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Upgrading to Blackboard from WebCTSince 2002, WebCT has been the backbone of our Distance Education program, making it possible for Jefferson State to offer nearly 200 Internet and web-supported courses. Many of you have worked diligently to master WebCT 4.0, producing an array of high-quality courses that provide access to students who might otherwise be prevented from enrolling at Jefferson State. But the field of Distance Education is constantly changing, and we've reached a point where upgrading WebCT is necessary. Many of you have heard about this, and I'd like to provide some information to clarify what's happening. In 2006, Blackboard, Inc. and WebCT, Inc. merged under the Blackboard brand, which is the name assigned to all product upgrades. Throughout this academic year, the Departments of Distance Education, ITS and IT have been working to upgrade WebCT 4.0 to WebCT 6.2, otherwise known as Blackboard 8.0. A pilot group has received WebCT 6.2/Blackboard 8.0 training and will use Blackboard to deliver their Internet and web-supported courses this summer. Internet instructors not in the pilot group will continue using WebCT 4.0 this summer. Beginning Fall 2008, all Internet and web-supported courses will be delivered through WebCT 6.2/Blackboard 8.0, as we bring the WebCT 4.0 era to an end. There is a migrating procedure that converts WebCT 4.0 courses into WebCT 6.2/Blackboard 8.0, and it will not be necessary to redevelop courses from the ground up. WebCT 6.2/Blackboard 8.0 is similar to WebCT 4.0 in many ways, but there are substantial differences in the user interface, and in the processes faculty use to export course materials and manage student data. For this reason, any instructor assigned to teach an Internet or web-supported course in the Fall will need Blackboard training. We are constructing a Blackboard workshop schedule for the summer, and all instructors planning to teach Internet or web-supported courses in the fall will need to attend. Instructors who are eager to get started can obtain Blackboard resourses at: A smooth transition from WebCT to Blackboard is essential to fulfill the college's mission as it relates to Distance Education, and I look forward to working cooperatively with you to achieve this goal. Alan B.
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