WebCT
Encyclopedia
WebCT or Blackboard Learning System, now owned by Blackboard
, is an online
proprietary
virtual learning environment
system that is sold to colleges and other institutions and used in many campus
es for e-learning
. To their WebCT courses, instructors can add such tools as discussion boards, mail systems, and live chat, along with content including documents and web pages. The latest versions of this software are now called Webcourses. WebCT is significant in that it was the world's first widely successful course management system for higher education. At its height, it was in use by over 10 million students in 80 countries.
by a faculty member in computer science, Murray Goldberg
. Goldberg is also the creator of Silicon Chalk (sold to Wimba (website)) and Brainify (website) an academic social bookmarking and networking site. 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 it 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 its product was used by over 10 million students in 80 countries. Goldberg resigned from his position of Canadian president of WebCT in 2002. In February 2006, WebCT was acquired by rival Blackboard
Inc. As part of the acquisition terms with Blackboard, the WebCT name will be phased out in favor of the Blackboard brand.
. 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.
" version of the product represented an attempt to derive balance between flexibility and ease of use, however it has also been the target of ease-of-use criticisms.
Some WebCT criticisms which were apparent include problems using it in multiple tabs or browser windows, heavy reliance on Java
for its user experience, usage of too many browser framesets, issues with some features requiring pop-up blockers to be turned off, and problems using standard browser navigation tools (i.e. the Back and Forward commands).
WebCT, like most of its competitors, does not meet all guidelines for accessibility; these include, but are not limited to, the following studies:
Blackboard Inc.
Blackboard Inc. is an enterprise software company with its corporate headquarters in Washington, D.C. and is primarily known as a developer of education software, in particular learning management systems. Blackboard was founded by CEO Michael Chasen and chairman Matthew Pittinsky in 1997 and...
, is an online
ONLINE
ONLINE is a magazine for information systems first published in 1977. The publisher Online, Inc. was founded the year before. In May 2002, Information Today, Inc. acquired the assets of Online Inc....
proprietary
Proprietary software
Proprietary software is computer software licensed under exclusive legal right of the copyright holder. The licensee is given the right to use the software under certain conditions, while restricted from other uses, such as modification, further distribution, or reverse engineering.Complementary...
virtual learning environment
Virtual learning environment
Defined largely by usage, the term virtual learning environment has most, if not all, of the following salient properties:* It is Web-based* It uses Web 2.0 tools for rich 2-way interaction* It includes a content management system...
system that is sold to colleges and other institutions and used in many campus
Campus
A campus is traditionally the land on which a college or university and related institutional buildings are situated. Usually a campus includes libraries, lecture halls, residence halls and park-like settings...
es for e-learning
E-learning
E-learning comprises all forms of electronically supported learning and teaching. The information and communication systems, whether networked learning or not, serve as specific media to implement the learning process...
. To their WebCT courses, instructors can add such tools as discussion boards, mail systems, and live chat, along with content including documents and web pages. The latest versions of this software are now called Webcourses. WebCT is significant in that it was the world's first widely successful course management system for higher education. At its height, it was in use by over 10 million students in 80 countries.
Background
WebCT was originally developed at the University of British ColumbiaUniversity of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
by a faculty member in computer science, Murray Goldberg
Murray Goldberg
Murray Goldberg is a noted Canadian educational technologist and a faculty member in the department of Computer Science at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver Canada. Goldberg is best known for being the founder of the elearning companies WebCT, Brainify, Silicon Chalk, AssociCom, and...
. Goldberg is also the creator of Silicon Chalk (sold to Wimba (website)) and Brainify (website) an academic social bookmarking and networking site. 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 it 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 its product was used by over 10 million students in 80 countries. Goldberg resigned from his position of Canadian president of WebCT in 2002. In February 2006, WebCT was acquired by rival Blackboard
Blackboard Inc.
Blackboard Inc. is an enterprise software company with its corporate headquarters in Washington, D.C. and is primarily known as a developer of education software, in particular learning management systems. Blackboard was founded by CEO Michael Chasen and chairman Matthew Pittinsky in 1997 and...
Inc. As part of the acquisition terms with Blackboard, the WebCT name will be phased out in favor of the Blackboard brand.
Textbooks and publishing
The software was used in electronic publishingElectronic publishing
Electronic publishing or ePublishing includes the digital publication of e-books and electronic articles, and the development of digital libraries and catalogues. Electronic publishing has become common in scientific publishing where it has been argued that peer-reviewed scientific journals are in...
. In order to use a textbook
Textbook
A textbook or coursebook is a manual of instruction in any branch of study. Textbooks are produced according to the demands of educational institutions...
or other learning tool published in the WebCT format, some publishers require the student to purchase a password
Password
A password is a secret word or string of characters that is used for authentication, to prove identity or gain access to a resource . The password should be kept secret from those not allowed access....
at the bookstore or to obtain it online. The software permitted integration of material prepared locally with material purchased from publishers.
Criticisms
WebCT's user interface has been criticized as needlessly complex and unintuitive. The "VistaWebCT Vista
WebCT Vista is a teaching and learning enterprise software run and developed by Blackboard Inc. It is principally used by universities and other education institutions as classroom management software, and as a distance education service....
" version of the product represented an attempt to derive balance between flexibility and ease of use, however it has also been the target of ease-of-use criticisms.
Some WebCT criticisms which were apparent include problems using it in multiple tabs or browser windows, heavy reliance on Java
Java (programming language)
Java is a programming language originally developed by James Gosling at Sun Microsystems and released in 1995 as a core component of Sun Microsystems' Java platform. The language derives much of its syntax from C and C++ but has a simpler object model and fewer low-level facilities...
for its user experience, usage of too many browser framesets, issues with some features requiring pop-up blockers to be turned off, and problems using standard browser navigation tools (i.e. the Back and Forward commands).
WebCT, like most of its competitors, does not meet all 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)
External links
- Video of Murray Goldberg presenting WebCT at CICEI in 1998
- Content providers
- Demonstrations and examples of courses developed using the software (Campus edition)
- WebCT Wiki Support and Documentation for Blackboard CE users, by Brock University, Ontario, Canada
- Blackboard home page