SIMS vs CMIS

[6Foot2]

Removed.

[SpuffMonkey]

We use it. I think it has the potential to be a good product - but its not an install and go live type system - you need to consider how you are going to use it and tailor it accordingly - which takes time. Support can be very slow and 20-40 minute waits listening to music are not uncommon.

[Geoff]

The both suck in equal amounts of suckness. Cheesy tag lines like 'inbetween a rock and a hard place' and 'from the frying pan into the fire' come to mind.

[6Foot2]

The both suck in equal amounts of suckness. Cheesy tag lines like 'inbetween a rock and a hard place' and 'from the frying pan into the fire' come to mind.

 

That may be true, but what winds me up most about this is that we have only recently moved over to SIMS from Integris with all that that entails: Licences, new server, training,... and it is not as if I can dump SIMS completley as in a separate move we also moved from Cash Accounts to FMS, which will stay even after the CMIS move has been completed.

[Geoff]

I see. Was there any planning involed in this process? It seems like you're just throwing money away to me.

[wesleyw]

Why are you moving away from SIMS after only recently moving from Integris?

 

 

Wes

[6Foot2]

Why are you moving away from SIMS after only recently moving from Integris?

 

Wes

 

I see. Was there any planning involed in this process? It seems like you're just throwing money away to me.

 

I didn't want to do it. We are in a consortium, you see. Because the other schools are doing it we have to also, apparently.

[Geoff]

So all the schools in the consortium are going through this convoluted migration?

[6Foot2]

So all the schools in the consortium are going through this convoluted migration?

 

Yes I am afraid so. On a side issue, we moved away from RM Connect to Viglen Classlink, again despite my objections. If a system is working and there is a clear upgrade path to follow, why deviate if the reasons for doing so are whimsical?

[krisd32]

aren't they both similar products? rm connect and classlink? just had a look at class link all it looks like is netsupport school. am i being incredibly thick or is that actually what it is just re-badged as viglen?

[6Foot2]

aren't they both similar products? rm connect and classlink? just had a look at class link all it looks like is netsupport school. am i being incredibly thick or is that actually what it is just re-badged as viglen?

 

I think that what you are alluding to is the NetSupport product which comes along with a Viglen network. it is one of the network management tools supplied, Viglen just re-badge it as Remote Learning Tutor.

[Guest monkeyx]

:oops:

[tosca925]

What LEA are you in Monkey X?

[Guest monkeyx]

:oops:

[eejit]

I have used SIMS and SIMS.net and Nova was quite a good part of the system. The rest of it was bloated and I particularly disliked the Assessment Manager module.

 

We switched to CMIS 6 months ago and it way better than SIMS. Eportal interface is great for teaching staff. It takes conisderable effort to make CMIS do what you want, but at least it gives us what we want, which SIMS.net did not!

 

Are you fully transferred over already? I heard that it takes a year just to move across fully, also that Capita put some blocks in the way by copyrighting the data so you are not allowed to export it to CMIS.

This could all be bitter rumours though.

[Geoff]

also that Capita put some blocks in the way by copyrighting the data so you are not allowed to export it to CMIS

 

We've discussed this issue before. IIRC it works something like this. The license agreement prevents you from accessing the database directly. You must use the API's provided to access the data. You can only use the API's if you have a developer license.

[GrumbleDook]

Which Serco do ... and they have utilities to move your data across.

 

The time consuming thing is building the new timetable, training the essential staff (student data manager, poor sod who does the reports, timetabler, exams officer, poor sod who does attendance) ... followed by basic training for staff ... ensuring ePortal does what you want ... then locking down ePortal .. followed by training staff on ePortal ... then training them on reports via ePortal ... then redesigning your reports system again ... and then delivering more training.

 

It all depends on how quickly your staff adapt to change.

 

Some schools will prepare it all the 3-4 months before the summer ... with the last timetable done in both Nova and CMIS ... then do the final migration during the summer ... and then cross their finger for when they come back.

 

Others take a more long term look at it.

 

I a waiting to hear about the first people that move from CMIS to SIMS.net ... it shouldn't be too long now.

[Guest monkeyx]

:oops:

[PhilNeal]

I would not normally add to a thread like this because I have an obvious self interest. However I have to say that the idea that Capita copyrights data is just a rumour!

 

We do insist that third parties write back to SIMS via our business objects so that we can be sure that the data passes through exactly the same valiation rules as our own software. We then guarantee to fix any problems that might occur. We do charge for that but there is no charge for read access.

[GrumbleDook]

We went live in March/April (2006) and ran end of year reports for nearly all year groups in June We also started using Eportal for attendance towards end of April.

 

When did the process start though?

[Guest monkeyx]

:oops:

[GrumbleDook]

How much planning went on before the data was transferred? The figure I am looking for is from the first meeting (after signing on the dotted line) to the first point when you were completely SIMS free, and all staff were using the relevant parts.

[alan-d]

I a waiting to hear about the first people that move from CMIS to SIMS.net ... it shouldn't be too long now.

 

Been there, done that

 

I arrived just after CMIS was installed (moved from SIMS). It was so problamatic and user 'unfriendly' the school had the MD and programmers come over from Ireland to discuss and fix the problems. Nothing was achieved so the school went to Sims.net.

 

Easier for the staff to use and problems are solved a lot quicker. It's not perfect by any means but the staff get on with it a lot easier than with CMIS which is the important thing.

 

We've been CMIS free for 2 years now so my comments about it may be out of date and it may have improved - too late for us though

[Guest monkeyx]

:oops:

[john]

One thing with the Timetabler that I have picked up from the person who does ours is "Smash all the links its CMIS makes for timetabling and DIY from the ground up" she says doing it her way has meant that we have so few tt glitches when staff get there drafts and she sits down and checks them for little glitches its amazing, the last two years its been 99.9% perfect on the 1st draft (until the kids come back and go miss can I drop X for Y.....)

 

E-portal is an amasing tool from what I can gather, staff like it, they have had some inset on it, and its improved over the last few years, ours use it remotely for reports etc, parents access it as well for reports, assessments etc its a great product from that side. Whats its like for real day to day stuff I have no idea as I am not a user of it, but it does seem like you will get a good product in the end. You must devote time and effort at all levels to what ever you go for though.