Hi All,

We are well progressed on building our latest version of Scholaris, that is V4.0

V4.0 includes the following changes -
More flexible curriculum framework structure
Ability to build school curriculum plans through Learning Program Builder
New class centric Class Manager module
Introduction of Result Sets (assessment methods) of mark, grade and comment
New Virtual Classroom creation wizard
New Assignement creation wizard
New Assessment wizard
New Achievement module

The attached document provides more information on each of these modules and more

We will be publishing more details including screen shots and senarios over the next few weeks, so keep a look out for those

Craig Tucker
Scholaris Product Team

Craig, We have the consultants from Rubicon / Atlas visiting on Tuesday with some intent to purchase (sign up) for their Curriculum Mapping solution.

I'm interested in your reference to the ability to build 'Curriculum Plans' within version 4; my question: is a curriculum plan (in SolutionsIT speak) the same as what Heidi Hayes-Jacobs from the ASCD class as a curriculum map.

I appreciate you may say, "well it's what we have developed!!" BUT the standards in this area are really being set by the ASCD - driven by Heidi....

let me google that for you

Are there any screen shots or demos of the format/capability?

Thanks Chris

I am interested in how you propose or how you are mapping your curriculum and student achievement against a framework. I am considering using assignment manager with data recorded by the home group or tutor rather than the subject teacher. Any comment?

Hi Thom

Best to wait for the next round of webinars we intend to run on V4.0 in about 3 weeks, where these things will become more apparent. This will give you an opportunity to see V4.0 in action (not just screen shots) and think about how to best apply that at ASMS

Craig Tucker
Scholaris Product Team

I noticed in the pdf that you are removing 'For Me' I have setup quite a few sites under this banner, Outdoor Education, Careers, Student Policies. Will I still be able to access these sites and link to them from elsewhere as yet to be decided?

When is Version 4 going to be available to schools? It is now May 2009.

May 18th

Another query I have before we upgrade is that 'News' has disappeared. I couldn't find a reference to it in the Powerpoint. Where has it been moved to?

Steve,

You are correct the News site we used to have under the collaboration sites has been removed from the default site structure. We found that most schools did not use that site, and in fact had a "news" web part of the home page. If you are using a News site there is no reason to leave that site intact and have it visible through your menus / navigation. The whole point of building Scholaris on SharePoint was to leverage the flexibility and customisation that SharePoint allows. What we are moving to now days is providing a "out of the box" starting point for schools, who will with time customise sites, navigation, style and themes, and literally just drop the web parts we provide on a page which best suits them

Craig Tucker
Scholaris Product Team