WebCT Vista Fact Sheet
Implementing USG’s online learning management system
Facts from
www.usg.edu/oiit/
How does technology expand the boundaries of teaching and learning?
The GeorgiaVIEW (Vista Implementation Enterprise-
Wide) project is a University System of Georgia
(USG) initiative to upgrade all USG campuses from
WebCT Campus Edition to WebCT Vista. WebCT Vista, a state-of-the-art learning management system , provides instructors and students with a comprehensive set of easy-to-use tools for designing and managing both web-based and face-to-face courses.
With 24/7 access via the web, this technology facilitates creating interactive, anytime, anywhere learning environments.
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WebCT Vista is the integrated academic enterprise solution used by USG institutions and supported by
Advanced Learning Technologies (ALT), a division of the Office of Information and Instructional Technology
(OIIT). Classes in which instruction is face to face, fully online, partially online, or hybrid all rely on
WebCT Vista, delivered via PeachNet , for the following premier electronic resources and tools:
Instructional Preparation and Content
Organize course materials online for easy access
Create content and learning activities
Post class syllabi, study guides, and notes
Set up threaded discussion groups and topics
Link to other resources
Course Management
Manage class assignments, papers submitted, deadlines, tests, and grades
Provide students with feedback
Manage group activities
Communication
Customize home page views by institution, faculty, and student
Post announcements
Participate in and monitor discussion boards and chat rooms
Check who is on line at any time and access buddy lists
Assessment
Develop study guides, self tests, and quizzes
Conduct student surveys for quick feedback
Track evaluations
Student Tools
Take notes
Use self-tests to study
Monitor personal progress
Communicate with faculty and other students
Collaborate with project teams
Integration with Other Applications
Integrates with Banner Student Information
System and campus portal technology
Links to GALILEO, Georgia’s Virtual Library
C
H A L L E N G E S
Every semester, the number of courses using WebCT
Vista has increased, and the amount of activity across the USG has doubled. As of January 2006, the USG has offered nearly 8,000 different courses and supported more than 164,000 active users.
The challenge is to meet the demand for technical and functional support created by this phenomenal growth.
Faculty and students are becoming increasingly dependent on WebCT Vista to deliver content and to communicate with each other.
Because the USG does not use a common academic calendar across institutions, the downtime for WebCT Vista upgrades is limited to one week per year.
Because WebCT Vista must integrate successfully with other essential enterprise applications, testing must be rigorous and extensive.
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O L U T I O N S
When the implementation is complete, two USG sites will host WebCT Vista for 33 of the 35 USG campuses, resulting in an improved baseline set of instructional tools and consolidation of services.
Expert campus support is readily available because
USG has one of the largest WebCT Vista implementations with a network of more certified administrators and trainers than anywhere else in the world.
GeorgiaVIEW is building a comprehensive knowledge base for self-service customer support.
ALT develops and distributes tools that help USG faculty prepare for, create, and use online instruction.
Faculty use these tools to build WebCT VISTA content, map face-to-face courses to the online environment, and develop interactive multimedia instructional materials.
A learning management system is a set of webbased tools for teaching, learning, communication, and class administration.
PeachNet is the statewide network that supports all information and instructional technology efforts for the
USG and the Georgia Public Library Service (GPLS).
An enterprise solution is an application that is used and supported system-wide by the USG.
A hybrid course uses technology to deliver 50 percent or fewer class sessions, but at least one class session per term is replaced by technology.
Office of Information and Instructional Technology Building the Integrated Learning Environment
Implementing USG’s online learning management system
Facts from
www.usg.edu/oiit/
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U T C O M E S A N D
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E N E F I T S
High quality, consistent educational tools that offer maximum institutional control and customization
Integration with other USG-supported applications
Easy sharing of instructional materials across courses, departments, and institutions
Increased collaboration among instructors and students
Reduction in classroom space needed for increasing enrollments
Easy access to classes for faculty and students who are off-site
Convenient single resource for grades, calendar, course materials, quizzes, and communications
Accountability for core courses using standardized evaluations
Enhanced faculty creativity to stretch the learning boundaries
W H A T ’ S N E X T
Upgrade to WebCT Vista 4
End of USG contract for current WebCT Campus
Edition (December 2006)
Increased self-service customer support
Development of strategic alliances with other state agencies
Integration with secondary products for additional functionality for students and faculty
WebCT Vista provides USG’s technologically savvy students and faculty with what they need: a convenient way to connect and communicate with each other.
R E D U C E D C O S T S
Higher level of services at lower cost than if institutions provided services on their own
More than $4 million in licensing costs avoided annually by system-wide licensing
Decreased need for new classrooms
Economies of scale from licensing, shared materials, and centralized expertise and support
W A N T T O K N O W M O R E ?
For more information about USG’s WebCT Vista implementation, visit the GeorgiaVIEW website at http://alt.usg.edu/gaview/ .
For more information about ALT’s efforts to expand access and enhance learning in the USG, visit the
ALT website at http://alt.usg.edu/ .
For more Facts from OIIT about other USG technology initiatives, visit the OIIT website at http://www.usg.edu/oiit .
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U S G ’
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N T E G R A T E D
L E A R N I N G E N V I R O N M E N T ( I L E )
WebCT Vista is the USG’s academic enterprise solution—learning management system—for the Integrated Learning Environment. The graphic shows some instructional and administrative functions and the enterprise technologies that must work together seamlessly.
Students must be recruited, admitted, and registered; they need access to books, e-mail, and the Internet; they must be able to take courses at multiple USG institutions and graduate.
Students must receive financial aid and pay tuition, parking, and housing bills.
Faculty and staff must have technological tools to teach, conduct research, and provide services.
Those with visual, auditory, or motor impairments need full access to all online educational opportunities.
Data for informed decision making and reporting must be collected.
Technologies for learning in the classroom and on line, and for accessing library resources and student services throughout the state from anywhere must be robust, reliable, and secure.
Faculty and staff must be compensated and receive benefits.
“Creating A More Educated Georgia” www.usg.edu
