Migration to Webcourses@UCF

UCF began the migration to a new version of WebCT during the fall 2006 semester. WebCT CE4 is based on old technology, and Blackboard no longer supports this software version.

Due to changes in the ownership of WebCT (the company), UCF has elected to brand our new version of WebCT as Webcourses@UCF. In the future, we will refer to the old version of WebCT as WebCT CE4 and the new version as Webcourses@UCF.

There are significant enhancements, changes in business processes, and changes in how faculty members operate in Webcourses@UCF. Webcourses@UCF provides improved functionality for faculty and students but will look and feel different from WebCT CE4 (the old version). Additionally, this migration will allow the university to better manage the growing use of Webcourses@UCF. Some of the improved features are:

• The Faculty Webcourse Manager in myUCF allows you to request and populate your Webcourses@UCF sections
• Additional assessment types (Self-tests and Surveys)
• Who’s Online instant messaging tool
• Expanded Media Library (WebCT CE4 Glossary function)
• Graded Discussions
• Expanded Selective Release tool
• Excel-like Grade Book
• Grading Forms (rubrics) tool and improved essay grading
• Group Discussions and Chat rooms

To help you with this transition, Course Development & Web Services (CDWS) will offer a series of informational and training sessions as listed in the Training Schedule below. This site will be updated with new information and training materials as they become available.

Beginning with the spring 2009 semester, all online courses will be offered only in Webcourses@UCF. Courses must be migrated no later than the semester before they are taught in Webcourses@UCF. For example: If you are teaching an online course in spring 2009, your course must be migrated to Webcourses@UCF no later than fall 2008. This will allow for a phased conversion so courses are migrated only as needed.

However, if you have never used Webcourses@UCF, we recommend that you migrate your course(s) earlier to become familiar with the new system.

Migration Timeline

Semester to be Taught	Last Date to Submit Request	Countdown
Spring 2009	October 17, 2008
Summer 2009	March 9, 2009
Fall 2009	June 26, 2009

The migration process for spring 2009 is:

1. Request that your course be migrated by filling out the online form before October 17, 2008: http://teach.ucf.edu/webctupgrade/accountconversion.html

2. To prepare your course(s) for migration, please do the following BEFORE the migration process begins:

• Reset your WebCT CE4 course(s) (see instructions at: http://teach.ucf.edu/webctmanual/pdf/MC-05 Course Reset.pdf ).
• Delete any files or content you no longer use or need (see instructions at: http://teach.ucf.edu/webctmanual/pdf/CC-01 Manage Files.pdf under the File Options heading).

3. Any modifications made to a WebCT CE4 course after the migration process begins will not be transferred to the Webcourses@UCF version. A mass e-mail will be sent out just before the migration process begins. Use this e-mail as a reminder to stop modifying your WebCT CE4 courses.

4. Requested courses will be migrated to Webcourses@UCF. Courses will be processed according to the semester they are scheduled to be taught.

5. The Techrangers will clean up courses to fit the new formatting requirements of Webcourses@UCF.

6. You will receive an e-mail confirming that your course migration is complete along with information on how to access your course.

7. If you previously moved to Webcourses@UCF and decided to return to WebCT CE4, you have a choice:

• Update your original migrated section, or
• Request a fresh migration.

8. You do not need to migrate if:

• You no longer need or wish to access a CE4 course and its content, or
• You prefer to start from scratch in Webcourses@UCF.

You can still back up your CE4 course content locally

Once a WebCT CE4 course is migrated to Webcourses@UCF, the original section will remain on the old server for file access, but students will not be populated into those courses.

If you have any questions, please contact the Instructional Technology Group at itg@mail.ucf.edu or (407) 823-0407.

More Information

• Learning Online Orientation for Webcourses@UCF
• Known Issues and Helpful Tips about Webcourses@UCF.
• Request Course Migration to Webcourses@UCF - Faculty must submit a request to have their WebCT CE4 courses migrated to Webcourses@UCF. Please see the Course Migration Request Form for details.
• New Business Processes -Because Webcourses@UCF has many new features and methods for designing, teaching, and accomplishing tasks, CDWS will be updating and creating new business process to better serve our online faculty. This page will be updated as new business processes are put in place.
• Training - You can download training materials and view flash demos of Webcourses@UCF through myUCF portal. After you login, click "Academic Resources" under the "myUCF Menu", and then click "Fac Webcourses@UCF Resources". For a schedule, session descriptions, and to RSVP to upcoming training sessions in the new version of WebCT, visit the Training page.
• Request to Install a Webcourses@UCF Powerlink - The process for getting a powerlink installed on UCF’s Webcourses@UCF server requires the powerlink be reviewed in regards to need, cost, support, and functionality. The powerlink cannot be installed until all these issues are addressed.

  
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  This page was last updated on September 04, 2008
  Pages are maintained by the Techrangers at CDWS.
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