Using WebCT Course Web Sites at NC State

What is WebCT?

WebCT is a tool some NC State faculty use to create course Web sites. Depending on the functionality your instructor includes in the site you will be able to

• securely view your grades
• check the course syllabus and calendar
• have online discussions with the instructor and other class members
• submit assignments electronically
• take quizzes
• participate in other course-related activities

Here's what you will need to do to get started:

• Make sure your browser will work with WebCT.
• Make sure your browser is correctly configured.
• Find your WebCT course site and log in.

Make Sure Your Browser Will Work with WebCT

The browsers that work best are Netscape 4.xx and Internet Explorer 4.xx and 5.0. Most computers in campus labs already have Netscape 4.xx installed. Netscape 6 and all Opera versions will not work. To determine your browser's version, select the Help menu item at the top of your browser and choose the About. . . option from the drop-down list as illustrated below.

checking Internet Explorer's version		checking Netscape's version number

Make Sure Your Browser Is Correctly Configured

1. Enable Javascript. WebCT sites use Javascript, so your browser must be set up to handle it. Here's how to do it:
   
   Internet Explorer on a PC
   1. In your browser window, select Tools on the menu bar.
   2. From the drop-down menu, select Internet Options.
   3. Click on the Advanced tab.
   4. Scroll down to Microsoft VM.
   5. Make sure that JIT Compiler for virtual machine has been checked.
   6. Select OK the button.
   Internet Explorer on a Mac
   1. In your browser window, choose Edit on the menu bar.
   2. From the drop-down menu, select Preferences.
   3. From the list in the left-hand margin, select Java.
   4. Select OK the button.
   Netscape Navigator on PC or Mac
   1. In your browser window, select Edit on menu bar.
   2. From the drop-down menu, select Preferences.
   3. Click on the + sign next to Advanced .
   4. Make sure that Enable Java and Enable Javascript are both checked.
   5. Select OK the button.
      
      
2. Set your browser's cache to always reload pages.
   
   Internet Explorer on a PC
   1. In your browser window, select Tools on the menu bar.
   2. From the drop-down menu, select Internet Options.
   3. Select the General tab.
   4. Under Temporary Internet Files, select the Settings button.
   5. Make sure the Every visit to the page option is selected.
   6. Select the OK button.
   Netscape Navigator on a PC or Mac
   1. In your browser window, select Edit on the menu bar.
   2. From the drop-down menu, select Preferences.
   3. Click on the + sign next to Advanced.
   4. Highlight Cache.
   5. Make sure that Every time is selected.
   6. Select the OK button.

Find Your WebCT Course Site and Log In

1. Go to NC State's WebCT page at http://webct.ncsu.edu. It should look like the image below. Select the Log on to link.
   
   
   
   
2. A page like the one below should appear. Select the Continue Login button.
   
   
   
   
3. Type in your Unity ID and password and select the Login button. Any option from the drop-down menu will work.
   
   
   
   
4. A page like the one below should appear. Select the Log on to link. Most students and some instructors will only have one of these. A second one is provided for instructors who have a student alias so they can log on to their site as a student.
   
   
   
   
5. You will then be taken to your My WebCT page. Choose a link from the list of course sites you are authorized to access.