2008 Woodie Awards
FC to Look for WebCT Replacement
With WebCT on the outs, faculty look for new options
Danielle Carrillo
Issue date: 9/27/06 Section: News
Distance Learning will change its online courses starting Fall 2007 because the WebCT edition currently used will no longer be available.
Blackboard bought out WebCT in 2005. Blackboard will no longer offer WebCT Campus Edition 4.0 after this academic school year, which is the version FC uses.
With Blackboard discontinuing WebCT 4.0 and a merger of Blackboard and WebCT that will be offered in a few years, the school has to decide on which program would be most beneficial for the interim and beyond.
The district can upgrade to WebCT Campus Edition 6.0 or switch over to Blackboard, which are similar programs. They can also use Moodle, which is an online tool some instructors in traditional classes utilize.
Moodle allows instructors to extend communication and support to students outside of the classroom. But Moodle is limited in resources, especially when compared to Blackboard.
Textbook publishers offer their own course management systems to instructors. They can purchase these e-packs through Blackboard and the online content will match up with the textbook.
Dean of Academic Services Carol Mattson said the goal is to meet students' needs by planning far enough in advance for faculty concerns, cost, and new technology.
Distance Learning Manager terry Gleason expects to be working with new products and tools through the summer. He said that as they make changes they will bring in new products, but they wont be available till the fall.
While FC uses WebCT, Cypress uses Blackboard. If the two campuses use the same product it they can share courses. More online classes and instructors will be available to students.
Mattson said the campuses are talking about agreeing on a program because students take classes at both campuses. It would save time, energy and money on licensing fees if they use the same program.
Gleason would like to have it uniform throughout the district, including the School of Continuing Education. They continue to outsource their Distance Learning programs to Education to Go. The courses offered are not college courses.
Today's meeting will be held at the district at 2 pm. The first hour of the meeting will consist of demonstrations of the three different programs from instructors. The rest of the meeting will be with sales representatives discussing their products.
Blackboard bought out WebCT in 2005. Blackboard will no longer offer WebCT Campus Edition 4.0 after this academic school year, which is the version FC uses.
With Blackboard discontinuing WebCT 4.0 and a merger of Blackboard and WebCT that will be offered in a few years, the school has to decide on which program would be most beneficial for the interim and beyond.
The district can upgrade to WebCT Campus Edition 6.0 or switch over to Blackboard, which are similar programs. They can also use Moodle, which is an online tool some instructors in traditional classes utilize.
Moodle allows instructors to extend communication and support to students outside of the classroom. But Moodle is limited in resources, especially when compared to Blackboard.
Textbook publishers offer their own course management systems to instructors. They can purchase these e-packs through Blackboard and the online content will match up with the textbook.
Dean of Academic Services Carol Mattson said the goal is to meet students' needs by planning far enough in advance for faculty concerns, cost, and new technology.
Distance Learning Manager terry Gleason expects to be working with new products and tools through the summer. He said that as they make changes they will bring in new products, but they wont be available till the fall.
While FC uses WebCT, Cypress uses Blackboard. If the two campuses use the same product it they can share courses. More online classes and instructors will be available to students.
Mattson said the campuses are talking about agreeing on a program because students take classes at both campuses. It would save time, energy and money on licensing fees if they use the same program.
Gleason would like to have it uniform throughout the district, including the School of Continuing Education. They continue to outsource their Distance Learning programs to Education to Go. The courses offered are not college courses.
Today's meeting will be held at the district at 2 pm. The first hour of the meeting will consist of demonstrations of the three different programs from instructors. The rest of the meeting will be with sales representatives discussing their products.
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