detjo Posted November 2, 2009 Posted November 2, 2009 I'm currently in a high school and have come to the conclusion that a lot of curriculum software is pants. It's badly written or badly designed or looks cheap and nasty or all of the above. I mean, who in their right mind writes an application that saves answers to a database in a network share and decides MS Access is the way to go????? WTF! Thought long and hard about that then! Or student software that MUST have an administrator password to work!!!!!!! Anyway .. I'm looking for a list of software that peeps have such gripes with. Care to share what the software is and what P's you off about it?
Michael Posted November 2, 2009 Posted November 2, 2009 I have to agree, MS Access is not designed for lots of users. SQL in any form would definitely be the way to go. You could always write to the company with your ideas/suggestions. I did with Sherston some time ago and they did listen Thankfully most newer software is web based which makes managing and deploying software a thing of the past. A typical example of this is EducationCity.
leco Posted November 2, 2009 Posted November 2, 2009 I've got to agree there's an awful lot of awful software - and why are teachers always won over by the sales blurb? Sherston are, and always have been, education based (ever since they were little acorns). They listen to and implement their user feedback.
t_h Posted November 2, 2009 Posted November 2, 2009 I love the web based stuff. Generally I find the newer software not too bad - it's the older software that insists on 16 bit colour, violates the screen resolution and can't comprehend the fact your computer has 2GB of RAM that drives me mad.
TechMonkey Posted November 3, 2009 Posted November 3, 2009 All I can really say is I agree. We have been tempted to turn our hand to curriculum software just because anything half decent we turned out must surely by better than some of the stuff we see. It does make you appreciate the little gems that occasionally appear though.
gshaw Posted November 3, 2009 Posted November 3, 2009 The best (read worst) I have to deal with requires... - running from a network drive not UNC path otherwise sound won't work - doesn't support network printers - only prints to the currently selected default printer - saves to a custom database - looks like Windows 3.1 So to get it to work I've had to... - create a custom launcher app made from AutoIT \ Batch \ VBScript to map a local port printer (using encrypted local admin privileges in the compiled AutoIT EXE) - set the above as a temporary default printer - map a non-persistent network drive and launch the app from there - add a splash screen and get the timings right for the local port driver to install and get itself ready, plus the mapping of the network drive script Doesn't mention any of that in the network install documentation!!! I've got high hopes for the new version of SkillsBuilder I've been sent though... web \ SQL based and integrates with Moodle niiiiiiice
detjo Posted November 3, 2009 Author Posted November 3, 2009 The best (read worst) I have to deal with requires... - running from a network drive not UNC path otherwise sound won't work - doesn't support network printers - only prints to the currently selected default printer - saves to a custom database - looks like Windows 3.1 So to get it to work I've had to... - create a custom launcher app made from AutoIT \ Batch \ VBScript to map a local port printer (using encrypted local admin privileges in the compiled AutoIT EXE) - set the above as a temporary default printer - map a non-persistent network drive and launch the app from there - add a splash screen and get the timings right for the local port driver to install and get itself ready, plus the mapping of the network drive script Doesn't mention any of that in the network install documentation!!! I've got high hopes for the new version of SkillsBuilder I've been sent though... web \ SQL based and integrates with Moodle niiiiiiice Is it good or bad that we put up with this kinda stuff? The bottom line is; we always go that extra mile to get things working and help the school do what they need to do - and i must say, there is a certain amount of 'reward' having gotten it to work when it clearly didnt want to! lol ..I wonder if "Sorry, it doesnt work coz its shit" would work better in the long term coz schools would stop buying such crap and force the devs to re-think their programming!
mortstar Posted November 3, 2009 Posted November 3, 2009 (edited) In my experience, the worst ones will have this sentence in the blurb: "[insert name of horrendously bad software] has been made by teachers for teachers" Edited November 3, 2009 by mortstar 1
sted Posted November 3, 2009 Posted November 3, 2009 2 simple software is also pretty good and their support is good ive lost count of the amount of times ive wanted an msi version of old software and e-mailed them and got the software downloaded same day (at home though cos leas net supplier (we must block anything useful even for contractors/staff) blocks it). Sherston stuff usually just works and older stuff can be made networkable with network installer disk in minutes softease generally works ok via ad now then you get junk like eyeprofile that stores stuff in app data or numicon that requires the reg key typed in for every user (had it added 3 times on 1 mandatory profile as it seems to change where it looks grrrrrrr)but by far the worst pos ive come across is digiblue pre v3 though i have since found a way to deploy 2.1 but sub that unsigned drivers means as an admin plugging the camera into every port on every pc its needed on
BTCC_Fan Posted November 3, 2009 Posted November 3, 2009 In my experience, the worst ones will have this sentence in the blurb: "[insert name of horrendously bad software] has been made by teachers for teachers" Yup, its a a gaurantee of crap software. I've seen one called 'cars v8' that required us to manually set permissions on a bunch of folders. It was just a right pain to install. Teachers should stick to teaching , not creating software!
FN-GM Posted November 3, 2009 Posted November 3, 2009 Other software that gets on my wick is when you need to put the install disc in the drive to run it.
localzuk Posted November 4, 2009 Posted November 4, 2009 There are a lot of bits of software that were born during the era of 'ad-hoc' school networks. ie. When schools lacked proper ICT policies, funding and equipment. So, teachers (who were running the networks too) built a lot of the software. As they weren't software engineers and had a lack of knowledge of things such as HCI and RDBMS, it was inevitable that the software they created would be problematic in the future. Sure, at the time it must've been great, but since then it usually has either become abandonware or a golden goose, as no-one has created a competing product of suitable quality. We have a selection of packages which are a nightmare - all of them from that era. All of them have obscure quirks. But we can't simply replace them, as it amounts to a pretty large figure to spend, when the old stuff continues to work with our tweaks and the SMT can see that. The question is - do we continue with our tweaks and bodges, and extend the life of this software for the kids to use and learn from (after all, that's what its for), or do we just say 'no more!' and say that our tweaks represent security risks, for dodgy old software that was fine then but isn't cutting it today? 1
sparkeh Posted November 4, 2009 Posted November 4, 2009 I actually think things have improved in the last couple of years. When I started in education it was awash with the "By teachers, for teachers" software. All with their own quirks and bodges to get them working over a network and very few with a msi. I have noticed that these days, its a lot more common to get a msi, even from small software companies, perhaps software companies have come to the conclusion that schools are a lot more savvy these days and software does get rejected these days due to its quality of programming. One thing that hasn't improved though is Testbase *shiver* - the one piece of software actively designed to make the most painful install experience possible.
morganw Posted November 4, 2009 Posted November 4, 2009 The testbase installer is the most ridiculuous thing i've ever seen, there are other bits of software using the same installer (or maybe just testbase renamed as other things for other curriculum areas). I think we've also got things called exampro and examquest (or something similiar) using the same install method. I am about to recommend to one member of staff that they try and get a refund on a piece of software which incorporates a shared access database and a client program which refuses to write to it.
localzuk Posted November 4, 2009 Posted November 4, 2009 One thing that hasn't improved though is Testbase *shiver* - the one piece of software actively designed to make the most painful install experience possible. What, so you find having to enter odd serial codes and school names by the handful an issue? Never
CraigM Posted November 4, 2009 Posted November 4, 2009 I can only agree. In my last job, I had to install a lot of Sherston software for the teachers of keystage 1 and 2. Some of it ran ok, but some of the older software caused Windows to drop to 16 colours and low resolution that would not go away until I logged in and fixed it. Caused anguish for the next class to come in, often the high school kids. I kept trying to get the software changed to newer versions, but as always the school had no money. Thank heavens those days are over
Mr.Ben Posted November 4, 2009 Posted November 4, 2009 I spent most of my years as an tech repackaging and tweaking old software in a Secondary School that also supported 10 local primaries. Now I'm an NM i've had the chance to shape my own Network, and I have been brutal with a lot of software (The bin may have been used to lose a lot of Software ) With SMT support, all software has to be purchased through my department, and I ask teachers this question when presented with old software: Do you expect a ten year old computer to work with the most modern software? (answer is always no - staff seem to understand that) Then why do you expect a ten year old program to work with a modern PC? I always try to sweeten it by finding an alternative or newer version - and telling them to purchase it (with the correct licensing), but a lot of the time here there is already software available on our network to meet the teaching objective that they are trying to reach.
Tallwood_6 Posted November 4, 2009 Posted November 4, 2009 Testbase, Exampro, Multimedia Science School, Just Click E-Science, the list goes on. Alot of the naff stuff i get usually comes free with ........... insert name of Exam Board textbook. Theirs alot of 'professional' software which can be just as bad when not alot of thought is put into how it can be deployed, or run by users which otherwise dont have admin access to the machine.
sted Posted November 4, 2009 Posted November 4, 2009 Testbase, Exampro, Multimedia Science School, Just Click E-Science, the list goes on. Alot of the naff stuff i get usually comes free with ........... insert name of Exam Board textbook. Theirs alot of 'professional' software which can be just as bad when not alot of thought is put into how it can be deployed, or run by users which otherwise dont have admin access to the machine. newer versions of testbase arnt that bad (granted umpteen codes that are case sensitive are a pain) but at least its now script installable
Tallwood_6 Posted November 4, 2009 Posted November 4, 2009 newer versions of testbase arnt that bad (granted umpteen codes that are case sensitive are a pain) but at least its now script installable Great stuff, now how about an msi? God knows why they are so anal about the licencing for it as i wouldn't give their software away. Such great fun i've had with getting older and newer versions of this software to play nicely together on the same machine.
sparkeh Posted November 4, 2009 Posted November 4, 2009 God knows why they are so anal about the licencing for it Heh yeah, and I was surprised to find that when I accidentally put in out Issue 11 licence details in for Issue 12 it still installed!?
Batman Posted November 4, 2009 Posted November 4, 2009 I think we'd like the web based stuff a lot more here if: 1. We didn't have to keep updating flash all the time. 2. Web browsers worked properly under CC3. Even using the RM blueprint IE7 is dreadful... Firefox just doesn't work (let me know if you've managed it, I'll be very interested). 3. Applets didn't require browser security exceptions (another RM gripe probably). 4. We could rely on having the internet 100% of the time. Teachers go mad when it goes down... at least when it's a local program you don't need the internet to use it! I don't think web based stuff is necessarily any better. Just mention "Kerboodle" to anyone in our office and you'll hear audible groans.
Tallwood_6 Posted November 4, 2009 Posted November 4, 2009 I think we'd like the web based stuff a lot more here if: 1. We didn't have to keep updating flash all the time. 2. Web browsers worked properly under CC3. Even using the RM blueprint IE7 is dreadful... Firefox just doesn't work (let me know if you've managed it, I'll be very interested). 3. Applets didn't require browser security exceptions (another RM gripe probably). 4. We could rely on having the internet 100% of the time. Teachers go mad when it goes down... at least when it's a local program you don't need the internet to use it! I don't think web based stuff is necessarily any better. Just mention "Kerboodle" to anyone in our office and you'll hear audible groans. Bring on HTML 5, this should ease the need for web developers to turn to flash, shockwave etc for much of the web 2.0 type stuff that is all the rage now.
sparkeh Posted November 5, 2009 Posted November 5, 2009 I think we'd like the web based stuff a lot more here if: 1. We didn't have to keep updating flash all the time. Do you really need to update flash to the latest version all the time though? Unless there is a serious security flaw that needs addressing I rarely find anything that doesn't work with a version that is a couple of revisions old. 2. Web browsers worked properly under CC3. Even using the RM blueprint IE7 is dreadful... Hmm yeah I have to agree. The main problem for me is that most of the usertype settings don't seem to do anything
Batman Posted November 5, 2009 Posted November 5, 2009 Do you really need to update flash to the latest version all the time though? Unless there is a serious security flaw that needs addressing I rarely find anything that doesn't work with a version that is a couple of revisions old. My point precisely... that would be my preference too but we've had problems on occasion because a site which was working suddenly "requires" a new version and won't let you view the flash content unless you install it. Very frustrating.
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