Edline or SchoolView? Not sure? Too early to tell? That’s okay because SchoolView is in the infancy of its yearlong trial period. The jury is out and won’t be returning a verdict until later this year!
SchoolView, an on-line teacher/parent/student communication service, is piloting this year at EHS and offers more information than its predecessor, Edline. Pam Berling, administrative assistant in the main office said, “Edline was limited. SchoolView encompasses schedule, attendance, grades and demographic information. SchoolView is live data unlike Edline that needed to periodically be downloaded. With SchoolView, what you see on your screen is the current data entered by teachers.”
Sophomore Blake Olson supports the new system. “We piloted [SchoolView] last year at Valley View to test it out,” he said. “I think that it is cool because the grades are instant. I think that once SchoolView is in place next year it will be easier.” However, Olson points out one disadvantage of the tool, “Teachers can’t post documents [on SchoolView].”
Another disadvantage is that SchoolView requires yet another password for students and teachers to memorize. Currently, students need to access four separate websites (SchoolView, Edline, Moodle, and Edina Apps) to get the information that they want and need. SchoolView is the only communication system that has grades posted, while Edline, Moodle, and Edina Apps are primarily used for teachers to post websites, links, and information. Having to use four different passwords to access these systems can be somewhat of an inconvenience.
Each of these sites offers different features, advantages, and disadvantages. But judgments on SchoolView should be reserved, since it is currently being tested. As Berling said, “It is our hope that SchoolView will be a success because parents and students will be able to get a snapshot of their student’s grades, attendance, transcripts and schedule.”