Jefferson H.S.

HOWTO: Skills you will need before you begin ISIS training

ISIS Basic Proficiency v1.1

The Integrated Student Information System (ISIS) will be launched at Jefferson H.S. this August 29. The new online, web-based student information system will eventually replace the present SIS system and will be available on essentially every networked computer on campuses with a web browser, or over 500 computers. Teachers will record period-by-period attendance from their classroom computers and submit the results over the network in real time. The grade bubble sheets and the LAUSD Electronic Rollbook software will be replaced by a web-based grade book that can also be accessed from home via the Internet, and/or from any other Internet connected computer in the world, as long as you have your LAUSD ePal account.

Presently the district is talking about visiting the schools a few weeks before ISIS is launched to do a half-day training with the staff. Online training at your own pace will be available through LAUSD's Learning Zone, a tutorial system found in the LAUSD Notebook for employees. Again, you will need to use your ePal account to log into the Notebook web site. However, even before you begin the official ISIS training, you must have mastered your basic computer proficiency skills. This training addresses a few of those essential pre-ISIS skills.

Summary of basic skills


Vocabulary: ISIS, web browser, web-based, Internet, Start Menu, Favorites and bookmarks,
Web address, URL, Address window, radio button, check box, text window, pull-down menu, navigate, browse, submit/confirm/OK, minimize, maximize, window, task bar, scroll bar, shortcut/alias, cursor, link, username, email address, server address, launch, copy and paste,

Suggestions for your home computer

You will probably be doing most of your grades at home. Therefore you will need a PC, Mac or Windows, that is connected to the Internet. The dial-up accounts through LAUSD, AOL, Earthlink, etc. will work fine. DSL and cable access will be accepted too. For Windows you will need a minimum of Windows 95 OS with Internet Explorer 5.5 and 64MB of memory. Windows 98 with Internet Explorer 6 will be more reliable. You can use other web browsers too such as Netscape 7, Mozilla, Firefox, Opera, and Safari on the Mac. If you can access ePals email from your home system, your system will essentially be ready for ISIS.
 
Web addresses that you should save at home on your web browser:

How to use your work ePals account. How to use webmail features.

As presently programed, you will use your LAUSD account (your ePals account) to log into ISIS as a teacher to begin taking daily attendance and work on your grades in the online gradebook. You will also need to have your LAUSD account in order to log into the employee section of the district web site, called the Notebook. Here you will find news regarding ISIS and other district programs, and the Learning Zone, and online workshop and tutorial system.

Using the ePal system will help you develop your skills in using a web-based program within a web browser. This is one of the best ways to practice for the upcoming ISIS system. You should know how to enter email addresses, forward and reply to email, save addresses, create a signature, and organize email by creating and using folders. We already have a basic tutorial on email in the Tech Help section. Visit that section to improve your skills. If you need your password or username, call the LAUSD Hotline at 323-224-2277.

Create an LAUSD Notebook account and navigate the employee online resources

Again, you need to have your LAUSD account first. Then you can follow the online directions and create an account that will give you access to the LAUSD employee section called the Notebook, or sometimes called Inside LAUSD or the LAUSD Intranet. Your account information will be sent to your email account.

How to navigate the LAUSD Learning Zone within the LAUSD Notebook

The Learning Zone is a recently created section of the employee web site that offers online training opportunities. Several salary point classes have been offered there. The ISIS project will offer an online training program in the Learning Zone for teachers.

Fill out and submit and ITD Helpdesk form to report technical problems.

Again, you need your LAUSD account in order to submit a repair request. This is a good example of how to fill out a web-based form, much as ISIS will require. See http://techsupport.lausd.net/webform.htm. The required fields are in red. You will need the model and serial number of any equipment that you report. Usually five pieces of information are required for any report form like this: equipment model, serial number, location, contact person, description of problem.

Be proficient with a web browser such as Internet Explorer, Netscape or Mozilla.

You need to be able to enter web addresses and save them as either favorites in Internet Explorer or bookmarks in Netscape and Mozilla. You need to be able to detect the linked sections on a web page and determine how to navigate to other forms and pages within the web site. You need to enter data  into text boxes, or use check boxes and radio buttons. You will also need to find out how you can log out before you close the browser, and how to clear the cache from a web browser is pages become corrupted.

How to diagnose and repair the basic physical connections of your PC. Be able to plug in the monitor, power cords, network cable, mouse, and keyboard.

Look at your equipment in your classroom the first day of school. Notice how it is plugged in. Notice how the network cables are connected into the wall. If a cleaning crew moved your equipment, you should be able to reconnect it and plug the correct cables in to get back online. There won't be enough manpower at school to visit each classroom daily, let alone each period. The teacher will be the first line of support and repair in their respective classrooms.

Also, don't let students use computers as recreational toys. They must be working on a lesson when they are on a computer. And leave a message for subs that students are not to use the computer when you are not there. Also, turn off the computers and monitors at the end of every day.

Start reviewing the online ISIS workbooks

LAUSD has published a set of workbooks for ISIS including a basic navigation book, gradebook, and attendance workbook. For general ISIS information see the ISIS FAQ section and the LAUSD ISIS web site.