Re: [seul-edu] App idea: classroom permissions manager

[gringey@sendit.sendit.nodak.edu]

Quoting Doug Loss <dloss@suscom.net>:

> malonowa wrote:
>
> > From: Tom Hoffman <tom_hoffman@mac.com>
> >
> > > I am getting closer to putting together a linux writing lab in 
my 7th
> > grade
> > > classroom.
> > >
> > > One application that I think would be useful is a graphical 
front end
> that
> > > would allow me to display and change the group memberships for 
the
> > students
> > > in an individual class quickly (by clicking a radio button, for
> example).
> > > This would allow me to have, for example, a group of "finished"
> students,
> > > who would have permission to play a game, and a group of
> "not-in-trouble"
> > > students, who might, for example, have theming or other nice
> privileges.
> > >
> > > My intuition is that it would be a fairly trivial program to 
write, but
> it
> > > is beyond my skill at this moment.  Anyone intrigued?
> > >
> >
> > More to the point is if such a system could update configuration 
files of
> > programs for groups of students as well. Imagine for example, a 
program
> has
> > certain levels of difficulty and the teacher wants to introduce
> > features/difficulty levels at the pupils' learning pace.
> >
>
> I think we're talking about two related but separate ideas here.  
First,
> moving
> students between groups so as to give them access to previously 
denied
> programs.  This can easily be done, probably via K12Admin and 
(possibly
> some
> added code).  This would make menu items or icons that previously 
didn't do
> anything now function for the student.
>
> Second, reconfiguring the user interface on the user's 
workstation.  This
> will
> be more difficult.  I'm pretty sure that the config files on most 
window
> managers or desktop environments are only read at startup or when 
the user
> forces it via a "refresh" (I think that's what Windowmaker calls 
it). 
> Could we
> and would we want to forcibly edit and refresh the config files on 
the
> students'
> workstations, adding new icons and menu items?  That could be 
confusing all
> by
> itself.  It's worth talking about.
>
> >
> > I expect the design of such a system is much more difficult than 
the
> actual
> > implementation. I'm no networking expert.
>
> I don't think it would be impossible, but as I mention above I 
think we
> would
> have to think hard about the best way to accomplish it.
>
> --
> Doug Loss                 God is a comedian playing
> Data Network Coordinator  to an audience too afraid
> Bloomsburg University     to laugh.
> dloss@bloomu.edu                Voltaire
  

Tom,
  The student management system that you are describing is exactly 
what I would like.  We have a new Linux lab.  Our lab last year was a 
Mac lab of 5200's OS7.6.  We managed them with At Ease.  The program 
did everything you laid out.  I keep hoping that something similiar 
will be available in Linux.  My At Ease years were the easiest 
management years I had in a computer lab.  Students could change and 
access only the applications that I chose for them.  I could place 
their names on and off a list in seconds.  
  I, like you, do not have the knowledge to write a management 
program, but I would like to take advantage of one.  Our 
administration is dragging its feet on the networking in my new lab.  
Students currently log in to a generic student account, save to the 
home/student file, and then transfer personal documents to a disk.  I 
feel like I have stepped back in time!
  Gail