[Yr7-10it] Electronic reporting system

Sat Dec 3 17:10:42 EST 2005

Roland (and others),

The "update server" feature is a clever feature, and it means that teachers can use the one client program to update their markbooks to the central database, without needing to be granted any rights to it; they just change the settings in their client for the designated IP address/port it works seamlessly.  Our staff can update from home as well as school.

Note: for the uninitiated, "markbook update" is the mechanism by which the teachers' markbooks/reports are sent to the central database, and simultaneously changes in class lists or subject configuration are disseminated to teachers disks.

There is an "administrator" update package, too, which is more powerful, but requires that the user can directly interact with the database.

My view is that "update server", which runs on a dedicated machine for us, but does not have to, is more hungry for memory or processor time than you'd expect, compared with the 'administrator update', but give it a machine of modest ability it does not job (and actually does nothing most of the time).

For the record, Markbook is organised at our place in the following way:
- I administer the database, deal with class lists, etc etc and generally oversee the show
- there are two secretaries who spend the equivalent of a couple of days a semester each making or modifying templates
- all the printing is done through the secretaries at the school offices (ie Junior school office, Middle School office, Senior School office)
In all, we can have up to 6 users of "markbook central" doing pretty significant things simultaneously, and this is more than seems to be recommended, but it works fine.

Cheers,

-----Original Message-----
From: Roland Gesthuizen [mailto:rge at westallsc.vic.edu.au]
Sent: Sat 12/3/2005 1:09 PM
To: Dr Paul Chandler
Subject: Re: [Yr7-10it] Electronic reporting system

Paul, what do you think of the Markbook server update feature?

Regards Roland

Dr Paul Chandler wrote:

>Colleagues,
>
>One of my roles is as Markbook administrator, and this is my 6th year in the job.  I am well supported by secretarial staff.
>
>I fully concur with Allan's comments.  Noting that, with a large database, it is infinately more stable under sql server than .mdb implementation.
>
>If anyone would like to chat about "how we do it", then please feel free to be in touch.
>
>Cheers,
>
>
>  
>
>>--- =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
>>Dr. Paul Chandler
>>Professional Development Coordinator
>>Yarra Valley Grammar
>>paul.chandler at yvg.vic.edu.au
>>ICQ: 54193141
>>Ph: 9262 7809 (direct), 9262 7700 (switch)
>>Fax: 9876 1077
>>
>>
>>    
>>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: yr7-10it-bounces at edulists.com.au
>[mailto:yr7-10it-bounces at edulists.com.au]On Behalf Of Allan Barnes
>Sent: Friday, December 02, 2005 11:26 AM
>To: Year 7 - 10 Information Technology Teachers' Mailing List
>Subject: RE: [Yr7-10it] RE: Electronic reporting system
>
>
>We have been using MarkBook this year for the first time - was fairly
>intensive in terms of setting it up and getting the templates working, but
>runs very smoothly if it is set up correctly.
>
>The support (which you pay for as an annual subscription) is fantastic and
>should be taken out at least for the first year or two until it is set up
>properly.
>
>We issue around 1500 certificates a year, and have a person working on it
>2 - 3 days a week, so it is pretty intensive and needs good time allocation.
>
>
>
>Regards
>Allan Barnes
>
>
>
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: yr7-10it-bounces at edulists.com.au
>[mailto:yr7-10it-bounces at edulists.com.au]On Behalf Of Dobb, Lorette
>Sent: Friday, 2 December 2005 11:19 AM
>To: Year 7 - 10 Information Technology Teachers' Mailing List
>Subject: [Yr7-10it] RE: Electronic reporting system
>
>
>Our school is considering alternatives to Filemaker as a reporting system.
>Does anyone have a suggestion for a better alternative? What do people think
>of Markbook?
>
>Lorette Dobb
>Head of Technology & Coord Gifted Programs
>Kingswood College
>Box Hill
>
>(03) 9890 0677
>dobb.l at kingswoodcollege.vic.edu.au
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: yr7-10it-bounces at edulists.com.au
>[mailto:yr7-10it-bounces at edulists.com.au]On Behalf Of Roland Gesthuizen
>Sent: Friday, December 02, 2005 9:44 AM
>To: Year 7 - 10 Information Technology Teachers' Mailing List
>Subject: [Yr7-10it] Re: Open Source Software for schools (previously RE:
>Re:
>
>
>Sounds like a good port of Open Office to run on a Mac. Only review that
>I read suggested that if you can use an X11 application, then use the
>Mac OS X release of OpenOffice.org
>
>Regards Roland
>
>Robert Minato wrote:
>
>  
>
>>Our school is looking at changing over from ms office to an open source
>>program called Neo Office. Not familiar with it myself. Anyone know how it
>>compares with Open Office for a Mac network.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>    
>>
>
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>Year 7 - 10 IT Mailing List kindly supported by
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