Guidelines and Policies
for Using WebCT at Northern Michigan University
To
request the use of WebCT for a NMU course, the instructor-on-record must complete
the request form at http://myweb.nmu.edu/faculty This
request will automatically inform Instructional
Technology of the need for the course as well as to populate the class with
the student roster. Instructors may request one WebCT course for multi-course
sections or a separate WebCT courses for each course section.
Co-instructors must be added to courses through the Registrar's office.
Teaching
Assistants can be added to a WebCT class with designer, TA, or student
access as long as the teaching assistant is a graduate student. Undergraduate teaching assistants can have student access only. A teaching assistant account is an unique ID and password and will
be created upon request. To request a teaching assistance account the instructor-on-record
must contact the Instructional Technologist at msmock@nmu.edu.
In the request, include the course ID and teaching assistants' first and last
name. Teaching Assistant access includes:
- access to any tools or pages in the
course
- grade assignments and assessments
- access to the Grade Book
- post Mail
messages and Discussion topics and chat
Class
rosters and class schedules are loaded
into WebCT on the "work day" prior to the posted start date of the
class. "Work day" is defined as Monday-Friday.
-
Rosters
are updated once a day between 3:00 A.M. - 6:00 A.M.
-
Listed
in the rosters are the students' last name, first name, and NMU User ID.
-
If a student is enrolled
in a course but does not appear on the roster in WebCT the cause may be
either the student added the course after the last roster update or the
student does not have a social security number.
-
Students
no longer enrolled in a course will lose access to the course in the next
update. Their name and User ID will remain in the list in the Grade Book with a red circle stamped to the left of the student's last name indicating the student no longer
has access.
-
Reasons for students
loosing access to a WebCT course may be:
- the student withdrew from the course
- the student did not pay tuition and fees
- the student was dropped
by request of the instructor.
-
If
a student needs to be re-instated into a course they will be automatically added in the next nightly update.
-
Student
access ends at Noon on the Tuesday past the posted last day of class.
-
Course
that meet outside the semester schedule will not have access to WebCT
unless special arrangements are made.
Incomplete
Student Grades:Any
student assigned an incomplete grade in a course using WebCT may continue
access to the course. The instructor must complete the request for continue
access for students receiving an incomplete at http://myweb.nmu.edu/faculty. This
request must be completed by Noon on the Tuesday after the end of the semester.
The “Homepage” of a WebCT course may be modified
by the instructor(s).
- colors
- background
image (NOTE: background images can
distract from displayed icons and links.
You may be asked to make adjustments if users find it difficult to view.)
The
instructor(s) name and NMU e-mail address should be listed on the homepage. The instructor's office telephone number may also be listed. Any links to course content outside of WebCT/BLS should have asterisks " * " at the beginning and end of the link to indicate to the students they are accessing information outside of WebCT. This is important knowledge for the students and to the HelpDesk so if the linked website is not available the student will not panic thinking there is a problem with their computer.
Available
resources and assistance:
- WebCT
informational pages for instructors may be found by using the Help link located
at the top of the screen or at http://it.nmu.edu/webct
- Faculty
needing assistance with WebCT may visit, call, or e-mail the CITE located
in the LRC, room 128,
906-227-CITE
(2483), webct@nmu.edu or complete the Need Help? form located on the WebCT homepage
- Students
needing help accessing WebCT may visit, call or e-mail the HelpDesk at LRC
room 116, 906-227-2468, helpdesk@nmu.edu or complete the Need Help? form located on the WebCT
homepage.
Wired
vs. Wireless in the classroom for in-class on-line quizzes, test, exams and/or
surveys:
- Wireless access
in classrooms may be limited and can be unpredictable. Wired access is faster and more
reliable.
- Spyware invades computers without
the user's knowledge. Users should run an anti-spyware program such as Microsoft Defender at least once a week and should
run Defender the evening before taking an online test. Instructions for anti-spyware are available on the NMU Data and Information folder and at http://www.acs.nmu.edu/1/5.28.php
- Instructors may want to be prepared
with a few paper copies of a quiz, test and exam for students who may forget
their laptops, network cable or experience computer problems.
- Instructors may want to consider
the following to deter cheating:
- using Respondus Lockdown Browser
- randomizing questions and/or
possible answers for multi-choice tests
- password protect the quiz, text,
and/or exam
- note the time each students
leave the classroom and cross-reference the time on the Submission page
to confirm students are not finishing the test outside the classroom. OR
grade each students quiz as they leave the classroom.
- do not release scores, questions
and/or correct answers until everyone in the class has taken the quiz, test
and/or exam
Textbook
Materials:
- Many textbook publishers
offer web supported materials. If you wish to use these materials for
your course please contact the Instructional Technologist at msmock@nmu.edu
- All textbook materials
must be tested before loading to the WebCT server
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