CourseDirector Newsletter 03/10/2011
Just a brief update from CourseDirector, the number one LMS/VLE/Gradebook in the Google Apps Marketplace. Hopefully the start of the new school year is going well for all of you and things are approaching 'normality'. Our focus recently has been on drastically improving our Gradebook, with enhanced grading, attendance and report card functionality. When we started CourseDirector we were focused on being the most integrated LMS in the Google Apps Marketplace and we have expanded this goal to be the most integrated gradebook as well.
Summary of CourseDirector features:With all the growth of CourseDirector over the past months we thought it would be good to give a quick review of the CourseDirector key features, together with their integration with Google Apps. If any of the features below is new to you and you'd like an online demo please just email us the best time and we'll send you a 'gotomeeting' invite straight away. A link to our help documentation and FAQ's is here.
Online Courses:
- Online courses to share information with students in 'Google Sites'
- Student coursework submission to 'Google Docs' (Includes a new option for 'blind submission' to hide Student name form teacher/lecturer)
- Online exams, tests and quizzes in 'Google Forms' (You can create multiple online tests for each course)
- Discussion group for each course in 'Google Groups'
- Timetabling in 'Google Calendar'
Gradebook:
- Grading. (New features to create categories just released)
- Attendance. (Now much more customizable including creating your own categories)
- Report cards (Also you can export the students report card as a pdf)
Admin:
- Bulk import and export of courses
- Create student groups to more easily add students to courses
- Automatic reset for forgotten student Google Apps passwords
- Easily enable or disable whichever CourseDirector features you want on the admin screen
- Disable semesters (If you do not use the semester system)
CourseDirector and Religious Education:
A big theme since our last newsletter has been the increasing use of CourseDirector in Religious Education schools on both sides of the Atlantic. We are now delighted to be partnering with Oak Hill College, a Theological College in London and associate college of Middlesex University. In the US CourseDirector is powering eLearning at Lancaster Seminary in Pennsylvania and we are thrilled to welcome our first Islamic School, Tawheed Prep School in Virginia.
Google Workshop for Educators:
Google Workshop for Educators:
The first official European Google Workshop for Educators at the International School of Prague was a great success with attendees from the UK, Czech Republic, Germany and Switzerland. Kicking off the event was the CourseDirector sponsored drinks night on Friday at the Potrefina Husa Bar and restaurant. Google Certified Teacher Wendy Gorton did a great job of delivering a super engaging day and ISP IT Director John Mikton was a great host
Here are some write ups from GWE attendees Patrick Green and Glen Kantz
If you would like us to host a Google Workshop for Educators or Google Workshop for Administrators at your school please contact us. In addition many people have requested information on getting their staff through the prestigious Google Apps EDU Certified trainer qualification. CloudSource Solutions now have a program to guide your staff through the entire process including application, exam and registration so please email or call us for more information and start getting your staff certified!
