WebCT

SOE WebCT Links

WebCT Main Home Page

WebCT Help Links:

 

SOE WebCT FAQ

Version 3

 

Dumping your Cache

If you get a notice that it says WebCT is still down then it
is probably your browser playing tricks on you. You will need to
dump your cache.
In Internet Explorer:
1. Click "Tools+InternetOptions"
2. Under "General" click the "Delete Files..." button.
3. Click OK on that Delete Files window that pops up.
4. Click OK on the Internet Options window.
5. You should now be able to goto:
http://webct.colostate.edu/
In Netscape:
1. Click "Edit+Preferences..."
2. Click "Advanced+Cache"
3. Click the "Clear Memory Cache" button
4. Click the "Clear Disk Cache" button
5. Click OK
6. You should now be able to goto:
http://webct.colostate.edu/

 

Do I need to set preferences for Netscape and Internet Explorer?

Users of WebCT will occasionally experience erratic behavior when attempting to update screen and changing settings throughout the program. These problems are usually the result of incorrect preference settings in your web browser software. The following instructions should take care of the problem:

Instructions for I.E. 5.x:
1. Select "Internet Options..." from the Tools menu.
2. Make sure you are on the "General" tab at the top of the window and click the "Settings..." button under "Temporary Internet files."
3. Select the "Every visit to the page" option under "Check for newer versions of stored pages."
4. Click OK and then OK again.
This is the appropriate setting for all WebCT designers and students using Internet Explorer, and should solve most caching problems.

Instructions for Netscape 4.x:
1. Select "Preferences..." from the Edit menu.
2. In the left-hand window, locate the Advanced option and expand it to reveal additional sub-options.
3. Click on "Cache."
4. Select the "Every time" option under "Document in cache is compared to document on network."
5. Click OK.
This setting in Netscape is required for WebCT designers, but is usually not required for students.
 

 

Recommended Software

We recommend Netscape Communicator 4.77 (not 4.78 or 6.0 or higher).
If you are using a service provider like AOL make sure you are use it with Netscape.
Internet Explorer 5.0, 5.5 or 6.0. If you have a lower rev, you must upgrade.
For the latest in WebCT compatible browser information see:
http://www.webct.com/quickstart/viewpage?name=exchange_browser_tuneup

For attaching files you will need a word processor such as MS Word, Works, Apple Works or Corel WordPerfect that can save as Rich Text Format (.rtf).You will also need the free Acrobat® Reader software see:
http://www.adobe.com/prodindex/acrobat/readstep.html

myWebCT Account

· You must have a CSU eID in order to access your courses.
· You must also be registered for your course (contact your instructor for special cases).
· A Lamar or Holly account is a CSU eID.
· If you have an eID then you can log into myWebCT using the URL provided by your instructor or:
http://webct.colostate.edu/
The UserName and Password is the same as your eID (Lamar or Holly account name and password).
· If you do not have an eID, you need to goto:
http://eid.colostate.edu/
Note: if you have forgotten your password you can change it by loging into the eID using your PID & PAC numbers.
· Once in your myWebCT Account all of your courses should be listed there.
· New messages in the Discussions Board, WebCT Mail, and Assignments will be list for your courses also.

Printing

1. Set the “focus” on the frame by clicking anywhere in that frame.
2. You will see a faint black line around the frame that has the "focus."
3. Then File+Print Frame...

Calendar

· Important dates are displayed here
· New entries will be listed whenever you enter this tool.
· Remember to set it to Public before adding or updating a posting.

Discussion Board

· Used for posting messages to the entire class.
· Post messages for discussion in an asynchronous mode.
· Preview before sending.
· Remember to click the “update listing” button after posting notes.
· Use the Quote button for replies; it copies the message you are replying to.
· Messages cannot be deleted once posted, except by the Designer.

For attachments see below.
 

WebCT Mail

· Similar to the Discussion Board, accept you send to individual students or the instructor.
· Browse to find the person you want to send to. Use the Ctrl key to select multiple recipients.
· WebCT Mail is not attached to your regular email; it is only used for your course.

· For attachments see below.

Online Chat

· Used for synchronous communication.
· Remember to enter your message in the single line “Enter your message below:” box and hit “Enter” or “Return” on the keyboard. Do not use the large “Output Interaction Box” to enter messages.
· If a # sign and a number appears after your name while you are in the chat room that means that you have opened another chat window. "Quit" the window that has the # sign and bring up the other one.
· Some of the rooms are recorded.

Reading Attachments

WebCT may not be able to read RTF or PDF files (or any type of file) as an attachment. In this case it will be necessary to first download the file, open your word processor for RTF files (Acrobat Reader for PDF files), and then open the file in that application. It may even be necessary to change the name of the file on some browsers to the name listed on the WebCT attachments screen.

Also this method has been usefull if your computer is configured correctly:
1. click the attachment icon on the message
2. you get the screen that lists the file with a circle next to it
3. click the circle
4. click the "Download" button
5. on the window that comes up, click the circle next to "Open..."
6. click OK (you might have to do steps #5 & #6 several times)
It should open in the application that it was saved in.

 

Attaching Files

The following procedure can be use when you need to place your assignments on the Discussions Board or WebCT Mail. Using the RTF file allows for best readability and virus protection.
1. Create your document as you normally would in your word processor.
2. Save as you normally would, then…
3. Save as a Rich Text Format (.rtf) file (Too do this in MS Word, you need to: File+Save As, change the "Save as Type" to Rich Text Format (.rtf) and hit Save. Mac users make sure there are no spaces in the file name and end the name with .rtf).
4. You should now have two files saved, one in your original format and a .rtf file.
5. Login to the course, and
6. Click WebCT Mail (or the Discussions Board if you are posting for all to see)
7. Click Compose Message
8. At the lower right in the window that pops up, click Browse… and browse to where you have your .rtf file saved (you may have to do an "all files" in order to see it)
9. Click Open. The full path file name should be in the attach box.
10. Click the Attach File button and wait for your file to be listed below the button (this is very important and is sometimes forgotten).
11. In WebCT Mail, browse to select the name of the person you want to send it to (this is not done on the BB, it will go to everyone).
12. Enter a Subject
13. Enter a short message in Message Body window, usually telling the person that there is an attachment.
14. Click Preview and there should be an Attachments button indicating that there is an attached file.
15. If you a satisfied then click Post (or Send on the WebCT Mail).
 

Composing Messages In A Word Processor

Composing messages in a word processor and then copying and pasting them into the message box of the WebCT composer will help you in editing and spell checking your messages before sending them:
1. Compose your message in your word processor as you normally would--proof read and spell check it.
2. Copy it to the clip board by hitting Ctrl+A and then Ctrl+C (this copies everything that was in your document to the clipboard; you may also use the Edit+Select All & Edit+Copy procedure)
3. Login to the course that you want to post a message.
4. Go into either Discussions Board or WebCT Mail and hit the compose button.
5. Select who you are sending to and enter a subject.
6. Click in the message box and Paste the message that you previously copied to the clipboard by hitting Ctrl+V (Edit+Paste).

Preview Before Sending

After you have your message the way that you want it, hit the Preview button. It will appear the way it will be sent; this may not be like you want it. If you like it, hit the Send (Post) button. If not, then hit the Edit button and make your changes. Preview all messages because it will also give you a chance to check to see if you attached your file correctly.

Lists In Messages

The best way to compose messages in WebCT is to have a blank line between paragraphs; this includes lists. Without the blank line, WebCT will concatenate the paragraphs together. You will see this if you preview the message. To make a list with no blank line between the list items, you must hit the Don't Wrap button. This will allow lists but will also require you to hit Enter at the end of each line that you want Wrapped.

Message Embellishments

WebCT accepts simple HTML commands in the message boxes. So you can make your messages have <b>bold </b>, <i>italics</i>, <u>underline</u> or even change the <font size=4>font size</font>. Notice you must have a beginning and an ending code or everything from then on will be changed. You can also mix codes: <b><i><u><font size=4>mixed codes</b></i></u></font> There are other html codes that can be used; these are the most common that students may need.