Free MIS system recommendation which also does academic reporting

[iscott]

Can anyone recommend a free MIS system that also does academic reporting?

 

Cheers.

 

Ian.

[scholarpack]

We (Scholarpack) are a free MIS that does academic reporting. PM me if you want more info. But I believe there are others too like SchoolTool, FreeMIS, SchoolThing - although I haven't checked on these for a while so not sure if they do the reporting. Other independent providers like isams and Bromcom obviously do reporting but they're not going to be free.

[iscott]

Thanks for the info - currently I only have 1 post so can't use the PM feature on here yet.

 

I was considering the 'scholarpack' option but couldn't find the download link. Suggestions?

 

Cheers,

 

Ian.

[scholarpack]

Thanks for the info - currently I only have 1 post so can't use the PM feature on here yet.

 

I was considering the 'scholarpack' option but couldn't find the download link. Suggestions?

 

Cheers,

 

Ian.

 

The open source download is down for a few days whilst I get a Linux release together. If you are in UK we host/support UK schools for free.

[iscott]

I'm actually in India working at a school with very low income/finances available - hence my 'free' requirement! We run a few (very old) servers and a 'computer lab' of sorts of older PCs, all Windows XP.

 

If you could let me know when the download is available, that'd be great.

 

Cheers,

 

Ian.

[scholarpack]

I see - well, the download is going to be Linux only because we've had issues around releasing source code in a windows installer. However if you want to send me an email at richard [at] scholarpack.com I'll try to get an up to date windows build for you that should run fine on XP.

[6Foot2]

I have asked out Database Manager to have a look at the documentation. She has said that she can't see a way of managing Exams. Is there something we have missed?

 

Thanks.

[garrysaddington]

I have asked out Database Manager to have a look at the documentation. She has said that she can't see a way of managing Exams. Is there something we have missed?

 

Thanks.

 

Exams management, along with several other modules are not part of the open source version, and the documentation online is mostly relevant to that version. Schools that sign up with us get everything we do for free, including all documentation.

[vikpaw]

Can you please clarify what 'signing up' entails? I'm not clear on why some parts are not available open source, if a school signs up then are they allowed to customise the code for these extra options..? cheers

[scholarpack]

Can you please clarify what 'signing up' entails? I'm not clear on why some parts are not available open source, if a school signs up then are they allowed to customise the code for these extra options..? cheers

 

Signing up means we'll host and support your school for free, as well as give training days, in return for the school implementing the parents portal within a certain period of time. If a school wants something customised, they can do it or much more likely we can do it because schools don't want to hack code around, they just want something to work! If it's useful it will be rolled out to all the other schools.

 

The only parts that are not available open source are time intensive modules like data returns and accounting. By getting schools to sign up with us, that allows us financially to provide an open source version for developers to play with. But for most schools (where there is no real difference between open source and free) hosting with us is infinitely better since they get the support they need.

[featured_spectre]

Scholarpack can you PM me with the details with what is available. I want to use it as a standalone to monitor childrens progress within my school for lessons, is that function available?

[vikpaw]

Is the parents portal free also or chargeable?

 

On a separate note with regard to academic reporting, I'm interested in a standalone - but ideally linked to SIMS gradebook feature, so will have to check you out at BETT to see what's possible.

[scholarpack]

Nephilim did you speak to Garry on the phone - just making sure it wasn't someone else

 

Vikpaw - parents portal is free to schools that we host. It connects to the same database as the MIS, obviously with different permissions, but it was developed as a separate product. Unfortunately we can't be at BETT because a European tender we are involved in is happening that same week. I don't think Capita would be too accommodating regarding any sort of integration, but we've plans for a standalone 'teachers edition' which would cover assessment, conduct etc, in the new year.

[featured_spectre]

I did speak to Garry on the phone

[vikpaw]

Nephilim did you speak to Garry on the phone - just making sure it wasn't someone else

 

Vikpaw - parents portal is free to schools that we host. It connects to the same database as the MIS, obviously with different permissions, but it was developed as a separate product. Unfortunately we can't be at BETT because a European tender we are involved in is happening that same week. I don't think Capita would be too accommodating regarding any sort of integration, but we've plans for a standalone 'teachers edition' which would cover assessment, conduct etc, in the new year.

 

If you pay to be a partner they can't turn you down can they...well i'm guess they can, but it's not fair. There're plenty of ways to get the data out anyway, it doesn't have to be live. Just trying to think around the problem and if it's free all the better. I really want a gradebook that teachers can manage / edit on the fly, so not really a tight assessment module.

[scholarpack]

If you pay to be a partner they can't turn you down can they...well i'm guess they can, but it's not fair. There're plenty of ways to get the data out anyway, it doesn't have to be live. Just trying to think around the problem and if it's free all the better. I really want a gradebook that teachers can manage / edit on the fly, so not really a tight assessment module.

 

We have no plans to become a SIMS partner - that would be crazy - we have a full MIS to match it feature-wise and want to move schools away not maintain the status quo. Spending money to integrate into SIMS, then giving away the result for free or as open source would cause our Finance Director to have nightmares!

[vikpaw]

It could be a loss leader!

 

But we're digressing. I'm just thinking of ways to get the SIMS data out that's all. You must have to do something similar when a school opts to move over to you, though i guess you can free hack a copy of the database as support wont be wanted anymore.

 

Could always use an established tool, like Groupcall Xporter or whatever is setup that syncs moodle, which i need to look into myself actually, as i think we're going to use moodle for the gradebook for lack of anything else around.

 

incidentally, @iscott, what system if any do you currently have in place for MIS / reporting.

[scholarpack]

It could be a loss leader!

 

But we're digressing. I'm just thinking of ways to get the SIMS data out that's all. You must have to do something similar when a school opts to move over to you, though i guess you can free hack a copy of the database as support wont be wanted anymore.

 

Could always use an established tool, like Groupcall Xporter or whatever is setup that syncs moodle, which i need to look into myself actually, as i think we're going to use moodle for the gradebook for lack of anything else around.

 

 

Well, a CTF file handles all the student/staff data that is common to all MIS's (registration data too). As for everything else like Markbook Data, Reports etc they could be hacked out of the database but since it's installed on site it's not exactly pain free, but it could be done. Not many schools are using the SIMS assessment modules anyway...we have found many are happy to dump old data and start with the basics afresh.

 

I think what would really benefit schools is syncing between the VLE markbook and MIS assessment modules.

[GREED]

Not many schools are using the SIMS assessment modules anyway...we have found many are happy to dump old data and start with the basics afresh.

 

Really?

[vikpaw]

Really?

 

Well, anyone dumping SIMS probably isn't using it that well anyway right? Or at least, it doesn't do what they need, so may as well start afresh.

[scholarpack]

That is from my experience and I may be proved wrong but so far the schools we have dealt with have not required assessment data to be transferred apart from that which comes as part of the Common Transfer File ie Statutory Assessments. Also, having spoken to several reps for 3rd party apps they have very rarely seen an assessment module of any sort being used inside the classroom. There must be a reason why Classroom Monitor is used in over 2000 schools which replaces an assessment module. These schools obviously pay for an MIS, as they must have one, but they also pay for standalone assessment apps. There must be a reason why they don't use the inbuilt assessment monitor in their MIS...no?

[PhilNeal]

I wouldn't make too many assumptions along those lines. Anyone that is using their MIS as an MIS will require a huge amount more than a CTF transfer.

[garrysaddington]

Phil -

This is not an assumption, just our experience at the moment and we are aware that extra work will be necessary to move other data, although to say 'huge' amount may be an over-estimation. It would be interesting to know the proportion of schools that utilise their MIS to the full though?

[GREED]

It would be interesting to know the proportion of schools that utilise their MIS to the full though?

 

Every one that I have worked in (due to my obsession with things like this!) and working with now and since. No module purchased is under used and is thoroughly investigated and utilised before installing.

[Guest MikeBostock]

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