Janko Harej, Šolski center Nova Gorica, Nova Gorica
Roman Čuk, Arnes, Ljubljana
In the 2015/16 academic year a new information system called Kolesar (“Cyclist”) was introduced in all elementary schools. The system was developed on an open basis using an agile development methodology. In order to make the transition to the new system as simple as possible and reduce the costs of further development, we used the Moodle learning management system, already widely deployed in schools, as a basis. System login was via a unified AAI identity, while the mdm.arnes.si identity management system was simultaneously introduced in schools. Throughout the process we took into account the wishes of users and the system was constantly upgraded. In order to ensure that the roll-out of the system would be as smooth as possible, we ran two different workshops over the course of the year as part of the “e-Schoolbag” project. The first workshop was aimed at IT technicians and provided information on the importance of a unified identity AAI, approaches to deployment and practical solutions for speedy account creation using the mdm.arnes.si tool. The second workshop was aimed at mentors. A total of 37 Kolesar workshops and 26 workshops on the use of the mdm.arnes.si system were held. Together, they were attended by 852 participants. Workshop participants learned how to enrol their students in the Kolesar online classroom and how to run simulations, tests and competitions with them. A variety of problems were encountered during roll-out: teachers with different levels of training, differently equipped schools, great numbers of guidelines from the institutions involved, and numerous technical and organisational challenges. As a result, the responses from those involved were also varied and interesting. The module for test registration, developed for the needs of the cycling proficiency test, is also being used and further developed by institutions in other countries. The start of the new academic year will see a system upgrade that will introduce a number of important functionalities. Over the course of one year a total of 21,000 students, competition entrants, IT technicians and teachers/mentors signed up for the Kolesar online classroom. Online support was constantly available to participants at podpora@sio.si. Over the course of the year, the support team dealt with approximately 800 requests relating to setting up the system for a specific school, problems with login, the use of multiple accounts by the same user, etc.
