At last! A new SmartClass Live & Hub version is here. Let's have a closer look at the new features of our most recent version of the Best Teaching and Language Platform of the World!
By Fernando Solorzano
Date of Creation: 2024-01-26
Last Update: 2024-02-21
New Features
New SmartClass Language Lab (Live) User Interface
This user interface presents a new cleaner and more inviting look and feel, akin to a Web-like application.
Previous SmartClass Live versions
Current Version 7
New SmartClass Teaching Platform (Hub) User Interface
Again, the new UI of Hub is much cleaner, feels more like a Web application than a traditional Desktop app.
Previous SmartClass Hub versions
Current version 7
Finally, a true user interface synergy between Live and Hub
The user feels to run the same family of applications, from the login screen…
Login Page for Live 7
Login Page for Hub 7
New Fill-in-Blanks Speaking activity:
This new Teacher-side activated checkbox turns the traditional Fill-in-Blanks into a speaking practice exercise.
NOTE: Once “Speak the answers” is activated by the teacher, when students click on Fill-in-the-Blanks they cannot type in a text, but they must use the “Click and Talk” button (same as in Pronunciation activities) to input their textual answers.
This type of speaking practice activity is better suited for scenarios where fill-in-blank answers are in the format of short sentences, rather than being just single words. In grading, punctuation and upper/lower case are ignored.
New Redo-by-Student practice functionality:
The Teacher-side activated checkbox allows students to redo a completed activity to improve their previous grade.
NOTE: This new Redo-by-Student functionality works only for self-graded activities. Students can redo the activity as many times as they want, until they accept the grade. Only at that time, students will be shown the correct responses. Teachers in Review mode always see the most recent grade obtained by the student.
Upgraded teacher Review panel:
Teachers have an improved Review panel, not only more esthetical but also more intuitive and efficient.
NOTE: In this streamlined re-design, teachers don’t need to press extra buttons to go into Grading mode. They simply click on the Grade or the Note input field to make the input/changes that they want. The software automatically saves to the database the last text input done by the teacher.
Flexible installation of LTE Libraries. (V7.30)
Flexible installation of LTE Libraries.
LTE Libraries can now be added to Courses/Classes that already have existing Content and/or Students. Additionally, LTE Library can be optionally installed starting at the designated Folder, leaving preceding folders for teacher-created activities.
Sharing of LTE Activities within the school (V7.30)
LTE activities are now available to share using the "Local Shared Documents" function of the Create Activities section.
List of other improvements and fixes:
- FUNCTIONALITY: Multiple Monitors. Support for more than 2 monitors (including projectors) in Teacher LIVE app.
- SECURITY: Hashed passwords. User passwords are now saved in an encrypted format. When necessary, administrators and teachers can decrypt the forgotten password as shown in the screenshot below:
- SECURITY: Login credentials sent over the Internet are now encrypted with 128-bit algorithm.
- STABILITY: The teacher LIVE app can now better handle re-connecting student stations.
- STABILITY: Desktop apps can now better bypass “files caching” issues of Windows OS.
- FUNCTIONALITY: Support for the Hebrew language in Pronunciation activities.
- FUNCTIONALITY: “Variable Length” is now set as the default for Segmented Recordings.
- FUNCTIONALITY: Titles are now added to the panels in the Hub so that teachers can navigate more easily throughout the platform.
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FUNCTIONALITY (V7.30): Much faster Opening/Closing of Media Files and/or Activities. For example, when it was taking up to 6 seconds for the teacher to open (or close) an Activity for Review, it now takes less than 2 seconds.
- FUNCTIONALITY (V7.30): The teacher can now delete in one operation ALL the activities that are inside the selected Folder.
- FUNCTIONALITY (V7.30): In Live Chat, the teacher can now send clickable URL links, that students can open directly. No need for copy and paste.
- FUNCTIONALITY (V7.30): The student LIVE Panel with Chat open can now be Minimized/Restored by the student.
- FUNCTIONALITY (V7.30): Higher-quality 22KHz Audio Broadcasting in LIVE class. (this OPTIONAL setting can work ONLY in LIVE Classes that are using the Student Native Windows LIVE app and are running on high-performance, low-latency wired networks).
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STABILITY (V7.30): Faster student-to-student switching when the teacher is Monitoring individual student screens.
Contact us if you would like more information.