FrogOS

New Features
August 2012 The Frog VLE Software Update (August 2012)

We are pleased to announce that we have updated your Frog VLE to enhance the functionality and features. The changes to your Frog VLE are as follows:

New Features
Analytics
New Analytics application for Frog administrator to track VLE usage.

Tags
Ability to add Tags to Sites to enable faster more accurate searches and enhance categorisation.

Change Password
Users can change their own password in the System Preferences.

Transfer User
Transfer User functionality added to allow administrators to transfer Student User Accounts between schools

Export Assignment Data

Ability to export marks and assignment details from Assignments application to .CSV file.

Favourites.
Favourites section added to Resource Manger to allow quick access to favourite Sites.

Feature Enhancements
Background
Users can now upload and use their own background images.

Site Organisation
Resource manager redesigned to enable more efficient Site organisation. Sites can now be searched for and view options changed from within the Resource Manager.

Forum Widget
New configuration settings in the Forum Widget to allow users to specify post options.

New Features Explained

The following information will explain the new functionality of your VLE. Not all features listed are available to all users. For further information please consult the user manual available to download from the Community Site.

Analytics
What does Analytics do?
The Analytics application provides statistical data about the users that are using your Frog VLE. It is useful for you to identify key information about how users are using Frog. The information may, for example, help in targeting which users may need assistance when trying to improve usage within your school. Note: Only users logged in as an administrator user will see the Analytics tool.

How do I use Analytics?

Timespan Filter: Displays VLE usage on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. User Type Filter: Displays VLE usage based upon user type. Graph: Displays usage as a graph. This cannot be edited.

Node: Displays the data at a given point. Data Sections: Displays general usage information. When clicked displays an in depth list of users and usage statistics. User/Site View Select: Changes the view between usage and Site creation.

Feature List
The Analytics tool displays the following data: The total number of users assigned to your Frog VLE. The number of users who have logged in. The number of users who have never logged in. The total number of logins by users. Ability to filter results by type: Students, Teachers and Parents. View the total number of sites created by users.

The Home Screen

To launch the Analytics application, click on the Quick launch icon in the Frog bar and then click on the Analytics icon.

The home screen shows a graph indicating the total number of all users that have logged in to the Frog VLE during the previous seven days. Each user is counted once per day and multiple logins by the same user will not increase this count. It also shows the number of users that have not logged in yet, have at least logged in once and those that are logged in now (in the past hour).

To view the users that have not logged in yet click on one of the red circles in the Data Section. This will display the users as a list.

This list can then be exported out of Frog into a spreadsheet program such as Excel. To export the data click on the Export as CSV button. Your data will now be downloaded onto your computer ready to be opened in a spreadsheet program such as Microsoft Excel.

Changing the Views

To change the day, week or month view, click the user buttons to just show daily, weekly or yearly usage.

To change the User view, click the user buttons to show Admin, Staff, Student, Parent or Other usage.

Nodes
Each graph displayed contains Nodes. A node is a point in the graph that contains information. Holding your cursor over a Node will display the data that the Node refers to. Nodes cannot be opened.

Data Sections
To make identifying user usage quicker, data is presented at the bottom of the Analytics window in a Data Section. These data sections contain the following information:

Users on the platform This displays how many user accounts have been created on the VLE. These are split between Students, Staff and Parents. Logged in now This displays how many users have logged in to the VLE in the last hour. These are split between Students, Staff and Parents. Not logged in yet This displays the users that have never logged in to the VLE.

Clicking on a Data Section displays a list view of the relevant data.

The type of information displayed will vary depending on the type of user selected. Information is displayed as follows: Teachers

The list view for Teachers displays: User Name (yes id) Full Name Login Count (number of times logged in since their account was created) Last login (e.g. 9 Jul @ 15:02) Average Login time (hours/min)

Students

The list view for Students displays: User Name (yes id) Full Name Form Name Class Name Login Count (number of times logged in since their account was created) Last login (e.g. 9 Jul @ 15:02), Average Login time (hours/min)

Parents

The list view for parents displays: User name Yes id Full Name Login Count (Count of times logged in since their account was created) Last login (e.g. 9 Jul @ 15:02), Average Login time (hours/min)

Site Creation Information

Click on the Sites View button to change the view from Users to Sites. Site creation information can be viewed by day, week, and month.

Click on Timespan Filter to show site creation by date.

Click the User Type Filter to show site creation by user type.

Tags
What do Tags do?
Tags allow better filtering when searching for sites. They also allow Frog to categorise Sites into groups to make finding and storing them easier. Tags enable users to more easily discover their own sites and sites that have been shared with them, within the Resource Manager, by using categorisation and keywords. When creating a Site you now have the option of adding Keywords associated with the Sites contents. This is useful when someone is searching for a Site but doesnt know the name. By adding key words that are relevant to what a user might type when searching for your Site enables faster more accurate search results. For example, for a science Site we could add liquid gas solid melt freeze ice molecules evaporate. When a user uses any of these words in their search, this Site will be included in the search results. Note: Sites that were created previously to this update can have Tags added retrospectively.

How do I use Tags?

When creating a new Site or uploading an existing Site to the MoE Repository, you have the option to add tags to make searching for the Site easier and more accurate. Tags are accessed by either creating a Site (Resource Manager Sites - New Site) or by opening an existing Site and clicking on the Share button (Resource Manager Sites - Share). They will also appear when sending a Site to the MoE Repository (Resource Manager My Sites Actions Menu Send Site to MoE Repository). This is the Add tags page. In here, there are three steps to complete; Category (1), Form Group (2) and Keywords (3).

In the Category drop down menu there are two options available: Subject and Co-curricular. Select a category and click on the Add button. The chosen subject will appear underneath.

In the Subjects drop down menu choose a subject for your Site from the list.

Click on the Add button to add the subject to the Site. The chosen category will appear underneath.

Select the Form Group for your Site. For this example we have used D1.

Click on the Add button to add the Form to the Site. The chosen Form will appear underneath.

Next, you have the option of adding Keywords associated with the Site. Enter your keywords into the keywords box. For this example, we have used security, online and safety. Previously used keywords will be suggested as you begin to enter a keyword. When finished, click on the Add button.

You are now finished adding Tags to your Site. Click on the green Create Site button to continue creating your Site.

Change Password
What does Change Password do?
The Change Password feature allows users to change their own password independently. As a security measure, users are asked to enter their current Password before any changes are made. If they have forgotten their current password they will have to contact the Frog administrator to change it for them.

How do I Change my Password?

Click on the Frog Head option in the Frog Bar and select Preferences.

Click on Change Password.

Click on the Change Password button.

Here you must enter your old password and then your new chosen password. If you cant remember your old password then you must contact your Frog Administrator.

Note: Passwords must be between 8 and 16 characters in length and can only contain the following characters A-Z,a-z, 09,+,-

Click on the Save button to change your password.

Transfer User
What does Transfer User do?
The Transfer User feature allows the Frog administrator to transfer a users account details to and from another school. This means that the new school does not have to enter the users details into the VLE all over again.

How do I Transfer a User Out?

Begin by selecting Users from the tab menu in the top right hand corner of the screen. Select the User Type from the drop down menu. Choose from Student, Parent or Teacher.

Enter the full Username of the user who is leaving your school.

Click on the User Status: Enabled / Disabled drop down and select Disable.

Click on the Transfer drop down and select Transfer Out.

Next click the Save button.

A message will now be displayed if the transfer has been successful. The user will now be Disabled from your schools VLE and sent to a holding area. When the user starts at their new school, the new schools administrator (admin user) is able to retrieve the user and transfer them into their VLE.

How do I Transfer a User In?

Begin by selecting Users from the tab menu in the top right hand corner of the screen. Select the User Type from the drop down menu.

Enter the full Username of the user who is leaving your school. You could ask the pupil/staff member for this information; alternatively, this information will be supplied from the users previous school.

Click on the User Status: Enabled / Disabled drop down and select Enable.

Click on the Transfer drop down and select Transfer In.

Next click the Save button.

A message will now be displayed if the transfer has been successful. The user will now be added to your schools VLE. If you get the message Username not valid for Transfer In, check that you have typed in the Username correctly. If you still get the message, you may have to contact the users previous school to ensure that they have performed the Transfer Out function first.

Export Assignment Data

What does Export Assignment Data do?
The Export Assignment Data feature allows teachers (and administrators) to export the data from closed assignments into as a CSV file, either for archival or analysis purposes. Data exported includes marks, comments, instructions and dates. Once exported the file can be opened by a speadsheet program such as Excel or imported into Google Docs. Please note that this feature can only closed export assignment data from an individual account. It cannot export data across multiple accounts.

How do I Export Assignment Data?

All the assignment data is exported as a CSV file. These can be opened by programs such as Excel or imported into Google Docs. Click on the Assignments icon in the Quick Launch menu.

In the Assignments window click on the Closed tab to view all closed assignments. Only closed assignments can be exported.

To export all data from all closed assignments click on the Export Closed as CSV button. All closed assignments regardless of subject will be exported.

To export all data from a specific closed assignment click on the assignment name.

A list of all assignment recipients will now appear. Click on the Export CSV button to download the data. Only the data from the selected assignment will be exported.

Double click the downloaded file to view the assignment data.

The data will open in a spreadsheet format in a new window.

Favorites
What does Favourites do?
The Favourites feature allows all users to add Sites to their Favourites area in the Resource Manager. This enables faster and easier access to your favourite Sites.

How do I use Favourites?

Begin by clicking on the Resource Manger icon in the Frog Bar.

In the Resource Manager click on the Sites link in the left hand panel.

Now click the My Sites link. This will display any Sites that you are able to add as Favourites.

Click on a Site that you would like to add to your Favourites area. Do not double click as this will open the Site.

Select Add to Favourites from the menu

above the Sites window.

The Site will now be added to your Favourites area. To check it has been added click on the Favourites link in the left hand panel.

The Site will now appear in your Favourites area.

Feature Enhancements Background Image

It is possible to change the background image of the VLE to an image that you have uploaded yourself. The maximum file size that can be used as a background is 10MB, although using a file this large is not advisable. Using large files as background images could slow down the Frog VLE due to the amount of data needed to display the image. Note: Frog supports the following file types: JPEG (.jpg) GIF (.gif) PNG (.png)

How do I Change my Background?

To begin changing your background click on the Frog Head Menu option on the Frog Bar and select Preferences.

Click My Background to view the selection of backgrounds available.

Click on the Custom background button to choose one of your own images. This displays your My Documents folder in the Resource Manager where you can either select an existing image or upload a new image to use.

Note: Images can also be used from the Lesson Resources and School Documents area. To use an image from these areas click on either Lesson Resources or School Documents on the left. To use an existing image in the My Documents area, click on the file and click the Use button.

You will now be returned back to the My Background where you now have four options on how your image is displayed: Centre: Keeps original image dimensions and centres to the screen. Stretch: Will stretch the image so no background is shown, but dimensions are kept proportional. Fill: The image will reach its maximum size within the edge of the screen. Tile: The image will tile to fit the screen using its original dimensions.

Once you have your image and it appears as an image in the Select My Background box, click the X cross in the top left corner of the window to save and close. Your background image is now saved and ready to use. To use an image not in your My Documents area of the Resource Manager, you will first need to upload an image to use as a background. To do this click on the Add Files button to launch the File Uploader.

Click on the blue Choose Files button to select a file from your computer to upload.

Choose a file from your computer to use as a background image. Click Open to continue.

When your file has finished uploading the status indicator will turn green. Click the Done button to return to the Resource Manager.

Click on the file to be used as a background then click the Use button.

Your background image will now automatically update.

Resource Manger
The Resource manager has been completely redesigned to enable more efficient Site organisation and searching. Sites can now be searched for and view options changed from within the Resource Manager.

What are the Changes to the Resource Manager?

The new features of the Resource Manger are:

Site Structure
Sites are now structured into categories to make finding a Site quicker and easier. These are: My Sites Displays any Sites that you have created. Subject Sites Displays all Sites that have been tagged as a Subject Site. Sites are now contained within a subject folder which is represented by a subject icon. Co-curricular Sites - Displays all Sites that have been tagged as a Co-curricular Site. Other Sites - Displays all Sites that have not been tagged as a Subject or Co-curricular Site.

Favourites
The Favourites feature allows all users to add Sites to their Favourites area in the Resource Manager. This enables faster and easier access to your favourite Sites.

Navigation Trail
The Navigation Trail provides links back to each previous area the user has navigated through to get to the current page. These links provide a trail for the user to follow back to the start or to any point in the trail.

Change View Buttons

The Change View buttons allow the Sites to be viewed in two ways. These are: Icon View Displays Sites as icons List View Displays Sites as a list.

Site Search
The Site Search allows searching for Sites without leaving the Resource Manager. Searches require at least 3 characters be entered before the search will begin.

Actions Menu
For convenience, the Actions Menu combines several functions into a single button. The Actions button contains: Delete Site Get Site from MoE Repository Send Site to MoE Repository (view by) Site Name (view by) Date Add to Favourites

Forum Widget Settings

New configuration settings in the Forum Widget to allow Site creators to specify post options.

What are the Changes to the Forum Widget?

When a Forum widget is included in a Site the options to the creator are: Users can delete and edit their own posts: Never (default) only the Site creator will be able to edit or delete a post. Temporarily - for 2 minutes, 5 minutes or15 minutes. Once the user has posted their message, they will only have a limited period of time to change or delete their post. Always The user will always be able to change or delete their posts.