WebCT is a computer program designed to help professors remain in contact with their classes and update grade reports, but not all professors use the site.

Mike Hoadley, assistant vice president for academic affairs for technology, said that 157 faculty reported using WebCT in the fall semester, and 163 faculty used it in spring. Eastern has approximately 600 faculty members on campus.

Hoadley said the numbers should be considered as estimates instead of hard, fast figures.

He considers WebCT a teaching tool that professors can choose to use, similar to digital cameras or overheads. He thinks faculty should use it if they think it can help them.

At the Oct. 31 Faculty Senate meeting, members of the Student Senate proposed that professors be required to post students’ grades through WebCT or a similar secure program.

Student Body President Sean Anderson and Dave Keyes, student vice president for academic affairs, made the proposal.

They said because of the system’s security they feel there is no danger of grades being exposed. It would also be more convenient for students to check their grades, they said.

At the Jan. 9 Faculty Senate meeting it was reported that there had been further discussion with the Student Senate to require faculty to keep their grades on WebCT, but no action was taken.

Any resolution would be a recommendation to the provost who would decide whether or not to act on it.

Hoadley said that it’s not his job to force faculty to use the program, but he and his staff are ready and willing to help any faculty member interested in the program.

Bob Jorstad, a geology/geography professor, said, “The Internet should be free and not encumbered by stuff.”

He went on to say that while the Internet does have a place, he has no use for it.

Gina Paladino, a graduate assistant, disagrees. She said it is a very useful tool for professors.

She said that whether or not professors use the program depends on how comfortable they are with technology.

History professor Robert Beck uses the program, but said he doesn’t use it as much as he could.

He said it has a long set up time, which can be a barrier to using the system. When the system is running, he considers it simple to manage and update.

He said it works out well for his classes, since he can put up materials for his courses that used to be held in reserve.

Currently, he doesn’t fully use the discussion group options of the program, which would allow contact between himself and his students outside of class.

He thinks it’s easier than creating a Web site since most of the work is already in place.

While Beck uses WebCT, other professors maintain their own Web sites.

Jim Davis, a geology/geography professor, has a site he edits through Microsoft Word and uploads.

He said it is ample for his purposes, although he doesn’t have much of the functionality that WebCT provides like discussion groups.

He provides past tests, the syllabus, study materials and similar documents through the site.

Because Web sites do not ensure security, students’ grades are not posted on them. This means students either have to track their own grades or contact Davis directly.

Hoadley said that the campus will begin updating to WebCT Campus Edition 6 over the summer. Training begins this semester on the new options in this system.

The full transition will not be completed until January of 2008. Throughout the Fall 2007 semester faculty will be trained on the new system and shifted to the new system.

All of their current information will be shifted over to the system. Hoadley said the transition has been seamless in the testing they have done.

Click to visit the webCT site and learn more.