WebCT Vista

What is it?

WebCT Vista is an enterprise level online Learning Management System (LMS) that allows you to login from anywhere to access your class materials and interact with one another.

WebCT Vista allows UBC to:

• support the continued demand for online and blended learning (33,000+ users)
• provide tool flexibility and enhancements to meet teaching expectations and technology requirements (more tools & functionality)
• provide a robust system that is scalable and reliable

There are many tools and features to support your teaching and learning goals. Here are some highlights:

• Communication Tools : Discussion board, Chat Room, Whiteboard, Who's Online, Live Classroom, Voice Board
• Content Tools : Learning Modules, Media Library, Search
• Evaluation Tools : Quizzes, Surveys, Self-Tests, Assignments, Turnitin
• Self Management Tools : Grade book, Calender, Announcements, To Do Lists

Who Can Use This?

All UBC faculty and staff can request a WebCT Vista section - whether it's for a credit course or non-credit course (also called a workshop)

Uses and Benefits

Why would I choose WebCT Vista?

Academic Uses:

• Provide your students with online material they can access at their own convenience.
• Students take a pre-quiz or self-assessment quiz before they attend the face-2-face class.
• Offer students multimedia rich content
• Students can upload assignments using the assignment dropbox (no more emailing back and forth!)
• Students/participants can interact with each other and the instructor/moderator using the discussions area

Business Uses:

• Streamline distribution and updating of HR/administrative policies and procedures
• Create a Community of Practice site for dentists
• Streamline training of new hires and customers
• Create training modules and assessments for your sales staff

Some of the benefits are:

• It is available 24 hours a day
• 7 days a week except for minimal scheduled downtime (UBC campus will be informed in advance).
• Available at UBC and anywhere with internet access.
• Enhances interaction by providing a variety of communication and assessment tools

Note: It must be emphasised however that using WebCT for the first time for teaching can be time-consuming and requires a degree of commitment on the part of the lecturer. The best advice is to start off small and take it slowly, gradually building your online presence as your skills and confidence grow.

Examples

The Orientation to Learning Online is a self-paced online tutorial for students. You can self-enrol into this vista section with your CWL (Campus-Wide Login) - follow these instructions.
Step 1: Go to: https://www.ctc2.elearning.ubc.ca/VistaSelfEnroll/CourseList
Step 2: Type in "CTLT - Orientation to Learning Online" and hit Search.

Or if you would just like to take a peek at this site without self-enrolling, login in at http://www.elearning.ubc.ca/lms/login-to-vista/ with the following info:

• username:oltdemo
• password: oltdemo8987

The Orientation to Teaching Online is a self-paced online tutorial for instructors. You can self-enrol into this vista section with your CWL - follow these instructions.
Step 1: Go to: https://www.ctc2.elearning.ubc.ca/VistaSelfEnroll/CourseList
Step 2: Type in "CTLT - Orientation to Teaching Online" and hit Search.

Or If you would just like to take a peek at this site without self-enrolling, login in at http://www.elearning.ubc.ca/lms/login-to-vista/ with the following info:

• username:oltdemo
• password: oltdemo8987

Demo Sample Courses

Instructions to access demo courses

We have set up some demo versions of actual courses. To access the courses, go to: https://www.ctc2.elearning.ubc.ca/VistaSelfEnroll/CourseList

1. In the Search box, type the word "OLT" and click the Search button.
2. Click the Search button
3. Choose the course code(s) you would like to view. Below are the titles of the course.
4. Click the CWL Login button
5. Enter your CWL login and password
6. Enter code falafel

Course IDs and Titles

• DHYG 401: Dental Hygiene: Oral Epidemiology

• EOSC 311 - Earth and Ocean Scienes: Earth and Its Resources
• EOSC 114 - Earth and Ocean Scienes: Natural Disasters

• ETEC 510 - Education: Educational Technology: Design of Technology - Supported Learning Environments

• FNH 250 - Foods & Nutritional Sciences: Nutrition Concepts and Controversies

• HIST 102 - World History from 1500 to the Twentieth Century

Get Started

1. Request a Vista Shell

Fill out the Request a Vista Section online form from UBC IT.

2. Introducing WebCT Vista to your students/participants

When class begins, it is important to give your students a clear introduction to the online course. Technical skills will vary among your students, so the information you provide should cover all the bases while being concise and not overwhelming. Your hand-out should include:

• course URL
• overview and expectations (include how the online portion of the course is weighted against the in-class portion if the course has both components)
• help Resources (include contact for Information Technology and the e-Learning website: http://www.elearning.ubc.ca/lms/)

3. Responding to student problems

Throughout the first month of the course, as students become acquainted with the course they may encounter problems such as forgotten logins or pages of content that won't display. For login problems, students should contact Information Technology Help Desk in person, by phone, or using the Contact Information Technology webform.

If a problem is related to your course content, students should address their questions to you as designer and not UBC IT. If you encounter a problem of this type that you can't resolve, contact your Instructional Support Unit.

4. Updating content and moderating email and discussions

Periodic updates to content are important for keeping your students engaged. The Faculty Support Units are available for support as well as design ideas throughout this process. As the term continues, you will need to budget time for responding to the discussions and email of your students. Online courses can provide a very effective environment for interaction among students and instructors.

For further reference, the Orientation to Teaching Online pages offer resources about teaching and learning online. These resources offer a primer to instructors who are new to teaching online and are developing courses to make the most of the online teaching environment.

Resources

WebCT Vista Course Examples

• Course: Orientation to Learning Online https://www.ctc2.elearning.ubc.ca/VistaSelfEnroll/CourseList (self-paced tutorial for students)

When you arrive at the self-enrol page, type in "Orientation to Learning Online"

• • username: oltdemo password: oltdemo8987

• Course: Orientation to Teaching Online https://www.ctc2.elearning.ubc.ca/VistaSelfEnroll/CourseList (self-paced tutorial for instructors)

When you arrive at the self-enrol page, type in "Orientation to Teaching Online"

• • username: oltdemo password: oltdemo8987

UBC Resources

• Getting Started with Vista: http://www.elearning.ubc.ca/lms/getting-started-with-vista/

For Instructors

• Instructor Resources: http://www.elearning.ubc.ca/lms/instructor-resources/
• WebCT Vista Guides and Tutorials for Instructors

For Students

• Student Resources: http://www.elearning.ubc.ca/lms/student-resources/
• WebCT Vista Guides and Tutorials for Students

Tips

Prepare Your Browser Settings for WebCT Vista

After you have logged into WebCT Vista, click the Browser Check button located at the top right of the screen. The Browser Check does a quick diagnostic of your computer to prepare for the WebCT Vista environment.

Create an Instructor Contact document

• In the Build Tab, click on Add File >> Create File
• Enter a title for your new document, example Instructor Contact Info.
• Enter some text in the empty Content box (you can also 'pretty' the document up by clicking on the Enable HTML Creator button) below and click Save.
• Go into the Student View tab and view the new document.

Create a Header

Customize your course by adding a Welcome header onto the homepage

• In the Build Tab, on the Homepage, click on Page Options >> Edit Header
• Type a welcome message - example Welcome to History 103 B
• If you would like to make the message bold, italicized or add some colour, click the Enable HTML Creator. Click Save.
• The same steps apply for adding a footer to the bottom of your Homepage.

Adding New Icons

WebCT Vista comes with a default set of icons. To add some flare to your own vista section, upload your own icons!

• In the Build Tab, click the dropdown menu on a folder or a tool
• The Edit Properties window opens. Click the Replace Icon button and locate an image
  on your computer. Click Save.