SchoolMAX i-Series Release Notes

SchoolMAX
i-Series
Release Notes
Version 4.0.0
July 2005
No part of this document may be reproduced in any form without written permission from MAXIMUS, Incorporated.
Copyright 2005, MAXIMUS, Incorporated. All Rights Reserved.
MAXIMUS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
USING THESE RELEASE NOTES .................................................................................................................................. II
1
I-CUE NOTES.............................................................................................................................................................. 1
1.1
2
29608 – Attendance and Grade Submit Buttons.............................................................................................................................1
I-ATTEND NOTES .....................................................................................................................................................2
2.1
3
Student Information Modifications...................................................................................................................................................2
I-GRADE NOTES ........................................................................................................................................................3
3.1
7529 – Submit Grades Button............................................................................................................................................................3
3.2
34606 – Modifications to the Term List ...........................................................................................................................................3
4
I-GRADE GRADEBOOK NOTES ..............................................................................................................................4
4.1
Online Help for i-Series Enhancements ...........................................................................................................................................4
4.2
22907 – Dropping Category Scores...................................................................................................................................................4
4.3
29603 – Edit Multiple Assignments ..................................................................................................................................................6
4.4
29608 – Copying Category Setup from One Class to Another .....................................................................................................9
4.5
32377 – Cross-Term Grades ............................................................................................................................................................10
4.6
32377 – Add Final Exam ..................................................................................................................................................................10
4.7
32380 – Non-Numeric Grade Tables .............................................................................................................................................11
4.8
32382 – Overall Student and Class Comments..............................................................................................................................12
4.9
33431 – Submit Menu Changes .......................................................................................................................................................13
4.10
35314 – Modifications to Copying Assignments .....................................................................................................................17
4.11
35462 – Modifications to the Debugging Flag .........................................................................................................................17
4.12
37723 – Edit Assignment Grades...............................................................................................................................................17
4.13
Edit Teacher Preferences ............................................................................................................................................................18
4.14
32115 – Miscellaneous Gradebook Modifications...................................................................................................................19
4.15
32369, 33430 – Miscellaneous Report Modifications ..............................................................................................................19
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SchoolMAX i-Series Release Notes
v4.0.0
-i-
MAXIMUS
USING THESE RELEASE NOTES
This document uses standard conventions for referring to objects within SchoolMAX. These conventions include
the following:
(i-GRADE)
A module within i-Series
“Edit Grades”
The title of a screen or label
“Cmt 3”
The name of a field on a screen
‘305’
The actual value within a field
[Submit grade changes] A button, checkbox, or radio button that is clicked with the mouse
- ii -
Standard scores
A hyperlink that is clicked with the mouse
<Enter>
A key on the keyboard (not shown)
STENR
The name of a report (not shown)
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SchoolMAX i-Series Release Notes
v4.0.0
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1
i-CUE NOTES
1.1
29608 – Attendance and Grade Submit Buttons
i-Cue now contains an option (set at the server) to allow the [Submit Attendance] and [Submit grade changes]
buttons to appear at both the top and bottom of the student lists.
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2
i-ATTEND NOTES
2.1
Student Information Modifications
i-ATTEND student information (i-CONTACT) has been modified slightly to allow for a more uniform presentation
of period attendance history, schedules, and student contact information.
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3
i-GRADE NOTES
3.1
7529 – Submit Grades Button
The i-GRADE [Submit grade changes] button has been moved to the left side of the screen.
3.2
34606 – Modifications to the Term List
Fixed a problem when a teacher changed the default “Term List for Comments” value and then entered grades,
but entered an incorrect grade or comment and submitted the form. Previously, i-Grade would report the errors
but revert back to the default Term List. Now the software program remains on the newly selected Term List.
Additionally, upon a successful submission of grades, i-Grade returns to the selected Term List. The Term List
reverts back to the default last enabled column, only when a teacher selects another class.
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4
i-Grade Gradebook NOTES
4.1
Online Help for i-Series Enhancements
A new Latest update information link has been added to the “i-Grade (Gradebook) Main Menu” screen.
The link opens this document, SchoolMAX i-Series Release Notes 4.0.0, in .pdf format.
4.2
22907 – Dropping Category Scores
The i-Grade Gradebook now allows a teacher to specify, per category, an optional number of scores to drop.
To disable the dropping of lowest scores, set the “Drop Lowest” column to ‘0’.
If the [Drop Missing] checkbox is checked, then missing assignments are considered as eligible to be dropped.
If it is not checked, then missing assignments are always considered in calculations (whether or not other low
scores are dropped).
The selections in the “Drop Method” column drop-down listbox are used to determine which assignment to drop,
when assignments have different maximum point possible values. If all the assignments within a category have
the same number of points possible, then it does not matter which option is selected (i-Grade Gradebook always
drops the lowest scores by percent).
The ‘%, Low Poss’ or ‘%, High Poss’ values are used for a student with two assignment scores, where the
average of each score is equal, but the maximum point value for each assignment is different. This option
determines whether to drop the assignment with the low points possible, or the high points possible value. For
example, on a homework assignment, a student receives a 5 of 10 points possible on one assignment, and a 50
out of a 100 points possible on another. Using the ‘%, Low Poss’ value, the 5 of 10 assignment would be
dropped. Using the ‘%, High Poss’ value, the 50 out of 100 assignment would be dropped.
The ‘Most Optimal’ or ‘Least Optimal’ options drop the score or scores that create the greatest or smallest
increase in a student’s final category average.
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For example, if a student has three homework assignments with scores of 5 out of 10, 55 out of 100, and 100 out
of 100, then the ‘Most Optimal’ option would drop the 55 out of 100, because dropping this assignment would lead
to the greatest possible increase in the student’s final average. The ‘Least Optimal’ option would drop the 5 out of
10, because that would lead to the smallest increase in the student’s overall average.
No grades dropped:
Most optimal example:
Least optimal example:
Note:
i-Grade Gradebook only drops grades when dropping the grades increases a student’s overall
average. If a student receives the maximum score on all given assignments, no scores are
dropped.
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4.3
29603 – Edit Multiple Assignments
The following modifications have been made:
An Edit multiple assignments link has been added to the “Assignments and scores” form
Editing multiple assignments now displays up to twenty (20) assignments at a time. Previously the limit was
ten (10).
Each student’s current overall term average, and overall term grade is now displayed. Additionally, if a Date
Due filter is applied, the screen also shows the calculated average and grade, for only those assignments
within the given dates.
Filters now allow a teacher to limit the assignments and/or students that appear. A student filter narrows the
current roster to students whose current average is between two specified values. A date filter allows the
teacher to limit the assignments to only those due between two specified dates. To enable the student filter,
enter a low and high average value, and click the [Show] button.
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After clicking the [Show] button, the student roster is filtered. To adjust the percent range, change the values,
and click the [Change] button. To turn off the filter and view all students, click the [Show All] button.
To only show assignments due between two dates, enter the dates, and click the [Show] button.
To change the filtered dates, change the dates, and click the [Change Dates] button. To show grades for all
assignments, click the [Show All Grades] button.
To filter students using a filtered average (the average calculated between two assignment end dates), enter that
additional average range, and click the [Show] button.
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Note:
If both final percent and date period percent filters are entered, i-Grade Gradebook shows only
those students that meet both conditions.
To increase the speed of entering scores, a teacher can now control how certain keyboard keys behave.
The <Enter> key can be used to submit the scores, move down, or move right through the scores. By placing a
check in the [Use Arrows For Navigation] checkbox, the standard PC arrow keys now allow a teacher to move
quickly (left, right, up, and down) throughout the form. If a teacher selects the [Moves Down] or the [Moves
Right] radio buttons, then they must click the [Update Grades] button to save any changes.
Information now pops up next to each score, displaying the student name and assignment information. The
pop-up window lists the following information: student, assignment name, total points possible, category, and due
date.
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SchoolMAX i-Series Release Notes
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4.4
29608 – Copying Category Setup from One Class to Another
Before any assignments are entered for a class, the category setup can be copied from one class to another. To
copy assignments, select a class that does not yet have assignments created.
Then, click the Copy categories from another class link, select the class from which you want to copy
categories, and click the [Copy To] button.
Note:
Once assignments have been created for a class, category additions or changes need to be
entered manually.
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4.5
32377 – Cross-Term Grades
For classes that span multiple terms, a cross-term grade report is created automatically. This view only report
appears for classes that span multiple terms. To view this page, select Report For All Terms on the class
summary page.
4.6
32377 – Add Final Exam
For any class that spans multiple terms, an option to create a cross-term Final Exam assignment is automatically
made available. For classes that span only one term, this option does not appear. In that case, a teacher can
simply create a final exam category and assignment. Clicking the Add Final Exam link gives the teacher a
modified assignment definition form.
The “Weight” field is the overall weight of the final grade average, compared to all of the other overall term grades
for a multiple term class. The value defaults to ‘20’, but a teacher can change this to any integer.
For example, if a class spans two terms, and a final exam is created with a weight of ‘20’, then a final cross-term
grade is calculated automatically with the following weights:
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Term 1 Final Grade
40%
Term 2 Final Grade
40%
Final Exam Final Grade
20%
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SchoolMAX i-Series Release Notes
v4.0.0
MAXIMUS
4.7
32380 – Non-Numeric Grade Tables
A school can define and associate non-numeric score value sets to point values (e.g., a score of ‘A’ = an
assignment value of 90), and these non-numeric scores can be used when scoring assignments. If a nonnumeric score table exists, a teacher can chose to use this table before any assignments have been created, by
selecting the “Options” Menu, and then selecting the View/select Non-Numeric grade tables link.
Selecting ‘Numeric’ defaults to using numeric scores only on assignments; other options would be defined for
each school. Once an option is selected, and assignments are created, this option is no longer changeable.
This option does not appear if no letter grade tables have been defined by the i-Grade Gradebook Server
Administrator for your school.
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4.8
32382 – Overall Student and Class Comments
Teachers can now create overall student and class comments. To access the comments for a class from the
“Assignments and scores” Menu, select a Term and a Class on the left. Then, click the new Comments link
on the right.
Fill out the form, and click the [Submit] button (not shown). Comments appear on student reports, and are visible
to parents and students who access i-Parent.
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4.9
33431 – Submit Menu Changes
Before submitting grades, “Students having Final Percent between” and/or “Assignments due between” filters can
be applied.
A subset of student rosters can be submitted to SchoolMAX by setting the “Students having Final Percent
between” range fields, and clicking the [Filter] button.
A calculated final grade for a subset of grades (in addition to the overall term grade), can be calculated
automatically for submission, by entering a date range in the “Assignments due between” range fields, and
clicking the [Filter] button.
Grades can now be viewed before they are submitted, by clicking the Class name link.
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If a student filtered range (based on a specified range of percents) is applied, then the number of students
submitted is indicated, and “Submitted?” is set to ‘No’ for any student that does not qualify. For example, to
submit only those students that received an average between ‘0’ and ‘70’, enter those values, and click the [Filter]
button.
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In the example above, only grades for Maryanne Jones are submitted when the teacher clicks the [Submit]
button.
If a date filter has been entered, additional grades and submission options appear.
The filtered grade is a calculated average based on all of the assignments due, inclusively between the two
specified dates. To submit the filtered grade, click an appropriate “Report card grades” selection from the dropdown listbox.
To view these grades before submitting them, click the Go to Student Grades link, or scroll down on the form.
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If a teacher selects the last term of a class that spans multiple terms, a cross term final grade and, if entered, a
final exam grade also appears, and may be associated and submitted to an appropriate Report Card grade.
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4.10 35314 – Modifications to Copying Assignments
Fixed two issues related to copying assignments. Assignments are now copied in the original order they were
created. A change has been made to prevent a server timeout when copying assignments.
4.11 35462 – Modifications to the Debugging Flag
Modifications have been made to fix the debugging flag when opening the i-Grade Gradebook. This is to assist in
diagnosing errors.
4.12 37723 – Edit Assignment Grades
A new Class Statistics link option shows various assignments statistics.
The <Enter> key and the up and down arrow keys now move the cursor through the scores.
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4.13 Edit Teacher Preferences
The Edit teacher preferences link now includes options for saving the default behavior of the <Enter> key and
arrow keys.
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4.14 32115 – Miscellaneous Gradebook Modifications
The following modifications have been made:
When a Report Code is linked to a Category in the Category Editor, grades submit correctly
i-Grade Gradebook now prevents a teacher from submitting (and accidentally overwriting) more than one
grade to the same SchoolMAX report card column
A teacher can now remove a Report Code that is accidentally linked to a Category in the Category Editor, by
selecting the ‘blank’ value from the drop-down listbox and submitting the form
Teachers can now delete duplicate categories. A teacher can now delete any category, by selecting the
[Delete] checkbox, and clicking the [Submit] button (if using weighted grades, the remaining active categories
need to add up to ‘100’). If a teacher deletes a category that has been attached to existing assignments,
when they return to the “Assignments and scores” Menu screen, they are prompted to re-link them to valid
categories.
The Category Editor now allows a teacher to set a weight of ‘0’ on an active category when other categories
remain weighted. The weights of the remaining active categories need to add up to ‘100’. This allows a
teacher to enter grades for this category, and compute a category average, but leave this category out of the
final grade calculation.
4.15 32369, 33430 – Miscellaneous Report Modifications
Other modifications applied to the existing Gradebook reports include the following:
The Class Summary Report now displays averages on the left and the right side of the screen
If a teacher has chosen to use non-numeric scores, then the [Hide calculations on all reports] checkbox
appears in the Categories setup
If this option is selected, no calculated final grades are displayed on any reports, including i-Parent views.
This option is primarily designed for elementary schools that do not "compute" a final grade, and do not want
to display computed grades.
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Student average and assignment due date filters (the same filters used on the “Edit Multiple Assignments”
form) also appear on the class summary. Filters that have been applied on one form remain active for any
selected class, until the [Show All] button is clicked, or a teacher logs out.
A Class Statistics link displays information based on the overall term grade for the current class
Assignments that have been dropped because they qualified as a low score are noted in red. Information on
how to drop a specified number of low scores in a category is contained below in the new Categories link
options section.
The overall “Class Comment:” field appears above the scores. If the note is longer than two lines, a <more>
link displays the entire note.
If a student has an overall comment, their current overall percent is turned into a hyperlink. Clicking that link
displays the current comment.
On all student reports, the “Class Comment:” and “Overall Comment” are printed, and dropped scores are
noted
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The pop up information about a student and assignment appears when the cursor hovers over a score
A school can allow a teacher to view any student’s report card for any class in the i-Grade Gradebook,
provided that student has been scheduled into one of the teacher’s classes. To view any report card in the
Class Summary Report, click the student’s name, and then click the Show all classes for (Student Name)
link.
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Selecting a class from the roster list displays the i-Grade Gradebook status report card.
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