on the first try. It does mean that experimenting is easy and alterations/corrections/adjustments are performed relatively quickly.  The Moodle manual (a searchable pdf document) is well constructed.  I appreciated comments in the manual like: “this function doesn’t always work the way the instructions say it will.” The manual also points out areas that may have been “improved” in later versions of Moodle.

 

Moodle is very intuitive, but again that doesn’t mean your intuition aligns with the intuition of the Moodle developers.  It just means that most of the time you will choose the right option(s) without having to spend much time in the manual.

 

That brings up the major challenge (also noted by Wanda and Michelle): like any new tool you need to take the time to learn the system.  Some users will take longer than other users.  The benefit is that Moodle’s features foster interactivity (Coach-Learner, Learner-Learner, and Learner-content).  Tools and widgets are ubiquitous.  Importing videos, podcasts and other e-materials is transparent to the Learner.  And tools like email, blogs, wikis and other collaborative tools are intended to be an “every day” part of the course.

 

You are all invited to come take a look-see at what's there now. The course development is very much a work-in-progress. The link is: http://reta.nmsu.edu:16080/moodle/course/view.php?id=113

 

 You will be asked to enter an "enrollment key" -- The key is otlc2.

 

Then, press the "enter¨ key on your keyboard

 

(WARNING !!! DO NOT CLICK the buttons "Enroll me in this course" or "Login")

 

FR

 

 

 

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