WebCT unveils enterprise-class e-learning modules for colleges and universities growing their use of e-learning

BARCELONA, Spain., Feb. 7, 2005 – Today at the 4th Annual WebCT European User Conference, WebCT, provider of higher education’s most flexible and widely used e-learning solutions, introduced WebCT Vistaâ„¢ modules that customers can selectively add to WebCT Campus Editionâ„¢. This new modular approach lets institutions initiate enterprise e-learning practices with unprecedented flexibility, value and simplicity.

The WebCT Vista Learning Object Manager, Vista Community Manager, Vista PowerLinks Kit and Vista PowerSight Kitâ„¢ modules enable institutions to precisely choose the enterprise e-learning functionality they need. These modules for the first time provide WebCT Campus Edition customers with all the functionality previously available only in the WebCT Vista academic enterprise system.

The WebCT Vista Learning Object Manager enables easy distribution and reuse of academic content. Built to work hand in hand with the WebCT Campus Edition virtual course environment, the WebCT Vista Learning Object Manager provides faculty and instructional designers with exactly the tools they need to easily and efficiently manage learning objects across courses and sections. With the WebCT Vista Learning Object Manager, institutions can set up learning object repositories to improve access to key pieces of content across courses. Faculty can easily manage learning objects in their own courses, in private collaborative development spaces, or in public learning object repositories.

The WebCT Vista Community Manager lets institutions organize their e-learning approach to support diverse communities – including colleges, schools, departments and programs – configured to each unit’s distinct e-learning needs. Communities have the freedom to work autonomously but still enjoy the support and reliability of a central e-learning system.

The WebCT Vista PowerLinks Kit for software development gives institutions the freedom to tailor and extend their e-learning system by fully integrating diverse academic applications and tools into a unified environment. With the WebCT Vista PowerLinks Kit, an institution can build custom integrations for their teaching and learning applications, for third-party applications, or for open source tools, enabling them to interoperate with WebCT Campus Edition as though they were integral parts of the platform.

The WebCT Vista PowerSight Kit for reporting provides access to the untapped wealth of detailed quantitative data about student learning that is automatically collected as learners interact in the online course environment. Administrators can analyze this aggregated data for institutional reporting purposes, such as e-learning program planning, learning effectiveness research, or a quality review by assessment and institutional research staff.

“Flexibility is key for university administrators, and they are selecting systems based primarily on value, functionality and architecture,” said Eduventures analyst Catherine Burdt. “WebCT’s approach to e-learning system modules has a lot to offer both customers who have been considering a wholesale move to WebCT Vista and those who haven’t yet entertained the thought. The trend for universities to select a module based on specific needs – for example, supporting learning objects – aligns vendors such as WebCT with the immediate needs of customers who require customized enterprise-class e-learning.”

All of the WebCT Vista modules will be available immediately upon the release of the next version of WebCT Campus Edition – WebCT Campus Edition 6 – later in the first half of this year.

“WebCT Vista modules flexibly and affordably provide academic enterprise capabilities in our market-leading course management system, WebCT Campus Edition,” said Carol Vallone, WebCT president and CEO. “Although WebCT Vista is the logical choice for institutions that require a broad range of academic enterprise functionality, WebCT Campus Edition customers now have the option to select just the modules they need to achieve their goals.”

About WebCT
WebCT has set the standard for e-learning systems in higher education. Based in Lynnfield, Mass., WebCT provides a highly flexible e-learning environment that empowers institutions across the educational spectrum with the ability to achieve their unique objectives. Thousands of colleges and universities around the world, from community colleges to large university consortia, are using WebCT to expand the boundaries of teaching and learning. For more information, please visit webct.com.