The following video shows Web CT and is well done. I hope someone with access to Web CT 6 tells us more about this system. It seems like a good system. However, during my search of the internet for Web CT 6, I found many colleges switching from Web CT 6 to Blackboard CE 6. An example is Valencia College.
The Blackboard corporation has bought out Web CT. I searched Blackboard Inc website for information on Web CT 6 and found the following on migrating from Web CT 4 (our system) to Web CT 6. I tried the links for services and was directed to the following Blackboard services site. This leads me to suspect that Blackboard is going to do away with Web CT product as it comes out with its next product.
If my suspicions are correct, would it not make sense to switch to the final product as we switch now.
As I noted in an E-Mail earlier, I was told by one person at BB that they are committed to supporting both BB and WebCT. I am now working on getting information as to whether the 10+ features that are an issue in BB6 are addressed in BB7 - but am not confident that this will be the case.
ReplyDeleteMore information on 7 can be found at http://www.palomar.edu/atrc/aboutBb.htm.
I've also asked a 2nd person what would be the downside of staying with WebCT. As we all know WebCT, a transiton to WebCT 6 would be much simpler than moving to BB. And if these 10+ issues have not been addressed in BB7, I'm pretty sure that you will be really unhappy. Dealing with my 35 students in BB at MSJC takes longer than handling 90 students in WebCT at RHC. And I don't know when they've submitted work, sent me a message, or posted. Nor do I know when they were last there when I go to do drops. And all those clicks....
Having now taught in 4 different systems, I have really seen the best and the worst of what a CMS can offer. Interestingly, the one that was really the best in many ways was replaced by one that is so inferior as to drive one nuts (ETUDES > ETUDES NG). I don't think one can know any system until they've taught in it - that's why I sought out experiences with others - so that I would know how oddly things can work. WebCT's approach to quizzes is the most user-friendly that I have seen. Moodle's discussion is better than most. BB's announcement feature is great. ETUDES let you change dates on assessments on a single screen.
ReplyDeleteAnyhow, the original list of concerns about BB that I shared, based on my experience with BB6:
1. What does the grading interface look like? How many clicks does it make to grade? In the version that I know, one must do the following:
Control Panel > Gradebook > Looking at a screen of numbers, one has to find a ! that indicates something is submitted and not graded. I click on that and then have to go through a whole series of clicks before I get my grading done. See the attached.
2. Is there an option to add or subtract points from the total score and indicate a reason? In WebCT I can indicate a penalty or a bonus on any assessment, along with an explanation.
3. Can one do a simple copy and paste when a student is submitting or I am making comments? Currently, I have to do control V and C - and the interface is really buggy. There is also a general lack of control when making any post.
4. Can I be informed via my normal E-Mail when work is submitted, posting is done in discussion, or a message is sent to me?
5. Is the messaging system a real one? Does the student know when they have a message? In the current system, they have to go into the messages system and check their inbox - there is nothing to flag that there is a new message or new posts.
6. Can I see the file structure? In WebCT, if I make an edit to a document, I can upload it to the same folder and then update the course - that new document is then visible. In the BB that I know, I have to delete the document and upload a new one - never knowing where it went.
7. Do conditional settings transfer from one course shell to another? In the BB I know, I have to redo these every term.
8. Can pools of questions be created after the fact? In the BB I know, I have to upload questions as a pool. In WebCT, I can add a question to an assessment and then pick and choose my alternates. I can also very quickly and very simply make corrections to questions - in BB this process is crazy - I have to figure out what pool a question is in and then find that question in that pool. I don't have a single quiz interface where I can see the titles of each question and readily view them.