It’s Here! The Crop tool is now available within the Flash header, this should make choosing the portion of the image you’d like to display in the feature gallery a simple task. You no longer have to use an outside application to resize and crop an image to the suggested dimensions. Enjoy!
The Comment E-mail address is NO longer required for a comment submitted to an Online Classroom Class Blog. We realize that some students (especially those in lower grades) don’t have an e-mail address.
We have new Slideshow gallery that can be applied to all Photo Galleries on your District SchoolPointe site. Please contact us if you’d like this added to your web site. It will automatically scroll through all images with the ability to pause the slideshow at any time. Users can also override the slideshow by using the Next and Previous options below the caption, as well as the buttons that overlay the image when a user hovers over the image. Here is an example of the new Slideshow gallery on a live web site:
http://newarkcityschools.org/Photos.aspx?CategoryId=326&schoolid=4
We have recently implemented a new module for the SchoolPointe CMS called SchoolPointe Video ONLY on a single server, once all those Districts have been updated, we will be adding it to the other servers. Basically, if you don’t see a message on the CMS homepage currently, it has NOT been added to the server your web site resides on. Don’t worry, we will have this available shortly so everyone can utilize this great new module.
SchoolPointe Video allows all users to add video to the site seamlessly through the text editor using their own personal Video Library. If this feature is not enabled on your SchoolPointe web site (only if you see a message in the CMS), please contact your System Administrator.
You will be informed if your District needs access after clicking the Video Library at the right on the CMS homepage.
Please contact SchoolPointe Tech Support if you have any questions.
As some clients are already aware, we have built an entirely new Online Classroom module. It does NOT use the existing Online Classroom layout whatsoever. It uses a process called in-line Content Management, meaning that where the user puts the content is where it displays on their web site. Teachers will have the option to use the provided Classroom template and/or blank pages, it’s entirely up to them. Sorting and rearranging the Classrooms and Pages is a breeze as changes will save automatically. Adding, Editing, and Deleting information is a much easier process than the previous system as it’s all in the area where the content is displaying. Here is a list of the capabilities with the Classroom:
-Announcements
-Assignments (Students will have the ability to submit their assignments online)
-Blogs (for each classroom)
-Class Slideshow and Multiple Galleries
-File, Folder, and Link Management (Links and Files can be in the same File (category))
-Calendar (contains both Events and Assignments)
The management of the information is what sets this apart from the previous version and other competitors, it’s a very simple and intuitive process that allows for creativity on the teacher’s behalf. Each teacher’s site becomes their own, however, the layout of the information from one teacher to another will be the same (in the classroom), making it easy for parents and students to find relevant information on the teacher’s web site.
Classroom information from the previous Online Classroom version CAN be transferred into the new system.
20 School Districts have already decided to have their system upgraded, and we’ve heard nothing but positive feedback after the switch. Please contact us at support@digitalschoolnetwork.com, and we can set you up with an account on our Sample web site or provide a walkthrough of the new system.
Content pages – The second save button was removed from the secondary content. This reduces confusion on which save button to click and the possibility of clicking the wrong save and losing work.
Survey – When creating a new survey a default date has been added along with a date picker.
eCommunication module – When sending an email the from address and sending displayed name can be customized.
After receiving several requests to implement the ability to duplicate question options while creating a survey, we have added this capability to the CMS. You’ll notice a “save & duplicate” button has been added to the interface when adding a question to a Survey. Create a question as you normally would, add all the multiple choice or selection options. Now if you click the “save & duplicate” button, it will duplicate the question options for you to be used in the next question. You’ll then be prompted to provide the next question’s text, but you will see the options have already been added for you. This should definitely cut down on time spent creating surveys, especially those surveys with several questions containing the same options.
Some Additional Notes:
We made some minor adjustments to the layout of the eSurvey pages within the CMS, we gave the user more area to create/modify surveys and their questions. Nothing has been removed or changed in the survey creation process, just a better use of the space available.