Localization of WebCT in Nagoya University and a perspective of higher educational information basis

Abstract

WebCT that has been used widely in higher educational institutes of North America is going to be a mission critical e-Learning platform in on-campus education, rather than mere WBT system. In this paper, we describe WebCT localized by Nagoya University and its current status at first. Secondly, we introduce two critical trends for educational information basis that we can observe in the movement of WebCT, (1) the cooperation with existing student information system, and (2) campus portal that provides university-wide one-stop service for all member of the institution. We have already had all of technologies in our hands that would be necessary for higher educational institutions in the first decade of 21 century. To move the direction, course management system like WebCT should be widely used in Japan.