Introducing WebCT Campus Edition 6

Note: This information applies to staff using the University's WebCT server only. It does not apply to TAFE staff using TAFEVC which will continue to use the WebCT CE4 version software for the remainder of 2006.

Victoria University is moving up from WebCT Campus Edition 4.1 to WebCT Campus Edition 6 in first semester 2006 for Higher Education units.

The University's has been using WebCT Campus Edition 4.1 as its centrally-supported delivery system since 2004. However, a new version of Campus Edition was released in 2005 and we have been in the process of implementing this new version over the past three months.

Campus Edition 6 is different from Campus Edition 4.1 in a number of respects:

• It has a different, cleaner, user interface;
• Some of the nomenclature is different;
• Command sequences have been simplified;
• It has a number of new features.

You will find that overall Campus Edition 6 is somewhat easier to use. Moving to this new version of WebCT will also allow new functions to be introduced.

You will need some training to familiarise yourself with the new features of Campus Edition 6. What the upgrade will mean for you will depend on when and how you will be using WebCT.

If you are going to be using an online unit previously developed in Campus Edition 4.1

All units that were developed on Campus Edition 4.1 and were offered in Semester 1, 2005, have been converted to Campus Edition 6.

A series of special migration workshops are being conducted in February to explain the features of Campus Edition 6 to staff in this category. If you are going to be using an online unit previously developed on Campus Edition 4.1 (that is, if you were using an online unit on the University WebCT server last year), you should register yourself into one of these workshops. This global email will be posted each week from now until the last workshop. The workshops are listed now on the Staff College website.

At the migration workshop you will be shown the new features of Campus Edition 6 and you will be asked to check that your unit or units have been migrated satisfactorily. By the time you leave this workshop you should be ready to make any changes you want to make for Semester 1.

If you are a new user of WebCT in 2006 or are developing a new online unit or units

We are expecting the WebCT shells for new units to be set up by the beginning of February. If you want a new online unit to be set up and have not yet made a request, go to http://ceds.vu.edu.au/webctsupport/newcourse.asp and fill in the online form. A WebCT shell will be created for you.

A small number of introductory workshops will be offered to new users of WebCT in February. Make a booking now through the Staff College page (link in right hand column above.)

Arrangements have been made with some course teams to provide training to the course team as a group.

If you will be using WebCT for teaching online units in semester 2

Further migration workshops will be offered to staff teaching using WebCT Campus Edition 6 for the first time in semester 2.

What is going to happen to WebCT Campus Edition 4.1?

The Campus Edition 4.1 server will be maintained for the present to allow staff whose units for whatever reason cannot be satisfactorily migrated immediately to Campus Edition 6 to continue using Campus Edition 4.1. The server will be taken offline by the end of 2006.

What to do if you have questions

This information should cover the circumstances of most staff who will be affected by this upgrade. However, a few staff may find themselves in special circumstances. If you have any queries on these arrangements, please email Alistair Inglis, Antony Marsh or Asim Aziz.