CAM Posted September 3, 2013 Posted September 3, 2013 1) Export department tracking sheet in the form of a SIMS marksheet with student details and seat number into MySQL 2) Connect to MySQL with a spreadsheet or custom application to automatically generate seating plans? Is this secure and a good idea or a terrible road to go down? And how simple would it be to run? I'd love to do something like this so SIMS automatically puts the data into an external database that runs parallel to SIMS each night so I can connect to it with more advanced systems then manually exporting and altering spreadsheets.
CAM Posted September 3, 2013 Author Posted September 3, 2013 Because I keep getting asked if there is a way to automatically update seating plans which won't work in SIMS because I can't tap directly into the database.
GREED Posted September 3, 2013 Posted September 3, 2013 So is this class seating plans? How do you display them? I know i can't give you an answer I'm very interested in the solution and the reasoning for the requirement!
CAM Posted September 4, 2013 Author Posted September 4, 2013 (edited) Teachers do it in Excel at the moment. They make their markbook in order of what seat the kids occupy as each row has a number according to the seat. Then using borders, they make a mock seating plan on a second sheet using VLOOKUP that was set up by a member of SLT. The seating grid isn't bad but teachers are storing data in a most horrible way! (Colours everywhere, not flush against A1, bad titles, etc). If I can store the data in a database that automatically updates each night and plug a seating system into it I can make something much more reliable and functional. I also have a really large spreadsheet that shows student data to staff. If I can improve that by storing it properly in a database that will help too! Edited September 4, 2013 by CAM
GREED Posted September 4, 2013 Posted September 4, 2013 Got it. But the you would want the data coming back from excel into the db yes? So teachers can make changes? What you need is an MIS that has this ready made and built in ;-) haha!
glennda Posted September 4, 2013 Posted September 4, 2013 The way you are most likely going to have to do it is using Commandreporter.exe to export a CSV. You then have to import the CSV into mysql and work your magic. The biggest head ache would be having to have plans for each layout that a teacher decides to have there room. 1
CAM Posted September 4, 2013 Author Posted September 4, 2013 So it would be safe to do from a DPA point of view?
glennda Posted September 4, 2013 Posted September 4, 2013 So it would be safe to do from a DPA point of view? In theory but you would need to check - obviously it would need to be secure.
PhilNeal Posted September 4, 2013 Posted September 4, 2013 Names aren't generally a problem with DPA its when you start to include personal data such as SEN, ethnicity, pupil premium that it becomes a major issue. 1
vikpaw Posted September 9, 2013 Posted September 9, 2013 You don't have a VLE that plugs in to SIMS and does this sort of fancy stuff for you?
CAM Posted September 9, 2013 Author Posted September 9, 2013 Sadly not. Our VLE is Fronter which isn't the best tool in the box for anything.
vikpaw Posted September 26, 2013 Posted September 26, 2013 Sadly not. Our VLE is Fronter which isn't the best tool in the box for anything. I thought Fronter had the most modules ever, maybe you just don't pay for them all There's an interesting thread on SupportNet - Room Seating Plan with Photo and Data (39372)
pingleby Posted October 17, 2013 Posted October 17, 2013 We export from SIMS and use MAP Learners which is secure. It will do seating plans as well as various other reports for teachers and HODs.
CarpeDiem Posted October 17, 2013 Posted October 17, 2013 Why don't you use Exams? Or is that a daft question?
CAM Posted October 17, 2013 Author Posted October 17, 2013 Teachers really shouldn't be given access to Exams Organiser! Too much that can break.
CarpeDiem Posted October 17, 2013 Posted October 17, 2013 AHHH you mean seating plans for classrooms? Rather than exams? ;o) Sorry for confusion!
mgill Posted December 4, 2013 Posted December 4, 2013 Did anyone come up with a clear way to create these seating plans from sims? I tried to look for the article stated in support net but couldn't find it (SupportNet - Room Seating Plan with Photo and Data (39372))
clareq Posted December 4, 2013 Posted December 4, 2013 Have a look at Class Charts - seating plans and behavior management software - our lot love them.
jallsop Posted December 4, 2013 Posted December 4, 2013 Teachers really shouldn't be given access to Exams Organiser! Too much that can break. Chaos will ensue, trust me.
Seb1780 Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 Have a look at Class Charts - seating plans and behavior management software - our lot love them. I saw these people yesterday at BETT and was impressed with their offering. The link to behaviour and SEN looked very good and the analytical tools are truely amazing (like showing how little Johnny behaves when sat next to various other kids). But, it was only when I got back to base today that I realised the system runs as a stand-alone system, no upload from an MIS and no feedback to the MIS. The BIG question for us though is Data Protection. This service is offered FOC; all you have to do is put the name, picture, SEN status and behaviour of all your children into our system and in return you get a wonderful tool FOR FREE?? This worries me as with no contract there is no DPA clause to look at and despite the lame "it's OK 'cos we used HTTPS" explainations in the FAQ the offer seems too good to be true. Particularly scary is when you see this Class Charts data set available | EDUKEY (Edukey are the company behind Class Carts) - they are harvesting the data. @clareq - what has your experience of this been like?
clareq Posted January 23, 2014 Posted January 23, 2014 I have had very little to do with it, other than dealing with a couple of staff who wanted help printing from it. My boss found it, and did the "due diligence". I'll mention your find to him on Monday, when he's back from BETT. 1
number34 Posted January 27, 2014 Posted January 27, 2014 PARS Connect has seating plans with photos etc. It links to SIMS and is very good for all aspects of behaviour management. Not sure if it can be used without having PARS though.
vikpaw Posted February 6, 2014 Posted February 6, 2014 PARS Connect has seating plans with photos etc. It links to SIMS and is very good for all aspects of behaviour management. Not sure if it can be used without having PARS though. Funny, I actually mentioned this to @CAM at BETT. Not sure about Class charts if there's no contract and you're uploading sensitive date. You could be breaching all kinds of regs. I found this the other day in my favorites, not exactly what was requested, but could be useful as part of a solution. Quite clever, it's tool 6 Tools for Schools | dataeducator
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now