Webct – A Powerful Web Enhanced Instruction Tool For Engineering Technology Courses

We started using web-enhanced instruction in Engineering Technology (ET) courses in 2000 when BlackBoard – CourseInfo (also called CourseInfo for simplicity) was made available. It was a very user friendly web tool that both instructor and students could learn quickly. In 2003 our university decided to adopt WebCT for its compatibility with the existing Student Information System (SIS). Although it took longer to learn different tools and the process was very involved, we soon found out that WebCT is more powerful than CourseInfo. The author is using WebCT in several ET courses including Engineering Fundamentals, 2-D CADD, 3-D CADD, Statics, Dynamics, Strength of Materials, Thermodynamics, Fluid Power, and Industrial Safety. WebCT’s excellent file management system is very helpful in the CADD classes particularly when students are required to submit several files for each project. The files are grouped under each student’s ID and zipped so that the instructor needs to download only one file and unzip it. This feature was not available on CourseInfo. The digital drop box lets students submit their assignment, tests, term papers and project reports electronically while eliminating the need for hard copies, floppy/zip disks or CD’s. The instructor can edit the drop box settings such as deadline, multiple submissions, late submission and release of grades etc. When multiple submissions are allowed, students can submit the updated files only after retrieving the old files so that the instructor need not deal with dozens of unnecessary files whereas this was a major problem we faced while using CourseInfo. Built-in tools such as the organizer page, single page, and url page can be effectively used to customize and present the course information neatly on the WecbCT site. Posting and editing of announcements, assignments and projects, and keys to test problems has been made easy on WebCT. There are several communication tools for the students to interact with the instructor and among themselves. The e-mail feature can be used to communicate with a particular student, a group or the entire class. Currently on WebCT, there is no limit on the disk space or file size to be uploaded and therefore, instructional mpeg videos, PowerPoint presentations and slide shows are made available to the students. We could not do this on CourseInfo for reasons unknown.