Glossary

These are just a few of the items included in our nearly 450-page handbook.

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Universal Design

In web design Universal Design means to design a website or course so that anyone using any kind of Web browsing technology can get a full and complete understanding of the information contained there, as well as have the full and complete ability to interact with the site. Universal Design calls for the development of information systems flexible enough to accommodate the needs of the broadest range of users of computers and telecommunications equipment, regardless of age or disability.

Unthreaded

In the WebCT Discussions and Mail Tools, there are two display options for viewing postings. Threaded is the default and maintains the flow of the conversation. See threaded. Unthreaded is strictly in chronological order.

Uniform Resource Locator

See URL.

Universal Resource Number

See URN.

Update Student View

The most overlooked step by instructors/designers when working in a Content Module. You must Update Student View to release to the students any additions or changes you have made in a Content Module. You can do this while working in the Content Module or from the Designer Map.

Upload

In Manage Files upload means to transfer a file or its copy from your hard drive or disk into the My-Files folder. It is often confused with import because the import process always involves an upload into Manage Files. However, WebCT does not use these terms interchangeably.

Upper Textblock

In WebCT upper textblock generally refers to a header on a Homepage, Organizer Page, Welcome Page and first or main page of certain tools. The header on these pages often contains a great deal more information than a footer would. In most of these places you can have multiple upper textblocks. The upper textblock is used by many instructor/designers in unique ways to customize their WebCT Homepage. See lower textblock and chapter on Customizing WebCT's Design.

URL

This acronym stands for Uniform Resource Locator, which is also referred to as a web address. The URL points where a file is stored and contains a hierarchical description of a file location on that computer. For example, http://webct.com points to the server where WebCT stores its web pages.

URN

This acronym stands for Universal Resource Number, which is the IP address of a server or any web site.