Purpose

The purpose of this document is to outline a few considerations when considering to adopt and e-Pack for online course delivery in WebCT.  This is not intended to encourage or discourage from the use of an e-Pack.  Rather, this is simply meant to inform faculty of some elements of e-Packs which may or may not hinder the delivery on online courses.

Considerations

1. e-Packs will either completely overwrite or merge content within your course depending on the kind of content package that it is.
   
1. Overwriting will erase any materials you currently have in your course site.
2. Merging content will not overwrite your course site, but it will not keep the design you may already have in your course site.  For example, the Montgomery College WebCT template has an area in which your place "Course Content," where as the e-Pack may also have an item called "Course Content."  This could lead to confusion for the student, unless the course site is redesigned to be more effective or to again conform to the template.

2. Generally e-Packs require access codes to enter the course site beyond just a regular user ID and password.  Meaning, when a student registers for this course, they will see it in their MyWebCT screen, but will still have to purchase an access code from the publisher to gain access to the course site.
   
1. Often times the access code is provided with New textbooks that correspond to the content in the e-Pack.  Access codes can also be purchased online.
2. Many e-Packs are programmed to require access codes for students.  You don't see this as a designer. 
3. The Distance Learning department cannot do anything to grant access for students who do not have an access code for an e-Pack course site.
   
   
3. Simply because the e-Pack is a prepackaged course, doesn't mean that it is ready to go after installation.  You may find that there are certain components that you may not like or you are not teaching within your class.  You may need to hide or move these various items to conform to the objectives of your class.  Of course, any course specific requirements will have to be addressed in a syllabus of which you will need to upload and link in your course site.