edublogger

Hi all, We're using a really expensive language lab application, but only using a small selection of features, so I want to change to something else.# Our requirements are: We want students to be able to record audio through a headset and share it with a teacher. We want the student and teacher to be able to talk through a headset individually and as a group. We want to be able to monitor the student desktops as they work. These things don't need to be all in one application, but it seems to me that there must be a more cost effective way to do these things. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

The upgrade process updates the XML file from what I understand so it's probably not backwards compatible unfortunately. We also got the same error on version 3.

We found our students engaged much more with Google Apps, and there are loads of education specific tools with Google as well. Chromebooks are also amazing, we're rolling out 1000 of them this year, and the management tools are brilliant. Get in touch if you'd like to discuss.

Loads of our readers are reporting exactly the same problem. Google still don't have a fix for it at time of writing. More info here: GADS error: Connecting to Google App Server using admin credentials... - ClassThink.com

Hey guys, Just to clarify, only the Nexus 7 -- you can still get them on Amazon -- and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 for education are supported. I've updated the article with the details. Google Play for Education launches in the UK - ClassThink.com Karl

Hi all, Swapping our textbooks for digital versions. Ideally we want something that integrates with Google Apps, but other than Google Play Books for Education -- which isn't available in the UK -- we haven't found anything. The service with most of the content we need that we're trialing is VLEBooks from Browns. Does anyone have any recommendations. Thanks! Karl

I can agree with this. The VLE is dead.

Thanks! I'll take a look.

Shameless self promotion, but we've got a load of free Google Apps and Chromebooks advice on ClassThink: Google Apps Archives - ClassThink.com Hope it helps!

Hi, Not technically VLE related, but I couldn't find anywhere more appropriate to post this. We've been using SIMS Learning Gateway but have been unhappy with it for a while. We're also removing our Sharepoint infrastructure so maintaining it just for SLG doesn't make sense. Does anyone know of any cloud based parental reporting services that can pull data from SIMS? Thanks

Check out Google Apps, I can't fathom paying figures like £30,000 for services which are free from other vendors.

Hi, I have 2 DCs, both Windows Server 2008. I am having a problem replicating the SYSVOL between the two. In the Security Event log I'm getting this error repeatedly: The Windows Filtering Platform has blocked a bind to a local port. Application Information: Process ID: 1256 Application Name: \device\harddiskvolume1\windows\system32\svchost.exe Network Information: Source Address: 0.0.0.0 Source Port: 62994 Protocol: 17 Filter Information: Filter Run-Time ID: 0 Layer Name: Resource Assignment Layer Run-Time ID: 36 To me it looks like at authentication problem, but this is my PDC so I don't want to do anything too drastic until it is resolved. If I access the SYSVOLs (\\server1\SYSVOL & \\server2\SYSVOL) from the "working" DC I can access and write to both SYSVOLs. But if I go to the not working server I can't write to the local SYSVOL -- although I can write to the SYSVOL in the other DC -- it gives me a permission denied message. I've checked the permissions and they are correct. GPOs and SYSVOL files are not replicating between the two servers, although AD users and groups works fine. Little help? Thanks.

No, nothing like that. Just haven't been happy with how the software works.

Hi all, I'm looking for a cloud based web app to allow students to access select data from SIMS. Stuff like attendance, results, and behaviour. We're currently using SIMS Learning Gateway, but have not been happy with how it works. Does anyone have any recommendations? Thanks Karl

Thanks. We do have a TMG proxy in between, but it allows DNS resolution through. I've also spoken to our ISP who has allowed the required ports at their end.

Thanks. That makes sense. Assuming I use DNS forwarders how should my IE settings be configured? Should I use automatically detect settings or just remove all settings from the LAN Settings window? Thanks

It's a cloud based filtering system. So it's an IP on the Internet beyond our ISP.

Hi, Can anyone point me in the right direction with this? We're using new DNS filtering system which needs me to add new DNS forwarders on our internal DNS servers. If I add in Google (8.8.8.8) or our ISP's DNS addresses they resolve and validate instantly, but if I add in the filtering system I get a "Validation error, please try again later" error and external DNS resolution stops working. I've spoken to our ISP who say they have allowed us access to the new DNS IPs but it's still not working. The filtering company and ISP are just passing the buck between each other. Does anyone know what is likely causing this error so I can go back to them with something solid? Thanks

Just wondering if someone can help me understand this. We're using a DNS filtering server -- a bit like OpenDNS. I've replaced the forwarders on our internal DNS servers. My question is, should I need to do anything else to get the browser to connect to the Internet? I've set the browser to automatically detect settings and removed any proxy settings. Should this just work with the DNS forwarder or do I need to do anything like set WPAD settings. Thanks

Thanks for the reply. What do you think it is that makes you concerned about it?

No-one?

Shameless self promotion:

Hey all, Does anyone have any experience with Equiinet Tinapilot phone system? We're looking at replacing our current system. Thanks

We're using AC primarily because at the moment we don't have enough to justify paying for MDM. I understand there are some MDM services that allow silent app installs, which might be worth looking into.

Hi Tammie, Glad to help! It's good to know the the site is helping people out. That's the way we have it set up and it works perfectly. School apps are pushed out through Apple Configurator, and the teachers can install their own apps. Haven't had any issues here, in fact this is one of Apple's recommended solutions. Manuelpl's solution will also work, it really depends on how many iPads you're managing and how you prefer to do it. Karl