Science:Math Department Teaching Resources/Content Management Systems
There are two systems that many instructors at UBC are using to manage and deliver course content: the UBC Wiki, and UBC Blogs.
UBC Wiki
The UBC Wiki can be used to post course syllabi, assignments, and sample problems. It has the following features:
- LaTeX support (instructions on how to incorporate LaTeX are on this page on the UBC Wiki Support Pages)
- UBC wiki content can be automatically embedded into multiple websites
- discussion pages for course discussion forums
Content on the wiki can either be
- on the Faculty of Science nameserver, where content can only be edited by those in the Faculty of Science who have requested and been granted access to this space, or
- elsewhere on UBC Blogs, where content can be modified by anyone with a CWL.
Content on the wiki is viewable to the world, no matter where it is placed.
Regarding copyright, by default, content on the UBC Blogs is in the public domain. Users can however specify that their content falls under a Creative Commons license (contact wiki.support@ubc.ca for details).
The UBC Wiki runs on MediaWiki.
Below is a screenshot of a page on the UBC Wiki. LaTeX markup is used to create equations.
Getting Started in the UBC Wiki
To get a sense of how instructors are using the UBC Wiki, you may want to browse the course sites on the UBC Wiki.
For documentaiton on the UBC wiki, see the UBC Wiki Help Page.
If you are interested in reading how wikis have been used in undergraduate math courses at other institutions, you may also want to read:
- John F. Carter (2009): Lines of Communication: Using a WIKI in a Mathematics Course, PRIMUS, 19:1, 1-17
- Elisha Peterson (2009): Using a Wiki to Enhance Cooperative Learning in a Real Analysis Course, PRIMUS, 19:1, 18-28
For further information on the UBC Wiki, email the CTLT at wiki.support@ubc.ca.
UBC Blogs
UBC Blogs is a free open-source platform for building websites and blogs that is based on Wordpress. UBC Blogs is supported by the CTLT, and has the following features:
- LaTeX support
- easy user navigation
- customizable look and feel
- a Google Analytics plugin (to track usage statistics)
- fine grained privacy control
- user commenting
The UBC Blogs can be used to
- post course syllabus
- post assignments, sample problems, other instructional content
Blogs can be set-up with various access permissions. You can for example make your blog private to the world, viewable only by those with a CWL that you specify.
An advantage of UBC Blogs is that the particular copyright license on content within a site UBC Blogs is completely up to whomever administers the blog, which is typically an instructor. One option that instructors may wish to apply to their content would be a Creative Commons license. The Creative Commons website offers a service on its website that can be used to quickly generate a creative commons license for your content.
Below is a screenshot of a page on the UBC Blogs. UBC Blogs offers several means of navigating through content: a top navigation menu, forward and backward buttons, and a clickable site map in the sidebar.
Getting Started in UBC Blogs
Anyone with a CWL can create a site on UBC Blogs by visiting the UBC Blogs homepage and logging in with their CWL.
A general overview of what UBC Blogs offers for instructors is available on a page on the UBC Wiki. The CTLT also maintains a helpful FAQ page.
For further information on UBC Blogs, email the CTLT at wiki.support@ubc.ca.