Re: Plethora of gradebooks

[Matt Wimer <matt@cgibuilder.com>]

Hi bill,

On Sat, Dec 26, 1998 at 09:21:55PM -0800, Bill Ries-Knight wrote:
> Hi.
> Bill Ries-Knight here.  I'm new to the list, but have watched this discussion for
> a bit.  I am looking to build a "new" computer lab for my wife's school.  At this
> time the staff is using OLD MACs to be compliant with the Diocese Program.
> Computer Literacy is at a minimum. Suggestions from my wife, a reluctant Windoze
> computer user.
> 
> 1.  Provide an interface that will be familiar to MacOs users, especially early
> revs.
> 

i think the three gradebooks are going to be using gtk which has themes.
One of these themes is a macos theme:
http://themes.org/gtk/themes/images/theme_macos_screen.jpg

While this alone won't make the transition easy, the gnome dialogs
try to follow the macos style guide, which will help.

> 2.  Use 4 basic levels of security....    a) general users in the public.  b)
> Students/Parents for messages and homework, as read and respond only. c) Teachers
> for attendance, grading, messages to/from students/parents, and homework.   d)
> Administrators for general reports, attendance, etc. and perhaps a fifth level,
> the super administrator with final verification of postings or changes for
> grades, disciplines, etc.


My gradebook already has all these views planned.  Some will be easy 
to add on to the existing database while others have to be considered
at the design phase, but all this will be possible and extensible to 
anyone that wants to add more views.

> 
> 3.  ALL transactions should include a full audit trail and require memo notation
> for ANY changes.

Transaction dates i agrea should be stored in the gradebook database,
but only certain modifications to the database should require "memo
notification."  Maybe, if someone tries to delete all the students out
of the database, then yes, that should require some sort of check.

> 
> 4.   My wife is well aware of the skills of today's kids with keyboard and
> modem.  Security should be able to stop the governments best slicers.

security.  The server needs to be locked down in a physically secure
area of the school.  And all but ssh and the sql services turned off.

Securing the application will be xlock and xlockmore or some other
x screen-saver/-locker.

--matt wimer

> Douglas Loss wrote:
> 
> > Well, the gradebook idea looks like one whose time has come.  We have three
> > separate gradebooks in development, from Justin Maurer, Matt Wimer, and
> > Bradley Burnside.  At least two of them (maybe all three) will be
> > GNOME-compliant.  Could I ask you three fellows a favor?  Could you talk to
> > each other about what you're doing and how you're approaching the task?
> > There could easily be good reasons for having numerous different gradebooks
> > in the Linux world, but I think you'll find each of your efforts will be the
> > better for finding out what others are doing in the field.  And who knows, it
> >  may turn out that you'd like to combine efforts and come out with one
> > kick-butt app!
> >
> > --
> > Doug Loss            Democracy substitutes election by the
> > dloss@csrlink.net    incompetent many for appointment by
> > (717) 326-3987       the corrupt few.
> >                         George Bernard Shaw