Let's have a closer look at the new features of SmartClass HUB 5.50. This article includes how-to videos to guide you through new teaching tools.
By Veronika Czimmermann
Date of Creation: 2021-07-18
Last Update: 2023-02-15
New Features
#1 Swapping of Audio or Video Primary Stimulus Files
If the teacher needs to substitute a new audio or video clip as the primary stimulus, this can now be done by clicking on the "PLUS" symbol over the left edge of the Image file stimulus and choosing the new file.
#2 Multiple-Choice Quiz Activity – Up to 100 Questions
The restriction on Multiple-Choice quizzes was a maximum of 20 questions. It is now possible to have up to 100 questions (organized into 5 pages of 20 questions each).
At the bottom of the screen, a navigation arrow appears when you reach the 20- question level. You can have up to 5 pages of 20 questions each for a total of 100 questions.
#3 Multiple-Choice Quiz Activity – Import or Export all text
Rather than entering all of the text for student instructions, questions and answers for Multiple-Choice quizzes directly within the template, it is now possible to Import all text from an external text editor.
Learn more in this video or read the feature details below:
Use the Copy All button in the Multiple-Choice activity to access the text import page.
Note that certain codes are used to partition the text appropriately:
• ##SCMA identifies the student instructions field.
• ##Q identifies a new question
• ##A identifies a new set of answers for a single question
• ##C identifies the correct answer
Click on the Process button to copy all text.
It is also possible to export the text to a 3rd party text editor application. Click on the Paste All button to copy. You can paste this content into an application like Notepad as shown below:
#4 Local Sharing of Complete Courses
Previously, teachers had been able to share Media Files and Activities with their peers through the Local Shared Documents source. This capability has now been expanded to include complete courses (e.g. the organized structure of activities), much in the same way that we are able to share Let’s Talk! English courses.
Learn more in this video or read the feature details below:
There are two criteria for course sharing:
1. The teacher who is trying to import the course must be working from a “virgin” class with no student or media content.
2. The course being imported can contain no licensed content (e.g. Let’s Talk! English) activities.
If these two criteria have been met, the user will now see an Add Course button. After clicking on this button, the entire organized set of activities (and associated folders) will be copied. Note that Media Files and non-organized Activities will not be shared.
#5 Optional Test Restrictions
The mechanism for delaying providing auto-grading or manual grading feedback to individual students (early finishers) before all students had completed the assignment.
This new “Test Restrictions” capability is implemented through the My Courses & Classes page.
When the teacher clicks on the three vertical dots on any of the classes, the menu items for that class are shown – and now include a Test Restrictions option. Check the box for Set Test Restrictions and click on the Apply button.
This will open a menu of available restrictions:
- Block My Performance – This option hides the My Performance summary from the student application so that students are not able to view this page to review their assignment grades.
- Block Graded Activities – This option blocks the student’s ability to review their completed work on an activity so that they do not have access to the auto-grading feedback normally provided.
Note that when Test Restrictions have been set, a code [test] is added to the course name as a reminder to the teacher that blocking is active.
|
the class without Test Restrictions: |
the class with Test Restrictions: |
 |
 |
|
Note that the My Performance button is available at the top of the window. If the student tries to open an activity they have already completed, they will get the visual (green/red) feedback from auto-grading and also their grade (eg. 83%). |
Note that the My Performance button is no longer available at the top of the window. If the student tries to open an activity they have already completed, that activity will not open. |
The teacher must reset the Test Restrictions in order to re-enable access to My Performance and to re-enable review capability for completed assignments.
Improvements:
#1 Goodbye to FLASH
The original SmartClass platform used an Adobe FLASH technology infrastructure that
required an Active X plugin for the local browser.
Our development team has discovered a way of migrating to the Adobe AIR platform
without sacrificing any functionality.
The teacher software (both the HUB version and the HUB LIVE version) is (as of SC
release 5.50) now based on AIR. Similarly, the two native versions of the Windows
student software (Standard and BYOD) are now based on AIR.
#2 Return of the teacher “Opt-out from Sharing” function
Just below the navigation bar at the top of the screen, teachers once again have access to opting out from sharing their work with their peers.
#3 Adding or Modifying LDAP Users Off-site
We had previously encountered an issue with schools using LDAP to establish user credentials. The problem occurred when teachers were working off-site with their laptop computers and usually showed up when taking remote training sessions.
In the off-site scenario, teachers were able to create or modify their credentials and/or those of their students – albeit by completing the non-LDAP four fields for First Name, Last Name, Username and Password.
To resolve this problem, teachers working off-site from their LDAP school are now blocked from creating/modifying users. A notification is provided.
Bugs resolved
#1 Correct Identification of Activity Types
There had previously been a bug with identifying pronunciation activities in the students’
“My Performance” table and in the teachers’ “Shared Documents” panel. This has now
been corrected:
Contact us if you would like more information.