Faculty FAQ

General Questions

I've never used WebCT before, how do I login?

How often should I backup my course?

How do I add a share designer to my course?

My students are unable to view their grades when they click the "My Grades icon.

I am done teaching a course, what should I do next?

How do I request a new WebCT course?

How long does it take for my course to be created?

When will my course be uploaded to the server?

When is the best time to request a course?

How do I request a new course or get help updating a course?

Content Module

Quizzes

Designer Questions

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For more FAQ visit WebCT.com.

Answers

General Questions

I’ve never used WebCT before, how do I login?

When you login to WebCT for the first time, your WebCT ID is the first portion of your FirstClass User ID (i.e. jdoe6@csub.edu has a WebCT ID of jdoe6) and your password is the last five (5) digits of your CSUB faculty ID number.

How often should I backup my course?

CSUB makes system backups daily to provide the maximum chance of recovering in case of a system failure.  It is recommended that you backup your course once significant changes are made. 

Instructions: How to create and download a course backup.

Note: There is currently a restriction of 1 backup per course.

How do I add a share designer to my course?

Adding a share designer will give that person full access to your course.  The functions that you have, as a designer, will become available to that person.

Instructions: How to add a share designer.

My students are unable to view their grades when they select the "My Grades" icon.

The default setting for columns is not to have the information released.  If this is not changed, students will not find any information when they select the "My Grades" icon.  Instructions on how to change this are found below.

Instructions: Releasing Columns

I am done teaching a course, what should I do next?

We recommend that you follow the End-of-Quarter Procedures for courses that you are done teaching.  These procedures include resetting the course, making students inactive, creating and download a course backup, and downloading the student grades.

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Course Request

How do I request a new WebCT course?

You can request a new WebCT course by going to the WebCT Support Program page and filling out the form.

How long does it take for my course to be created?

This depends on the number of requests that are received each day.  The average time that it takes to create a course is two (2) days.  After your course is created you must add the material into the created course.

When will my course be uploaded to the server?

All existing WebCT courses are always on the server.  They are not removed from the server at any time and are always available for designers to work on.

When is the best time to request a course?

You are encouraged to request a new course as soon as you know you need it.

How do I request a new course or get help updating a course?

Go to the WebCT Support Program page and fill out the form.  It will be emailed to Web Services where a Web Development student will be assigned to work with you.

WebCT ID and Password

I’ve forgotten my password, what do I do?

Forgetting your password is not a situation that requires an after hour response, by Web Services staff.  This is not a technical problem with the system.  Someone is available to assist with this issue at 661-654-2315 between the hours of 8:00am and 5:00pm, Monday-Friday. 

Also, it is recommended that users configure the password hint feature within WebCT.  This feature will allow users to have a new password generated and sent to them should they ever forget their password. 

If you configured the password hint feature within WebCT, your password will be sent to you by going to Password Help.

My student(s) cannot log in, what should I do?

Make sure that you added the correct WebCT ID into your course.  When adding students check to see that the CSUB ID numbers correspond to the ones on the class printout.  If you add a WebCT ID, and the CSUB ID number is not the same or the name is different, add a "2" or "3" at the end of the WebCT ID.  If this does not work, contact the student and ask for his/her WebCT ID.

If you are still unable to add the students, send an e-mail to web@csub.edu (using your FirstClass email account) with the students names and CSUB ID numbers.  With this information, we will provide you with the correct WebCT ID.

Student Management

How do my students get added to my course at the beginning of each quarter?

Professors are responsible for adding students to their courses at the beginning of each quarter. 

Instructions: How to Add Students Using the CRN.
Instructions: How to Individually Add Students.

Why are students not in the WebCT global database?

The WebCT global database is updated every morning.  However, this update is entirely  dependent on information provided by the Administrative Computing Banner application.  The WebCT global database reflects this dependency in that it is not always being synchronized with Banner.  Please be aware; there is a delay between the time students are entered into Banner and the time the updates are filtered down to other systems on campus, including WebCT.

Who removes students from courses that I have already taught?

It is the responsibility of the course instructor to remove students from courses that they have already taught. Instructions on how to remove students, with or without saving student information, are found on the End-of-Quarter Procedures page.

Content Module

I have added new files to the content module, however my students are unable to view them. 

Your probably forgot to update the student view for the content module.  When new files are added, the designer must update the student view to allow the students to view the new files.  This is done by clicking on the content module, selecting Designer Options, clicking 'Update student view' and updating the entire course.

Quizzes

Can I upload all of my questions at one time?

Yes.  Directions for uploading all of the questions at one time are found at Formatting and Uploading Questions
 

You may also use the Respondus software, which makes it easy to create WebCT quizzes, surveys, and self-test. Exams are created offline, in Respondus or a program such as Microsoft Word, and published directly from Respondus to WebCT.

Can I set-up a quiz to allow additional time for particular students?

Yes.  Directions for setting up a quiz that allows particular students more time are found at Creating an Extended Time Quiz.

Designer Questions

What constitutes a design question?

Not knowing how to put in a tool in a course, adding questions to the question database,  adding a student to the course, and the like are all examples of a design question and can usually be resolved by reading the context sensitive help within WebCT.  You may also call 661-654-2315 between the hours of 8:00 am and 5:00 pm, Monday-Friday should you require assistance.  Staff is currently unavailable for extended or 24 x 7 coverage.

You can call Web Services at 661-654-2315 between the hours of 8:00 am and 5:00 pm, Monday-Friday.  Staff is currently unavailable for extended or 24 x 7 coverage.

Technical Problems

What constitutes a technical problem?

Complete failure of WebCT to respond.  The server is monitored 24 x 7 for this functionality.  If the WebCT server fails, Web Services knows about it almost immediately.  If the problem is not resolved within fifteen minutes, faculty or staff may email gbadine@csub.edu to find out what the problem is.  You can be assured we are already working on the issue.

 Who do I call when there are technical problems?

You can call Web Services at 661-654-2315 between the hours of 8:00am and 5:00pm, Monday-Friday.  Staff is currently unavailable for extended or 24 x 7 coverage.  Please note, however, that the server is monitored for functionality 24 x 7.  If a problem occurs resulting in the server becoming non-operational, the System Administrator will be notified.  Also, you can send an e-mail to gbadine@csub.edu at any time day or night.