Non-teacher Users - (added Oct 29, 2002)
 
Many of the schools using SchoolPad.net like to add their principals and/or administrators as users so that they can also have their own homepages. Now, you can specify these administrators to let our staff know to disable their "homework" page since they do not need that page. Email or fax a list to our staff to let us know of uers that fit into this group.

Lesson Plan Module - (added Oct 2, 2002)
 
Online Lesson Plans are finally here! You have spoken and we listened. Our long-awaited Online Lesson Plan module has been installed and is now in the Trial Test phase. The Echols County School System has graciously offered to test this module for us. We have completed the initial design and in-house testing, but "real-world" trials are truly the ultimate tests of the ease of use of an added feature or module. Based on the feedback we get from the Echols County administrators and teachers, we will be rolling out the Online Lesson Plan module to all schools within the next few weeks. We are excited about the Online Lesson Plans capability and have attempted to make them flexible enough to fill the needs of most school systems.

We have received tremendous interest in this module. This module will allow teachers the ability to create a Lesson Plan from home and then view it at school anytime afterwards. The Online Lesson Plans module contains the following features:

• Secured password-protected access to Lesson Plans (you must be logged in to create or view). Each teacher ONLY has access to his/her Lesson Plans.
• Lesson Plans are retained for the complete current school year (until July 31st each year).
• You may update or create a Lesson Plan for a full week at a time from any computer via the internet (even from home when the time is convenient for you). Lesson Plans are saved, and viewable, for the entire school year.
• Access the Lesson Plan from school (or any computer via the Internet) anytime after it is created.
• Principals can get a quick view to see any Lesson Plans not created for any specific week.
• Principals can view Lesson Plans by week or by day for any specific teacher.
• Principals can also designate a separate School Administrator, if desired, that also has access to view and print Lesson Plans via SchoolPad.net.
• The Lesson Plans may be printed out in a printer friendly format (weekly or daily for any teacher) by the Principal or designated School Administrator.

The purpose of this module was to create a much-needed tool for teachers. In continuing our commitment to find ways to save time and money for schools, this tool allows teachers a convenience that most do not have at this time. You will be able to log onto your SchoolPad.net account from home, school, or anywhere that you can get onto the Internet, and then create a Lesson Plan for an entire week. The data can then be accessed from any Internet-enabled computer anytime afterwards. There will be no need to carry a disk around with the information on it, or carry a printed copy with you, or anything that is similarly inconvenient. By using this module, a teacher will have the freedom to make the most efficient use of time regarding lesson plans by electing to create the lesson plan wherever and whenever is most convenient and then having immediate access to it at school as necessary.

Bookmark Support - (added Sept 21, 2002)
 
It came to our attention that many teachers were bookmarking the "/webadmin" directory instead of bookmarking the "Log In" page. This was causing a problem gaining proper access to a teacher's data. We implemented a check that now ensures that the user has been assigned a Session ID (assigned on the Log In page). If a Session ID has not been assigned, then the user is instructed how to correct their bookmark and how to properly log in.

Hyperlink Capability - (added Sept 20, 2002)
 
Teachers can now type in a link to an existing website and the text will be displayed as a link on the Teacher Pages. For example, if a teacher types "www.schoolpad.net" into one of his/her "Articles", then it will be displayed as www.schoolpad.net when viewed by the public. Email links work the same way.

AOL Support - (added Sept 21, 2002)
 
We corrected a situation that was preventing teachers from logging in if they were using AOL. Teachers or School Administrators using AOL can now log on just as anyone else can.

ONLINE LESSON PLANS
 
We have finally installed our Online Lesson Plans module. See information near the top of this page for details..

TEACHER PAGE MODULE
 
Teachers now can upload their own content easily. Each teacher has his/her own Teacher Home Page, Teacher Homework Page, and a Contact Page.

 - - Teacher Home Pages: Each Teacher Home Page has "General Articles" that can be uploaded. Each article consists of text and an associated image if desired. Each image can be aligned to the left, center, or right. This means that each teacher can customize his/her pages to a large degree to create varying looks. 

 - - Teacher Homework Pages: Each Teacher Homework Page has "General Articles" as do the Teacher Home Pages, but also has "Homework Articles". A homework article has associated "Start Showing Assignment On... " date. This date controls when the article will appear on a teacher's homework page for public viewing. This allows a teacher to post a full week's worth of assignments on Monday, but set each assignment to not appear until the day for which it is intended.

  - - Teacher Contact Pages: Each Teacher Contact Page has "General Articles" identical to the Teacher Home Page, but also will display a contact form which allows the public to submit a comment or question to the teacher. The teacher's email address is NOT displayed on the site, but the form's contents will be received by the teacher at the email address set up on SchoolPad.net

Online Registration for In-Service Training
 
Tentative Installation Date for Module: March 1, 2003
 
This Online Registration Module will allow schools the ability to accept registrations for in-service training online. This will mean that the paperwork associated with registration for an in-service training class will not be necessary. The School Administrator will be able to post an upcoming training session and allot the number of available seats in each class. Teachers can then sign up for the class until the posted class is full, at which time it will be "closed out".

We invite your feedback ...
 
Listed below are ideas that have been presented to us. The listed ideas are not necessarily being planned, but are being considered. We welcome your feedback as always on ideas under consideration and also invite you to submit new ideas.

ITEM: GRADE AVERAGING

Likelihood of development and installation: somewhat unlikely, but possible

This idea has been mentioned to us on several occasions. Email us if you're interested in this feature. We're not sure if this is a feature is one that will be implemented, but we are considering it. Most school systems already have a grade averaging system in place. While it is possible that we may implement this feature in the future, it would require a high level of positive feedback from the schools prior to developing.

ITEM: FORUMS
 
Likelihood of development and installation: likely
 
This idea is being seriously considered. Online Forums would allow schools to post questions, answers, and comments in a public forum environment. The type of forum that we're considering installing is very flexible and can also be password protected if necessary. If installed, a forum may be created for each school OR one central forum. Email us about this one if you're interested.