Release note: Fronter 73
Fronter 73 is a special release of the Fronter Open Learning Platform for the London MLE project. This version includes some important new features as well as improving existing functionality in order to meet the requirements of London schools.
E-learning Course
An important part of this release is eight e-learning courses for teachers that will guide them through the new learning platform.
The e-learning course consists of the following modules:
- How to get started
- An introduction to the Hand in folder
- How to create Pages and Learning paths
- How to share information
- An introduction to Multiple choice tests and course surveys
- How to share resources
- How to get an Overview of students´ activity
- How to promote online Student collaboration
The modules feature video, audio, animation and screen recordings to guide users though the most common operations in Fronter and explain the concepts. At the end of each module, you can test yourself to review your knowledge.
Integration and import of user data
Fronter have added support for several new Management Information Systems (MIS) so that user/ class data can be imported.
The London Managed Learning Environment (MLE) can be integrated with the school’s MIS so that pupils’class changes will be automatically applied to the London MLE on a daily basis.
The following MIS will be supported in Fronter 73:
* Capita SIMS.NET
* RM Integris
* Wouton Samuel * Pearson Phoenix
* Serco (limited support due to current lack of response)
For all imported users Fronter can generate usernames and passwords which can be extracted and printed by the Fronter Administrator at the school. All usernames which are generated by Fronter will be unique throughout London, which means if a user changes school within the London MLE, the user will be able to keep their existing username.
Multiple upload
The multiple upload function in Fronter has been improved so that it is now even easier to upload several documents at the same time. In the new version, you can upload individual files up to 500 megabytes each and the total size of all files uploaded in one operation is only limited by the available storage space and the speed of your internet connection. The new multiple upload function recognizes your local network drives and allows you to drag and drop files or folders into the file requester. Due to the Becta accessibility requirements we have also kept the single file upload function as this is not dependent on the Java applet technology.
For schools that wish to transfer content from their old Virtual Learning Environment to the Fronter platform the new multiple upload function will be of great help. By using this functionality each school can upload content directly to the room where it should reside all at once. IMS content packages can be uploaded and unzipped directly into the archive as well.
Skin for primary schools
Fronter 73 features a new skin for primary schools with brighter colours and larger icons. The style is created in order to appeal to the younger children aged 5 to 8 years old. There are great possibilities to adapt the Fronter Learning Platform to the needs of a class, for instance the name and the number of the tools can be changed at any time.
Other improvements
- The Statistics function and the Disk storage function has been made available to the local administrators of the schools. Previously this was only available to Top Level Administrators.
- The Open, Edit, Save function which makes it possible to edit a document in Fronter without downloading it to your computer is now available for users of Mozilla Firefox.
- Notifications on upcoming assignments, including tests are now available for students on their today page.
- A new layout editor is included in the pages tool.
