Student guide to WebCT

Transcription

1 Student guide to WebCT This guide includes: How to log in to WebCT from within and outwith QMU o Your username and password o Setting up your computer to work with WebCT o Customising your WebCT including changing the font size Where to go for help Frequently Asked Questions: o Troubleshooting your computer o Uploading assignments to WebCT in your school area o Accessing WebCT from the NHS o Accessing modules o Making WebCT go faster o TurnitinUK in WebCT o Audio and video in WebCT o Advice about printing o Changing security settings to allow automatic file downloads o Enabling the audio setting when using Citrix Remote Access Version April 2009 Centre for Academic Practice Queen Margaret University

2 WHAT IS WEBCT? WebCT is a web based Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) and will be important for your studies at QMU. It provides a set of online educational tools to facilitate learning, communication and collaboration. It is vital that you access WebCT on a regular basis for your modules and also for the school areas where you need to submit an electronic copy of your assignment. To access WebCT, you will need a computer that has access to the Internet. HOW TO LOG IN INTO WEBCT FROM WITHIN QMU Log into one of the computers on the Edinburgh campus, start up Internet Explorer and type the following Web address in the address line of your web browser: You will also see a link to WebCT on the left-hand side of the first page which automatically opens when you start Internet Explorer on campus. HOW TO LOG INTO WEBCT FROM OUTWITH QMU There are two ways to access WebCT from outwith QMU 1. Through the quick links on the QMU home page At home or at work, you can also access WebCT using a computer with Internet access. Start up Internet Explorer (or any other supported web browser) and go to the QMU Website: and use the Quick Links menu to select WebCT: - 1 -

3 2. Through the remote desktop (or Citrix) Citrix is software that allows you to access your QMU student desktop from outwith QMU and has the advantage that it is set up specifically for WebCT. You can log into the QMU network and use all the resources that are available at the Edinburgh campus through the remote desktop. Further information about the remote desktop and download instructions are available at: Once you have logged into the remote desktop, start up Internet Explorer and type the following Web address in the address line of your web browser to access WebCT: Please note: If you are accessing video or audio in WebCT, it is better to access WebCT from outwith QMU by going directly to the WebCT site rather than using remote login. SETTING UP YOUR COMPUTER Accepting security messages This is important if you are accessing WebCT from within or outwith QMU. As WebCT is on a secure server, you may receive one or two security warning messages via a pop-up screen when you log into WebCT: - 2 -

4 If the pop-up offers any method of making acceptance permanent eg an Always button or a tick box, please use this, otherwise click OK, Run or Accept to continue. The message will change according to your web browser. Don t be surprised if you see more than one of these messages. Always accept these. Do not ignore them as WebCT will not function correctly if you do. Check Browser This is important if you are accessing WebCT from outwith QMU Before logging into WebCT outwith QMU, it is worthwhile checking that your computer can fully function with WebCT. You will see a link on the Log In screen to Check Browser. This is really useful if you are experiencing any problems accessing WebCT or the tools within it. This is discussed in further details in the FAQ section. It is not necessary to check this if you are working from within QMU or are using Citrix Remote Desktop Access (see above). Please note: sometimes you may receive a message that your browser is not compatible with WebCT. If it is a new version of a browser, this may not always be the case. If you are uncertain about this, contact webct@qmu.ac.uk. YOUR USER NAME AND PASSWORD To access WebCT, you will need to type in your User name and Password. Your WebCT User name and Password are the same as you use to log onto the computer network at QMU and to access other online QMU resources such as , Qmunity and eportfolio. When you have completed the online matriculation process at QMU, you will be provided with your User name and Password. If you have not fully matriculated, you will not be able to access WebCT. For more information about the online matriculation process see: If you have forgotten your password, please contact lrchelp@qmu.ac.uk. Please note: your WebCT password is linked to your password for the IS systems at QMU these passwords change every 60 days. To change your IS password go to:

5 MY WEBCT When you first log in, you will see the My WebCT screen. This screen will show you all the areas that you can access in your WebCT. It will list modules, general areas such as the LRC guide and school areas. My WebCT: this link takes you back to the entry screen and your course list My settings: click this to check your profile and change how you view discussions and calendar entries. Help - the built in WebCT help tool offers a search and useful contextualised help. Log out: click this link to exit from WebCT. Remember to do this if you are in a shared computer lab To enter a WebCT area, click on the title. Once you are inside an area you can return to the My WebCT screen by clicking on the My WebCT link that will appear on the top of every area. Each of the modules you have access to within your WebCT will look slightly different as they have been designed by the tutors who will be teaching you. In the example below you can see some common features: - 4 -

6 The side menu shows the Tools with your course. These available Tools vary between modules Click on this button to minimize the menu, or to open it again PERSONALISING THE INTERFACE TO MY WEBCT You can adjust the way your My WebCT page is displayed. Once you apply these changes your My WebCT page will open with your preferences whenever you log in. Channels Colour Layout Channels - this allows you to select the materials that you see when you log in to My WebCT eg announcements, To Do List. To remove an item, uncheck the box beside it and click Save. You can add items by going into channels, checking the item and clicking Save. Colour - this allows you to change the colours used on the interface. Select your colours and then click Apply. Restore Default will return the interface to the standard colour scheme. Use High contrast colours gives you a standard high contrast option. This might be helpful if you are using screen magnification software. Layout - this allows you to change the position of items on your screen. Note that the Course List is the only item that always remains in the same position

7 TOOLS WITHIN MY WEBCT Campus Announcements - here you will see important announcements, for example, if WebCT will be unavailable at a specific time for maintenance.. Who s Online - this tool allows you to see if any of your fellow students are currently logged into WebCT. You can then invite another student to chat online. You will only see a list of the students who are registered for the same modules you are studying, not every student in the institution. Calendar Day and Calendar Week - this shows you the forthcoming events that are included in any calendar tools within any modules that you have access to. You can also add your own private calendar entries. Open the calendar by clicking on the icon to the right of the screen. From here you can view the entries. CHANGING THE FONT SIZE OF WEBCT From your My WebCT page select My Settings then My Tool Options. In the Fonts setting you have the option to change the default font size and the default font style

8 WHERE TO FIND HELP Guides for WebCT including how to print are available at: If you cannot find all your modules in WebCT, please contact your school office to ensure that you are fully matriculated for all your modules. Please note: Although many tutors use WebCT at QMU it is not compulsory and there may not be a WebCT area for some modules. You can check which modules are available at the WebCT Module Go Live Webpage. This page also details when WebCT areas are available to students as some may not be available until a number of weeks after the semester begins: If you have any issues accessing WebCT 8, please contact: lrchelp@qmu.ac.uk Please include your matriculation number in the message. CHECK THE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS SECTION OF THIS GUIDE FOR FURTHER ADVICE

9 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS I can t access all the modules that I am studying at QMU. Who can help? There are a number of reasons why you may not be able to access all of your modules in WebCT: 1. Have you fully matriculated for all your modules? Check with your school office. If you have not matriculated for a module, you will not be able to see it in WebCT. 2. Is the module available in WebCT? Tutors decide which Monday in a semester modules will be available to students. To check when your module is going live, go to: 3. Is there a WebCT are for your module? Not all tutors use WebCT for all of their modules. Check with your tutor. I can t upload my assignment to WebCT? You will be asked to upload an electronic copy of your assignment to the school area in WebCT. Log into WebCT and click onto the appropriate school area and then select the subject, level and your module. You will see a dropbox where you can submit a copy of your assignment electronically. Sometimes, when you try to submit, you will see that the My Computer icon has a red cross. This means that you have not accepted all the security messages when first accessing WebCT (see page 2). Log out of WebCT, close your web browser, restart your computer and log in again, accepting all security messages. If the problems persists, contact webct@qmu.ac.uk. Accessing WebCT from the NHS If you need to access WebCT from within an NHS network it is likely that they will be using Proxy Settings which may mean that your connection is very slow. By changing these settings in your browser you should be able to improve this connection speed: In Internet Explorer: 1 Click on Tools (a dropdown menu) 2 Select Internet Options 3 Click on Advanced - 8 -

10 4 Scroll down the list to HTTP Settings 5 Click in Use HTTP1.1 through proxy connections 6 Click on Apply. 7 Click OK. Please note that the terms may change slightly according to the browser that you are using. WebCT doesn t function properly outwith QMU. How can I test that my computer is working properly? Before logging into WebCT from outwith QMU it is worthwhile clicking on Run a Browser check. This is particularly helpful if you are accessing WebCT from a computer outwith QMU. Clicking this link will start this check which may take a couple of minutes to run. The results appear in a pop-up window. If the check is successful, you will see a green tick beside the check. If it has been unsuccessful, you will see a red cross, and there will be a link to further instructions which will explain how to adjust your computer settings. If you scroll to the bottom of the window there are also links to Other Resources, for example a list of supported browsers

11 When will my modules be available in WebCT? Tutors decide which Monday in a semester modules will be available to students. To check when your module is going live, go to: WebCT is very slow. How can I increase the speed? From time to time, at peak times, WebCT may be a little slow but it is worthwhile checking the settings of your computer. In Internet Explorer: 1. Click on Tools (a dropdown menu) 2. Select Internet Options 3. Click on Advanced 4. Click on Restore Defaults 5. Click on Apply. 6. Click OK. Please note that the terms may change slightly according to the browser that you are using. The icons on My WebCT page are not working properly. What is the problem? In your My WebCT page you may see small icons to alert you to the fact the new materials such as a new discussion topic or new announcement have been added to a module

12 In our current version of WebCT there is a technical problem which often causes inaccuracies with these icons. We would advise that the only true way to check if new materials have been added to a module is to go into that module and have a look. The audio on my Narrated PowerPoints and the sound on my videos in WebCT is not very clear. How can I improve it? If you are accessing WebCT on the computers at QMU or through remote desktop (Citrix), the sound quality may be compromised. It is suggested that you log into WebCT through the direct link: either from outwith QMU or from the special PCs in the LRC. I can t find TurnitinUK in my WebCT modules. What can I do? TurnitinUK is a special programme that QMU has integrated with WebCT which helps students to develop their academic writing and check for plagiarism. It is your tutor s choice whether they make it available to you. Please contact your tutor if you would like this to be available to you. Further advice about plagiarism is available at: I am having problems printing materials that are in WebCT modules? If you are trying to print a WORD or PowerPoint from WebCT, you are advised to save the document outside of WebCT you can save it to your desktop at QMU or to your computer. Then, open WORD or PowerPoint and print the document directly rather than from within WebCT. Further information about printing from WebCT is available at: Please contact webct@qmu.ac.uk if you have any issues regarding printing

13 My documents won t open when I click on them. Why is this? If you click on a document and nothing appears to happen, it maybe that your security settings are preventing files from being downloaded. Although it can be difficult to see, a message may be displayed to advise you of this: If this message is being displayed you can change your browser settings to allow your files to automatically open. 1. Click on Tools (a dropdown menu) 2. Select Internet Options 3. Click on Security 4. Click on Custom Level

14 Scroll down the list until you see a heading Downloads with the option Automatic prompting for file downloads. If you have been having problems opening files this is probably set to Disable. Click on the Enable option and click OK. If you now return to WebCT your files should open automatically. I don t have any sound at home when connected through Citrix Remote Access By default, the Citrix application is set not to deliver audio. By changing the settings you can enable audio through Citrix, although you should be aware that the overall quality is limited (as it is within the QMU thin-client network). If you need to access higher quality audio through WebCT, you should connect to WebCT without using Citrix. To change settings: Log into Citrix as normal and then click on the middle icon in the Applications panel to customise the user interface

15 This will bring up a list of options. Choose Connection Preferences then Audio Quality. Change the setting here to High Quality :