I’m an IT director for a small school that had GradeQuick forced on us because it is supposed to integrate with a clunky web portal called Edline. I *hate* this software. The interface is horrible and clumsy. It feels like something from the early 90s and is not nearly as intuitive as it should be. It feels like it was built to mimic the old paper ledger> This is fine if the goal is to transition long time educators to the digital realm, but it ignores the needs and modern workflow of newer teachers who may never have had to use one. Anyone who has used a spreadsheet will find this program frustrating.

Then on top if it, there is no true integration, just a shortcut button that exports the data to a file and automatically opens up the Edline website to the upload page. Transferring data to/from SchoolMinder is an equally annoying procedure that is clearly a hacked method that was bolted onto an increasingly outdated approach.

The thing many of these legacy companies fail to realize is that for the user, the interface IS the product. It should be seamless and transparent as possible. When is the last time you needed open a book and read the steps for ordering something off of Amazon? Ebay, Youtube, Facebook, etc, just work. Users have gotten used to a certain ease of functionality and for the most part the available actions on such sites are self-evident and easy to use. With “web 2.0″ technologies like ajax, I’m puzzled as to why we don’t hold gradebook software to the same expectations.

Engrade.com is a perfect example of applying the technology to aid the user, rather than expecting the user to bend to the requirements of the programmer. It is by far the best gradebook I’ve tried. Now if only its creators had the chance to apply their software design philosophy to the rest of the student information system pipeline.

We’ll computers and the internet would surely help students make great research work.

I came across an entreprenurial site I want to share with you, the Young Entrepreneur Society from the http://www.YoungEntrepreneurSociety.com. A great documentary about successful entrepreneurs.

jdg

I see how turnitin discussion boards could provide good formative assessment for instructors, as long as they create meaningful, thought provoking guiding questions to lead discussions.

jdg

Melissa

Good point. We need to model the proper & proficient use of technology. Yet when I say that, I also ask this: with so much emphasis placed on testing and benchmarks and whatnot, when will we have time to do this? Spending time – even a little – on non-content skills or knowledge is going to force on us an opportunity cost of the content we’re primarily charged with teaching. Thankfully my state does not (yet) have a high school history exam, so I’m not under as much pressure as those in the other three content areas. But where do we find this time to teach, model, and reinforce the tech so we can improve the quality of our teaching in order to improve student learning?

Note: I believe it can be done.

Thoughts?

jdg