Macs used for e-Registration

[Bromcom_John]

Thought I would test the water here and on the MAC forums as to degree of interest in use of Macs for collection of registration data.

Would any Mac using members be interested in software that allows them to take attendance registration and collect grades in classroom (on Curriculum Network). The software will also update their back office MIS eg SIMS.Net, Serco CMIS, and RM/Phoenix.

 

Thanks in advance for your comments

[Rozzer]

So you saying Sims or another piece of software could work on OS X.

 

Ross

[Bromcom_John]

Specifically we are looking into the possibilities of OS X and/or Linux builds of our own Winfolder software.

It writes the data back to a SQL database which would then interface with the back-end MIS systems, which would still be on its native platform.

In essence it would facilitate "collection" of data on the Mac and Open Source platforms.

[manxdan]

I would certainly welcome such development. All our staff carry MacBooks but registration is done with OMR forms and SIMS. We currently run separate networks for curriculum and administration which suits me fine. I have put in place systems to make up to date SIMS data available to staff using FileMaker and CommandReporter.

The SMT are keen to roll out eRegistration using SIMS running through Parallels.

I really do not relish the prospect of managing and maintaining 100 installs of Parallels, WindowsXP, and the Windows M$Office AND bridging the networks with all that entails.

It may be quite a large nut, but the sledgehammer still seems a tad extreme.

Your proposition could be the answer.

[PhilNeal]

SIMS does have a browser front end for teachers that is tested on a Mac.

[webman]

PhilNeal: How much does that cost, how is it enabled/activated/accessed and where is it documented?

[Bromcom_John]

I hope it will be able to provide a solution to your problems ManxDan. One of our major design goals with Winfolder has always been to provide a bridging product that allows for secure curriculum use without any risk to the Admin network.

We've implemented a browser based registration in our own MIS system but, like any browser based product, without a fully implemented secure ssl layer, dedicated firewall or other form of lockdown security it still lays out some risk to the otherwise split network infrastructure.

The Winfolder software does not (and will not) use port 80, 8080 or any other standard browser port. Its data is encrypted and is handled prior to the SQL processing layer, so no direct link across admin/Curriculum to sensitive SQL ports either.

[AlexB]

I'm with webman here, can you tell us more on the sims web interface plz?

[manxdan]

As far as I can tell, the only SIMS module that can be accessed via a browser is the VLE, which doesn't include any e-registration solution.

In a perfect world, I would love to see someone like Bromcom with the necessary licensing/partnership with Capita create an application which can take pre-existing data in some standard format like csv or xml and provide the verification, processing and secure transfer of the data into SIMS's SQL back end.

 

Instant wealth and early retirement would be nice also . . .

[webman]

We have an abundance of flying pigs whenever SIMS and wishlists are mentioned.

[meastaugh1]

I'm with webman here, can you tell us more on the sims web interface plz?

 

Could it be the Learning Gateway?

[Bromcom_John]

As far as I can tell, the only SIMS module that can be accessed via a browser is the VLE, which doesn't include any e-registration solution.

In a perfect world, I would love to see someone like Bromcom with the necessary licensing/partnership with Capita create an application which can take pre-existing data in some standard format like csv or xml and provide the verification, processing and secure transfer of the data into SIMS's SQL back end.

 

Instant wealth and early retirement would be nice also . . .

 

Can't help on the Instant wealth and Early retirement side, but...

 

We can and already do have this, just not yet on the MAC platform.

The WinFolder software (been around on Windows since about 98/99)obviously runs off of our own database structure , but that structure can be, and in lots of school already is, populated and updated regularly from the schools SIMS system. We pull the data from SIMS on a daily basis.

It doesn't use csv or xml format as we atually use the Third party interface components that Capita themselves have written.

The attendance that is collected is then pumped back into SIMS on a slightly more frequent basis, in most schools it will transfer back changes every hour or so.

Job done.

[Bromcom_John]

Thought I'd show you a few screenshots of the Winfolder software I mentioned in my last post, just to show I'm not making it up

The primary application screen

http://www.bromcom.com/images/wf3/WinFolder.jpg

and the actual registration screen

http://www.bromcom.com/images/wf3/openregisterwithinfobox.jpg

 

This is the same interface we'd be looking to implement on a Mac/Linux platform. Might look a little different...

[PhilNeal]

It is SIMS Learning Gateway and it has been available for around 2 years. The next generation ready for MOSS 2007 is just about there. Pricing varies according to who hosts it and how much you take up. Rather than plug things here please call our desk if you want more details.

[jenny_urey]

Yes it can be done.....Some of our schools use PARS on a MAC infrastructure successfully entering attendance data which writes back to SIMS within seconds. Grading and behaviour data can also be entered, analysed and reported on as usual.

 

Jenny Urey

PARS Training Officer

TASC Software

[jenny_urey]

Yes it can be done.....Some of our schools use PARS on a MAC infrastructure successfully entering attendance data which writes back to SIMS within seconds. Grading and behaviour data can also be entered, analysed and reported on as usual.

 

Jenny Urey

PARS Training Officer

TASC Software

[vikpaw]

We use Bromcom on PC platform. It works perfectly, and when it doesn't the problem is usually resolved within hours because i'm pretty certain that everyone on the helpdesk speaks SQL

 

I occasionally get friendly little emails to say a problem was resolved that i knew nothing about because the attendance office logged a call earlier that day.

 

The input and output to SIMS works really well, and the best part is that when i bring SIMs down for half a day every month for the mandatory updates and site specific patches to fix their little muck ups etc. Bromcom provides all key info suchas staff and student timetables, inc. photos and class lists and contact numbers.

 

We don't use MACs but i'd recommend Bromcom for anyone that does or is thinking about it.

[webman]

A registration client that worked on the RM Minibooks/ASUS Eee PC would be a good idea.

[vikpaw]

the bromcom software would work on them i think.

that's why i was interested in the RM device we saw at the conference, the cost of the minibook is less than the handheld device from Bromcom.

The only good thing about Bromcom's handheld PDA is that it's very robust so not a problem out in the field during PE, or left lying around a Design Tech workshop.

apparently there's a new one out that's like a mini-tablet PC and it runs windows, i'm waiting for them to come and demo that for me.