Richmond Systems has released NetOp School 4.0 into the UK classroom, a software application that claims to allow teachers to better engage learners by providing a powerful testing environment to monitor individual progress as well as video streaming for distance learning. In addition, a new product has been added to the NetOp School Family to facilitate automated connections in large and complex educational networks.

In line with the 'Harnessing Technology' report published in March by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES), NetOp School 4.0 should help propel Government plans to use interactive technologies to bring a more personalised approach to education. By providing teachers with a remote control panel which displays thumbnail images of each student's screen, NetOp School offers teachers the ability to monitor student progress and coach on a one-to-one basis.

Version 4.0 enables teachers to produce tests on-the-fly and monitor student progress in real-time. Teachers can control the test content, set time limits for each question and provide a scoring system. On-screen reports display student progress and teachers can provide individual coaching to help those who require additional assistance.

The new version also supports distance learning with video streaming capabilities, enabling students and teachers to see each other during audio or chat sessions. With the use of Web cameras, networked classrooms can engage in video conferencing for remote training and distance learning. Video streaming also allows teachers to take snapshots of remote screens for later discussion and individual feedback.

NetOp School Class Server supports connectivity in large educational networks where teachers and students move around continuously, using their laptop computers and connecting to different parts of the network, such as through wireless access points. Two modules - Class Server and Class Manager - enable the use of automated connections based on information about courses and lessons in a central database.

Will Johnson, Business Development Manager at Richmond Systems concludes: 'To embrace ICT fully, it is important that teachers feel comfortable using it. NetOp School 4.0 incorporates 1-2-3 wizards that provide straightforward instructions to help guide users through the application's many features. By making it more intuitive, teachers can quickly understand how it can be used to promote a better learning environment.'

BIOS, Jun 10, 05 | Print | Send | Comments (0) | Posted In Educational