Scheduling and Grading Tools

1. Scheduling and Grading Tools Shari Robbins Technology and Communications EDG 646

2. Technology’s Place in Education • New technology is making its way to help analyze student learning • Technology is changing how learning occurs in the classroom • Technology provides instant feedback and gives teachers more time to spend on instruction instead of grade books, evaluating, tracking progress, and generating data.

3. Easy Grade Pro • Software designed for educators at all grade levels • Consists of software for desktop and handheld computers. • Easy to use tools to managestudent grades, attendance and other information.

4. Easy Grade Pro Features • Pocket Easy Grade Pro (EGP). It allows you to use your Easy Grade Pro grade book files on Windows Mobile handhelds. • You'll be able to manage your student data at any location. • Easy Grade Pro (EGP) Clipboardallows you to enter your student data on handhelds, such as the Palm Pilot. • New data can be transferred to your desktop computer. • It can be viewed and reports can be generated with the your data.

5. Skyward History • Founded on September 1, 1980, by Jim King & Associates in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. • Originally a software and system design consultant company. • In 1981, they developed a software package for Merrill Public Schools in Wisconsin. • Upon the completion of the software, other school districts utilizing hardware systems similar to Merrill were invited to a presentation to introduce the new personnel software. Only three districts attended the presentation: all three districts jumped onboard. • Timeline of Growth

6. Skyward Offers reliable information through the web. • Attendance • Census/Demographics Data • Discipline • District-to-District Student Transfer • Educator Access • Gifted & Talented • Grading & Transcripts • Open Enrollment Tracking • Pocket PaC • Scheduling • SkyPort • Student Activities • Vivid Image Plus

7. Skyward Optional Features • Student & Parent Access • Food Service • Graduation Records • Health Records • Skyward Emergency Notification • Special Education Module • Standards Based Grade Book • Textbook Tracking

8. Skyward Optional Business Features • Accounts Payable • Direct Deposit • Budget Management • Data Mining • e-Commerce • General Ledger • Payroll • Project/Grant Management • Purchasing • Time Off Accrual

9. Valuable Quotes… • "Skyward continues to set the pace where Pennsylvania Information Management Systems (PIMS) is concerned! It works very well and we couldn’t be happier with Skyward. Great job!”- Gary Spohn (DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY, SPRING-FORD AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT, PA) • "With Skyward, the business of education has been able to remain an invisible entity silently moving the district along, ever evolving and ever enhancing the educational careers of our students.”-Jeff Buettler (ASST DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY, OWEN J. ROBERTS SCHOOL DIST, PA) • "Our former student information system could no longer do the job. Skyward is able to support the growth of the district and track information to meet the requirements of NCLB. We’ve moved into the 21st Century with Skyward!”- Kay Yeakel (IT DIRECTOR, GREAT VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT, PA)

10. Skyward States • More than 1,400 School Districts World-Wide • Currently 30 School Districts in PA • 3 Districts in New Jersey

11. My Access! 4.0 Software • The Web-based program scores essays and provides immediate feedback. • Students can upload their essays onto the MY Access! site for them to be quickly graded and marked with comments that help in motivating students to improve their writing skills. • “The program runs on Vantage Learning's IntelliMetric engine, which uses both artificial intelligence and the digitization of human expertise to accurately assess a student's work in subjects such as writing, social studies and science.” • Teachers can customize grading to fit their state's standards or to accommodate the individual needs of students. • Reports can be made for schools to show adequate yearly progress as required by the NCLB Act. • Students can use the program to store their work in an online portfolio that keeps track of drafts, feedback and scores.

12. My Access! 7.0 Software • New software helps students prepare for the SAT, ACT and other college admissions testing. • Features include the ability for educators to select the appropriate reading and feedback levels per student, graphic displays of student’s progress and an unlimited prompt library to give educators infinite access to add and use writing prompts to customize writing instruction to district curricula. • An online account management system also helps districts better manage students’ licenses and lets them place and track orders over the Web. • Cost is an additional $36 per student subscription. District subscriptions range around $3,000 depending on the package.

13. Web Site Sources • Easy Grade Pro • Easy Grade Pro Tutorial • Skyward • My Access

14. APA Sources • (1996) Grading software comes with palmtop pc. T.H.E. Journal, 24 (4), 44. • (2003) My access! 4.0 provides web-based grading. T.H.E. Journal, 31 (5), 14. • (2006) My access 7.0. District Administration, 42 (11) , 86. • Sack-Min, J. (2008) New assessment tools help analyze learning, refine teaching. American School Board Journal, Jan., 32-33. • Smith, T.L. (1996) Using computer technology to enhance learning: compensation in the real world. Journal of Education for Business, 72 (2), 98-101.