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'WebCT', now owned by Blackboard and is being phased out, was an online proprietary virtual learning environment system which was sold to colleges and other institutions and was used in many campuses for e-learning. Instructors could add to their WebCT courses tools such as discussion boards, mail systems and live chat, along with content such as documents and web pages.
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 was 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.
The software was 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 permitted integration of material prepared locally with material purchased from publishers.
WebCT had long been criticized for being the most difficult of the course management systems to use. This criticism partly reflected the flexibility and power of the system - where other systems present a single way of organizing or adding course material, WebCT offered several options with more of the structure left to the individual instructor. The "Vista" version of the product represented an attempt to derive a more even balance between flexibility and ease of use, and while it has been successful in some ways, it was still generally considered more flexible and less easy to use than some of its competitors.
Some WebCT criticisms which were apparent include problems using it in multiple tabs or browser windows, heavy reliance on Java for its user experience [1], usage of too many browser framesets [2], and problems using standard browser navigation tools (i.e. the Back and Forward commands).
WebCT, like most of its competitors, had a long history of failing to meet guidelines for accessibility; these include, but are not limited to, the following studies:
★ ''Conformance of WebCT v3.6 to W3C's Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines 1.0(2001)''
★ ''Bringing Your WebCT Course into ADA Compliance: A Nuts and Bolts Approach (2001)''
★ ''An Accessibility Audit of WebCT (2002)''
★ ''Is WebCT Vista Accessible? (2006)''
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.
★ .LRN
★ Blackboard
★ Desire2Learn
★ Dokeos
★ Edumate
★ Ilias_%28software%29
★ Knowledge Forum
★ LON-CAPA
★ Moodle
★ OLAT
★ Sakai Project
★ Scholar360
★ Wizdom Web
★ WebWeaver Suite
★ Historical video - Murray Goldberg introducing WebCT in 1998 - 1:30 min
★
★ Windows Media version
★
★ Real Media version
★ Content providers
★ Demonstrations and examples of courses developed using the software (Campus edition)
★ Global Training Technologies distributes Business training over WebCT
★ La Marca vs. Capella University Lawsuit regarding WebCT
★ WebCT Wiki Support and Documentation for Blackboard CE users
★ Blackboard home page
| Contents |
| Background |
| Textbooks and publishing |
| Criticisms |
| Similar e-learning platforms |
| External links |
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 was 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.
Textbooks and publishing
The software was 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 permitted integration of material prepared locally with material purchased from publishers.
Criticisms
WebCT had long been criticized for being the most difficult of the course management systems to use. This criticism partly reflected the flexibility and power of the system - where other systems present a single way of organizing or adding course material, WebCT offered several options with more of the structure left to the individual instructor. The "Vista" version of the product represented an attempt to derive a more even balance between flexibility and ease of use, and while it has been successful in some ways, it was still generally considered more flexible and less easy to use than some of its competitors.
Some WebCT criticisms which were apparent include problems using it in multiple tabs or browser windows, heavy reliance on Java for its user experience [1], usage of too many browser framesets [2], and problems using standard browser navigation tools (i.e. the Back and Forward commands).
WebCT, like most of its competitors, had a long history of failing to meet guidelines for accessibility; these include, but are not limited to, the following studies:
★ ''Conformance of WebCT v3.6 to W3C's Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines 1.0(2001)''
★ ''Bringing Your WebCT Course into ADA Compliance: A Nuts and Bolts Approach (2001)''
★ ''An Accessibility Audit of WebCT (2002)''
★ ''Is WebCT Vista Accessible? (2006)''
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.
Similar e-learning platforms
★ .LRN
★ Blackboard
★ Desire2Learn
★ Dokeos
★ Edumate
★ Ilias_%28software%29
★ Knowledge Forum
★ LON-CAPA
★ Moodle
★ OLAT
★ Sakai Project
★ Scholar360
★ Wizdom Web
★ WebWeaver Suite
External links
★ Historical video - Murray Goldberg introducing WebCT in 1998 - 1:30 min
★
★ Windows Media version
★
★ Real Media version
★ Content providers
★ Demonstrations and examples of courses developed using the software (Campus edition)
★ Global Training Technologies distributes Business training over WebCT
★ La Marca vs. Capella University Lawsuit regarding WebCT
★ WebCT Wiki Support and Documentation for Blackboard CE users
★ Blackboard home page
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