September 2006 - Posts

Staff 'Instant Messenger' function is about to go live.

EIS have completed their in-house testing of the Learning Platform instant messenger service which uses 'Windows Messenger version 5.1'. 

This service will be activated for 'Staff' accounts only, its initially been trialled through the Wilmington Datford federation group as there will be a few KCN/user issues to be evaluated:

  • How easy is it for non-technically experienced staff to follow the necessary procedures to activate this function?
  • Can 'Windows Messenger' filter through KCN's firewall?
  • Is the use of messenger outside the Learning Platform environment the system we want to adopt where LP users sit alongside friends and family?

We will let you know how we get on over the next couple of weeks - keep an eye on our progress.

 

Posted by Sophie | with no comments

Learning Platform Update to local school SIMs

With the recent update to the datacentre back at EIS in Maidstone last week all Ashford Rural Cluster schools will have a visit from an EIS officer, probably Steve James, to inturn update their local SIMs to enable data transfer to the Learning Platform.

The update should increase efficiency and address several issues;

  • Enabling guest accounts schools to become live - generating logins for staff, pupils and parents.
  • Automatic updates - SIMs to Learning Platform updates allow pupil and staff changes to be reflected on the virtual learning environment.
  • Creation of 'non-teaching staff' - teaching assistants and administration staff. 
  • Mirror image portrayal of attendance and timetable records.

So expect a phonecall to arrange a visit an extra 20 mins SIMs fiddling will provide personally managed hours of cluster collaboration and greater school communication = happy days!

 

Posted by Sophie | with no comments

‘Alert Me’ notification is live and kicking again.

Ever had a blockage – Oh, the sweet release once you’re back on track!

 

Thank you especially to High Halden’s headteacher for highlighting additions to the Learning Platform had gone quiet, when in actual fact more and more teachers are sharing quality resources – but the notification was being blocked.

 

Considering the lead up to the end of term and the summer holidays I thought it reasonable you busy people were putting your feet up.  I should have known better, is there such a thing as a resting teacher?

 

Turns out a recent update to the Kent McAfee/firewall security wasn’t aware that our system generated notes were a life line rather than spam.  So a kindly EIS technician had a stern word with the server in Maidstone and made it see the error of its ways.

 

Result – Oh and what a result it was, you know what happens when a blockage is cleared!  I’d just like to ask can anyone else surpass my total of 495 email notifications?  Now tell me Learning Platform communications will never catch on – how wrong they are.

 

Seriously, I do recommend when you first set your ‘Alert Me’ notifications requirements on the interest group you wish to keep up-to-date with, that you mark the daily summary box, and check the email address you want the messages to go to.

 

If you are still unsure how to make information of events, announcements and new content items come to you check out the guidance on the LA home page ‘Documents’ tab in the Portal Training Resources folder; you'll find several really useful training guides including the ‘Alert Me set up guide’ (see the enclosed post attachment if you don't have your login details to hand). 

 

While you are there the quick guides for teachers is very useful.

Next time don't be quite, anything you've added you don't see after just a couple of days drop me a line on my email and we'll see what's happening!

 

Keep in touch - Donna

Posted by Sophie | with no comments