MIS systems Is There Room.

[russdev]

Doubt it as they can't keep up with imposed changes by the goverment that MIS systems have to follow.

Russ

[CyberNerd]

freemis claim two schools in uk are using it, IIRC the developer is based in scotland. Schooltool is built upon the zope framework and is being used internationally, but I don't think in the uk. Schooltool is funded by the shuttleworth foundation.

[elsiegee40]

Originally Posted by CyberNerd

Schooltool is built upon the zope framework

zope means nothing to me * shows ignorance I know *

However, as a tiny private school with little money, paper based MIS, and no legal requirement to stick to government guidelines, maybe we should be investigating. The HT is keen to get us into the 21st century!

[russdev]

It sounds just right for you.

Russ

[russdev]

@elsiegee

Suggest get in touch with Miles Berry (his network manager is member here wave when you see the thread). As he can give you some great ideas and is always willing to talk to people.

Joys of not having government targets I wish...

Russ

[CyberNerd]

Originally Posted by elsiegee40

zope means nothing to me * shows ignorance I know *

However, as a tiny private school with little money, paper based MIS, and no legal requirement to stick to government guidelines, maybe we should be investigating. The HT is keen to get us into the 21st century!

Zope is an application server built upon python, it's used to create applications, the idea being that development is simplified and other modules can be easily integrated - its also web based to cut desktop and deployment costs.

It might be cheaper to employ someone to write the XML's by hand for the cost of sims!

[dave.81]

Just to add another one into the mix is PASS which we get through WCBS. I know a lot of the indepdent schools are taking this on and most of the methodist group schools are running it. We haven't taken it fully onboard with the academic side but the day to day admin is very straight forward and reliable.

[Innermumbo]

Blue Sky Stuff?

Interesting thread... However, whilst the school MIS may currently be considered a niche market, how do others think that this holds as we move into true integrated and largely interoperable teaching and learning environments? My point is that the MIS will increasingly be considered to be 'at the heart of learning'. Learning Platforms with VLEs, Cashless Catering, Library systems, etc., etc., will all be largely driven by the information maintained and updated in the school MIS. Who wants to maintain user information in all of these different places? And where such systems as VLEs 'catch' information about performance - useful to the MIS - who wants to be manually exporting and / or re-keying this information back into the MIS? Free School Meal data is another example of information that is useful to Cashless Catering systems and held in the MIS. The horizontal (within a single school / establishment) combinations are vast and that's without introducing (vertical) Identity Management, the 14-19 agenda, collaboration, parental access, DCSF needs, etc., etc... The school MIS is no longer the preserve of the school office. And major or minor, the suppliers will have to radically rethink their approach to interoperability i.e. Systems (Schools) Interoperability Framework (SIF) in order to stay competitive in the market.

Interested in your thoughts