Critical Thinking Corner

WebCT

http://webct.uwa.edu.au

Overview

1. What is WebCT?2. Critical thinking with WebCT

1. What is WebCT?

WebCT is an online ‘Learning Management System’ (LMS).

1. WebCT: The basics

It can be used for

• Course materials and readings

• Discussion boards

• Lectopia access

• Email and unit announcements

• Quizzes, tests, and other assessments

• Assignment submission and grades

1. WebCT: Gaining access

http://webct.uwa.edu.au

1

2

3 i) Your User Name (enter your Student Number)

ii) Your Pheme Password

1. Inside WebCT: Course Materials Online

Link to Course Materials Online (CMO)

You can access:- Readings set by your unit coordinator

- Supplementary readings and sources

- Past examination papers

1. Inside WebCT: Lectopia

Link to Lectopia

You can access:

- Recorded lectures (usually audio only)

- Lecture notes (PowerPoint and/or PDFs)

- Streaming and bandwidth options (Quicktime; Flash; standard modem; low speed modem etc)

1. Inside WebCT: Discussion boardsPost items and ideas for discussion

You can post:- General ‘housekeeping’ enquiries

- Specific questions and answers

- Responses to readings and discussions

- Some boards are monitored and/or assessed by tutors

1. Inside WebCT: Assessments

Some assessments must be completed in WebCT

These are usually: i) Quizzes

ii) Self-tests

Some assessments must be submitted via WebCT Use the Assignments

tool to submit assessments to your tutor for marking. Check in My Grades for your results.

2. Critical Thinking

with WebCT

Each of your course materials has been selected by your unit coordinator with careful thought. Try to account for each selection using your knowledge of approved methodologies, influential theories and disciplinary biases.

2. Appraise your course materials

Look at the required AND suggested materials! These will help you frame useful questions and develop your understanding.

2. Listen activelyMake useful notes (hard or soft copy) when accessing lectures via Lectopia. File these with your reading notes for revision.

April 30th, Lecture 7: ‘Whiteness’

Notes:

Official multiculturalism entrenches discourse of white privilege. Meaning of ‘white’ changes with political/social interests. Historical context: White Australia Policy (1901).

Example:

Key terms:

Multiculturalism: official vs sociocultural. See G. Hage

Culture: practices, norms, beliefs, values, ideology. See S. Hall

Date and lecture title

Pre-lecture preparation

Notes – listen for overview of

points and signposts

such as ‘this is important’

This space is for your thinking!

Agree?

Disagree?

Follow up?

Link to readings?

Link to assignment?

2. Contribute to discussion

Read other discussion posts for patterns and trends. Then, post your response!

Identify links between discussion items, assessments, notes, tutorials, lectures and readings.

Ask useful questions that begin with ‘What if…?’ or, ‘How about…?’

Tip: Try to identify major trends and then make links to specific questions and ideas.

The STUDYSmarter Critical Thinking Corner offers you skills and strategies for engaging with university study critically. Check out our pages on Lectopia, Voice, Reading and Research, and Note-making!