WebCT

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

WebCT is an online proprietary virtual learning environment system which is sold to colleges and other institutions and is used extensively in many campuses for e-learning. Instructors can add to their WebCT courses tools such as discussion boards, mail systems and live chat, along with content such as documents and web pages.

1 Background
2 Software
3 Textbooks and publishing
4 Criticisms
5 Similar e-learning platforms
6 External links

[edit] Background

WebCT was originally developed at the University of British Columbia by a faculty member in computer science, Murray W. Goldberg. In 1995 Goldberg began looking at the application of web-based systems to education. His research showed that student satisfaction and academic performance could be improved through the use of a web-based educational resource, or web-based course tools (from which the name WebCT is derived). In order to continue his research he decided to build a system to ease the creation of web-based learning environments. This led to the first version of WebCT in early 1996, first presented at the 5th international World Wide Web conference in Paris during the spring of 1996. In 1997 Goldberg created a company, WebCT Educational Technologies Corporation, a spinoff company of UBC. Goldberg grew the company until 1999, at which point the company served approximately 2 - 3 million students in 30 countries. In mid 1999, WebCT was acquired by ULT (Universal Learning Technology), a Boston-based company headed by Carol Vallone. Ms. Vallone continued to grow the company to the point where it advertised over 10 million student users in 80 countries. Goldberg left as Canadian president of WebCT in 2002. In February 2006, WebCT was acquired by rival Blackboard Inc. As part of the merger terms with Blackboard, the WebCT name will be phased out over time in favor of the Blackboard brand.

WebCT is notable for being the first commercially successful virtual learning environment. During its first four or five years of operation it was a de-facto standard in that it served a far larger population of users than any of its competitors. Its largest competitor based on ease of use was CourseInfo LLC prior to Blackboard Inc.'s purchase of them.

[edit] Software

Blackboard Inc. currently has two versions of WebCT: WebCT Vista and WebCT Campus Edition. Vista is a full-featured enterprise version and the Campus Edition is targeted at institutions which already have existing services such as file storage systems and course registration tools.

The software has no set price but depends on the size of the institution and how it is put to use [1] [2].

[edit] Textbooks and publishing

The software is used in electronic publishing. In order to use a textbook or other learning tool published in the WebCT format, some publishers require the student to purchase a password at the bookstore or to obtain it online. The software permits integration of material prepared locally with material purchased from publishers.

[edit] Criticisms

WebCT has long been criticized for being the most difficult of the course management systems to use. This criticism partly reflects the flexibility and power of the system - where other systems present a single way of organizing or adding course material, WebCT offers several options with more of the structure left to the individual instructor. The "Vista" version of the product represents an attempt to derive a more even balance between flexibility and ease of use, and while it has been successful in some ways, it is still generally considered more flexible and less easy to use than some of its competitors.

WebCT, like most of its competitors, has a long history of failing to meet guidelines for accessibility; these include, but are not limited to, the following studies:

WebCT Vista is currently the subject of a lawsuit (La Marca vs. Capella University) on allegations that it is not accessible to students with disabilities. This lawsuit could create case law that will have ramifications on the need to design online software that is fully accessible for all students.