Monday, October 25, 2010



Software Title: Sycamore Education
Vendor:   Sycamore Leaf                                                         Cost: $12 per student initial, $00.75 per student monthly
Description: Complete online School management system & Student information system
Notes on Use:
SOFTWARE
FEATURE
1
POOR
2
BELOW AVERAGE
3
AVERAGE
4
ABOVE
AVERAGE
5
EXCELLENT
Documentation
4
Documentation is excessively technical and/or difficult to follow
Documentation is generally understandable but not very user-friendly
Documentation is user-friendly and reasonably easy to follow
Clear documentation that is logical and easy to follow
Very clear, user-friendly documentation that leaves no questions
Technical Support
5
No local or toll-free telephone support available
No local support; phone support available for an hourly fee
Local tech support and phone support available for modest fees
Local tech help available for modest fee; no-charge phone support
Local help and toll-free support readily available at no charge
Multiple Users
5
Cannot be used by more than one user
Usable by multiple users if per-user licensing is purchased
Payment of a relatively small fee allows multiple users
No additional fee but allows addition of up to 10 users
Comes with permission for multiple users
Help Features
3
Few or no help features available
Help limited to a Help or Read-Me file on Installation CD or website
Clicking a help button provides on-screen assistance with common problems
Help button is context sensitive and provides clear help
Highlighting and clicking area of difficulty brings up a related Help feature
Tutorials
4
No tutorials provided
Tutorials may be ordered with a fee
Limited tutorial provided on a CD or may be requested without charge
Tutorials offered as an online option or on a CD
Extensive online and CD based tutorials provided
Administrative Features
5
Lacks some of the commonly included basic features
Only basic features are included
Basic features and additional features are included
Includes most of the features desired
Comprehensive features included
Multiple Platforms
5
Works on only one operating system
Although purchased for one platform, versions for other platforms may be purchased
Program will run on multiple operating systems; features may vary with platform
May be used on multiple platforms; features similar although not identical
May be used on multiple platforms with consistent features across platforms
Conversion/Import/Export Features
5
No provision for conversion between software
Cannot be imported or exported into other programs but can be converted into a few of the more popular formats
Can be converted, imported, or exported into programs by major vendors
Easily converted into common formats; maintains most of format features
Fully compatible via conversion, import, and export with all vendors
All Needed Applications (If a suite or Integrated Software)
5
Missing many applications that are needed
Some needed applications missing from package
Most of the expected applications are included and compatible with each other
All basic applications included and fully integrated
Includes applications beyond those needed; full integrating within suite and compatible with other vendor software
Hardware Compatibility
4
Requires upgrades for some hardware to work on all machines
Requires limited upgrades to some machines
Will work on most machines without upgrades
Works acceptably on all machines without upgrades
Maximum performance with no hardware upgrades required on any machines
Cost
4
Expensive when compared to other vendors
Cost is relatively high when compared to other vendors
Average cost
Reasonably priced, includes some discounts
Special pricing for educational users.

Google Docs Tools :)

The google docs tool that interest me most is the drawing tool. When using this tool, a document is opened that presents several different shapes. They are connected with lines, forming a graph. You can add as many extensions as you would like, typing different sentences, formulas, and words into the graph, depending on your subject for creating it. The graphs are colorful and attention grabbing.

The google docs drawing tool is an example of productivity software, which means it assists in completing tasks. The tool could be used to show students how things are related, or they could use this tool themselves to create a presentation for a project. I could accomplish administrative tasks by creating plans for students to further themselves in my classroom. The different levels of the graph could represent the different levels of learning the students possesses.