MIS for schools

[RashidaMustafa]

Hello, I am developing an integrated MIS and VLE. I was wondering, if users could tell me what they would like to have in a dream MIS system in schools.

[glennda]

everything sims does + better.

 

Its a very hard market to get into

[RashidaMustafa]

What's better? I found SIMS a little complicated. Plus there's no VLE integration. That's a real hassle, isn't it?

[glennda]

What's better?

 

Sims Is very good - upgrades can be a pita they tend to break just as many things as they fix. although they are getting better and better. As i've said it is a very hard market to get into.

[RashidaMustafa]

Could I point you towards a certain VLE? Is that allowed on this forum?

[glennda]

Could I point you towards a certain VLE? Is that allowed on this forum?

 

Yes i'll quite happily look. For a VLE personally i would go with seperate products (currently use moodle along with sims) i don't think they are the best systems to be linking

 

for a vle i would want it publicly facing to the internet an MIS with all its data i wouldn't.

 

EDIT:

 

If the mods have a problem let me know!

Edited September 7, 2011 by glennda

[elsiegee40]

Could I point you towards a certain VLE? Is that allowed on this forum?

Unlikely given you are new to us. Sorry to seem suspicious, but maybe a chat with the mods before you post would help to improve our naturally suspicious natures

[GREED]

Wow... where to start?

 

I think that unless you have some good capital behind you/the project you will fall before you get started. I also know of some big players that are soon to be entering this market with LOTS of resources and past successes that will certainly shake things up somewhat.

 

I'll say good luck, but with respect I don't think the market is there for another small player right now.

[CyberNerd]

I would encourage making a MIS, but just creating plugins (via the SIF protocol ) to an existing VLE such as moodle.

other advice would be keep it web based and free of expensive propriety licenses - ie no MSSQL licenses, no dependency on different windows versions.

others on this forum http://www.edugeek.net/forums/mis-systems/56378-open-source-mis.html have done this, and got bought out in no time.

[Sivadam]

Sims Is very good ...............

We have notices in several offices around school, the original copy of which came from my office.

The notice says 'Isn't SIMS Wonderful .............?

 

If anybody dares even think of answering in the negative then I always point out the error of their ways!

[RashidaMustafa]

Good advice. Will let everyone know how I fare.

[GREED]

If anybody dares even think of answering in the negative then I always point out the error of their ways!

 

Us experienced EduGeekers are well aware!!

[GrumbleDook]

What's better? I found SIMS a little complicated. Plus there's no VLE integration. That's a real hassle, isn't it?

 

Actually, with SIMS and many other MIS out there you can get decent VLE integration, whether you are talking sharepoint, moodle or other products. There are a number of options for extracting data ranging from SIF, the SIMS BOM or the integrated developer licence. SIF can put limited information back but as a developer you have write-back access pretty easily. A number of members are SIMS developers (and similar for Serco, RM, etc).

 

This is before you get to the various open source offerings which it might be best to look at first to see if you can support further development and work.

[apearce]

This comes down to support for me as well. Check to make sure you are getting the levels of support for the supported product or the open source product. We are currently developing a product for an open course VLE and we are stuck because the product does not have a error system or any documentation on the area we are trying to create the product for.

[vikpaw]

I would like it to be web based and come with fully integrated video training guides for all aspects - accessible before logging in and by context within each area. It needs to have full auditing for anything a user might do, and a flexible permission structure to allow us to empower various levels of user down to a fine level of functionality.

 

Don't forget it needs to meet all legal requirements and changes for the UK, but should also work in other countries, if you want to target that market, so flexible pre-thought out coding is handy, and less hard coding.

 

I would expect ease of putting data in and getting it out, e.g. approved access to SQL, if that is the platform used. But with some kind of failsafe in case it gets screwed up.

 

Easy method to run reports and access data for end users.

 

Remote access over the web.

 

Link to Active Directory.

 

A markbook functionality that can easily be tailored by staff.

 

Easy to produce statistics on marks.

 

Auto-save in all areas, or at least something akin to the caching of entered data as happens in these reply boxes and just saved me losing my wish list.

 

That's off the top of my head, i'll see what more i can dream up over night.

 

Unfortunately, you can't direct people to your VLE, but if you are interested in advertising, use the 'contact us' link at the foot of the page.

Edited September 10, 2011 by vikpaw

[RashidaMustafa]

As I said - you know what? I think you have all that.

[vikpaw]

As I said - you know what? I think you have all that.

 

I​ don't! Some things are close.