Documentation:Vista orientation Jumpstart

Introductions

• Lucas Wright: Learning Technology Specialist: Centre for Teaching Learning and Technology
• Zack Lee: Educational Resources Developer: Centre for Teaching Learning and Technology

Getting Started with Web CT Vista

Resources for Instructors

• Instructor Resources: e-Learning Toolkit
• Vista Contacts at UBC
• e-Learning Toolkit

Resources for Students

• Vista Student Resources: e-Learning Toolkit
• Vista Help Student Request Form
• Web CT Vista: Student Guides and Tutorials

Logging in

• Logging in to Web CT Vista

Vista layout

Vista has three tabs: Build, Teach, Student View

There are three user interfaces at the course level in WebCT Vista: build, teach and student. These correspond with the educational roles of instructional designer, instructor, and student.

• Persons with Build access can create a course site once the server administrator has created a course shell. Build access allows adding or modifying any course functionality.
• Persons with Teach access can manage back-end aspects of the course, including assessments, grades, create student groups, tracking of student activity, and selective release of course components.
• Student access allows students to participate in all course-related activities. If there are areas of the course site programmed for selective release, students will not be able to access those materials until the release date.

The Vista Discussion Forum

Creating Threaded Discussions

Create a threaded discussion under the Discussions

The discussion forum feature in Web CT Vista allows for instructors to create and participate in class discussions. It also allows discussion topics to be set up only for specific groups as well as gradable discussions.

1. To create a discussion thread begin by clicking on the Student tab to see the student view.
2. Click on the Teach Tab to see the instructors view. Note the options to edit the discussion properties as well as create new discussion threads and categories.
3. To create a new discussion thread begin in the Teach tab, and under Learning tools select Discussion. This will open a list of the current Discussion topics that have been used in this course. Click on one of the practice discussion topics.
4. From this view you can collapse or expand the discussion threads, print discussions or mark discussions as read.
5. To start or contribute to a discussion click Create Message and add your comments/questions. You also have the option to upload attachments by clicking on the Add Attachment button and selecting a file from Class Files, My files or from My Computer.

Activity: Creating a Discussion Thread

1. Select from one of the discussion topics from the category Practice Discussions
2. Create a discussion thread and upload a file from your computer into this thread
3. Practice replying to a discussion topic.

Creating Group Discussion Topics in Vista

You can create group discussion topics under the Group Manager.

In the Vista platform we can create Discussion topic that is only visible to select groups.

1. Begin in the Teach tab and click on Group Manager. This will bring up all of the groups currently enrolled in the class. Note that you can also create groups in the Group Manager area.
2. Select the group that you would like the discussion to be open to by selecting the check box right next to the group title.
3. Scroll to the bottom of the page, click on the drop-down menu Create Group Activity and click on the Arrow icon.
4. Select the type of discussion topic that you would like to create and click Next.
5. Give the discussion a topic, a description, a category (For organizational purposes).
6. Once you have determined the discussion settings click on Save to add the discussion topic to your course. This topic will now only be visible to members of the group.

Activity: Group Discussions

1. Using the instructions above create a group discussion topic for your group or for the included practice groups.

Uploading Files

Upload files through by clicking Get Files under the Content Manager.

There are a number of different ways to upload files into Web CT Vista.

• Files can be uploaded into your My Files area: This will make the files accesible throughout the Vista platform.
• If you have build access files can be uploaded to the File Manager. This will make files accesible to all designers and course instructors.
• Files can be uploaded and linked to emails, discussion boards, quizzes and assignments.

1. To upload a document to My Files begin by clicking on My Vista. This view will show all of the courses that you are enrolled in.
2. Click on the Content Manager tab and then click on Get Files. From the menu that opens select My Computer. Select a file and click OK.
3. This file now resides in your My File area and can be accessed from any assignment, assessment, or activity in Vista.

Activity: Uploading Files

1. Select two documents from your computer and upload them into the My Files area.
2. Open a practice discussion form and add this file as an attachment to a discussion thread.

Providing Student Feedback for Assessments/Assignments

Feedback for students can be provided in Vista by using the Assessment Manager, the Assignment Drop Box or through the Assignment and Assessment tabs, in addition grades and audits can be accessed through the Gradebook.

Assessment Manager

1. To provide feedback for quizzes begin in the Teach tab and click on Assessment Manager in the Instructor Tools module. This will open up all of the completed, submitted and graded quizzes.
2. Click on the Arrow next to the quiz and select whether you would like to view all submissions or grade all attempts on each question.
3. Select the Not Graded tab to view quizzes that have not yet been graded. From the screen that appears click on the quiz attempt. The form that opens will allow you to provide feedback and grading.

The Assessment Manager allows you to see which quizzes have been graded.

Assignment Dropbox

The Assignment Dropbox allows you to give assessments to submitted assignments.

The Assignment Dropbox has similar functionality to the assessment manager. However, instead of allowing you to grade and provide feedback on quizzes and surveys this allows you to provide feedback on assignments.

1. To provide feedback on assignments from the Teach tab select Assignment Dropbox.
2. A window will open with a number of tabs that allow you to sort the assignments based on whether they have been submitted, or graded, click on submitted.
3. From the list of assignments that appear click on the individual assignment and write your review in the Grader Review form. Under Save Options select a grade for the assignment and the release criteria.
4. Note: You can add attachements to the assignment to be returned.

Setting-Up Quizzes in Vista

You can create quizzes through Assessments while in the Build tab.

Quizzes in Vista can accomodate different question types as well as selective release criteria.

1. In the Build tab under Course Tools click on Assessments
2. Click on Create Assessment and title it Practice Quiz 2
3. Write brief description of the quiz
4. Select Quiz as assessment type and browse the Template settings.
5. Select Save and Add Questions

Adding Questions to Quizzes in Vista

1. From the screen that appears click on Create Questions fromt the drop-down menu and select Multiple Choice.
2. Provide the question with a descriptive title, EX: PracQuiz1
3. In the question box type this question: Which of the following is Not included in the Earth's climate system?
4. Enter in the following answers: hydrosphere, solid Earth, Solarsphere, atmosphere, biosphere. The text in bold is the correct answer.

Activity: Creating Quizzes in Vista

1. Using the guide provided create a two-question quiz in Vista. For a quiz title use your last initial and practice quiz: EX: Practice Quiz W.
2. Once you have completed your the quiz, click on the Student tab and find the quiz under the Assessment link.