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PowerTeacher 2.8 should solve Java issues

posted Aug 1, 2014, 1:33 PM by Site Webmaster [ updated Aug 1, 2014, 1:40 PM]

The district is switching to PowerTeacher 2.8 in August 2014. The new version includes a new way to launch the PowerTeacher gradebook to avoid the Java issues which caused headaches last school year.

When you login to PowerTeacher you will see a new blue 'Gradebook Launcher' box in the left-side navigation pane.

The first time you want to use the PowerTeacher Gradebook on a particular computer, click the Installer link in the blue box. You will be guided through the installation of a new program that avoids using your browser's Java plugin for the gradebook.

The installer will create a new 'Gradebook Login' icon on your Windows desktop you can use to directly enter your Gradebook. You can also now click the blue 'Launch' button in PowerTeacher to launch it.

You do NOT have to run the installer more than once. You can also launch the gradebook the old way, using your web browser's Java plugin, by clicking on the smaller 'Launch' link at the bottom of the blue Gradebook Launcher box in PowerTeacher.

New Gradebook Launcher in PowerTeacher 2.8

PowerTeacher Help Updated

PowerTeacher Help Files Updated

The district PowerTeacher manual and other help files have been updated for version 2.8 with information about the new Gradebook launcher, improved instructions for using PowerTeacher Mobile on an iPad.

NOTE: If you have downloaded a PDF help file previously, you might see the old version when viewing it. With the file displayed in your browser, refresh the page to see the updated version.

Powerteacher 2.8
Powerteacher 2.8 Gradebook Login
Powerteacher 2.8 Gradebook Login
Powerteacher 2.8
Powerteacher 2.8 Gradebook

With the update to PS 10, teachers now have access to a gradebook that is easily navigated on more devices (tablets, laptops, phones – both Android and OSX) and has the feel of an application without the need to install and update Java.

Teachers may log in to the teacher portal using the URL provided by school administrators, and view a screen that looks like the following. The gradebook may be accessed by selecting either PowerTeacher Pro from the Navigation menu, or by selecting PowerTeacher Pro from beneath their course listing.

Additional information related to the Teacher portal home screen/Start Page

A guide to the icons:

Chair, Grid, and Chair/Grid: Attendance taking screens.
- Chair – Current Date view
- Grid – Multi-day view
- Chair/Grid – Seating Chart view
Fork/Knife: Lunch Count screen
Backpack: Student list by course which includes: demographic data, schedule for each student, log entries, etc.
Printer: List of available reports to teachers

The Gradebook

The PT Pro Welcome Screen appears and provides a quick overview of the new interface.

A+ Grading

For more information, see the PowerSchool 8.0 and PowerTeacher 2.8 Preview page and the Getting Teachers Ready for PowerTeacher 2.8 tech note. Upcoming Features and Fixes. Learn more about in-progress features and fixes on the. The district is no longer using the old PowerTeacher Gradebook 2.8, even though there is currently a link to it at the bottom left of the start page. Instead we are using PowerTeacher Pro, a browser-friendly gradebook that can be accessed in almost any web browser and is thus compatible with Chromebooks. The district is switching to PowerTeacher 2.8 in August 2014. The new version includes a new way to launch the PowerTeacher gradebook to avoid the Java issues which caused headaches last school year. When you login to PowerTeach er you will see a new blue 'Gradebook Launcher' box in the left-side navigation pane. Version: 12.0.2.3.1347618. State/Provincial Content: USA-WY 18.7.0.3.0. PowerTeacher Gradebook: 2.8.0.13. Machine Uptime: 55 days, 22 hours, 44 minutes, 0 seconds.

The A+ Grading screen is where teachers locate assignments, the scoresheet (traditional gradebook), view and create categories, view traditional and standards grades, view reporting terms, category totals (if applicable) and create/verify teacher comments at the end of a grading term.

Categories: Review, Modify and/or Create

PT Pro has an amazing new feature that allows Categories to be created at the School/District level in PowerSchool to save teachers time in setting up the gradebooks, and it allows for alignment across grade level teams, or even schoolwide.

Additionally, teachers now have the ability to make categories inactive if the teacher chooses to no longer utilize that category!

To view the categories that are available to the school, Select A+Grading > Categories.

Some categories may be edited, others may not. Discuss these options with the School Administration Team.

Powerteacher 2.8

To create a new category, select the +Create at the top of the PT Pro window. The sample below shows how to create a Project category.

Select the class or classes to assign the category
Select a name and color
Make the category active/inactive
Modify the description as needed.
Assignment Defaults may also be created, if an assignment is created in this category, select default point values, etc.
Will this count toward a final grade? Default = yes.

Categories weights may be determined here. If one category is worth more than another, the category may be set to a value that doubles or triples the weight.

To make them equal, enter 1 in each category weight that determines the final grade. To double the weight, make the category a weight of 2.

Category weights and usage should be planned out before the assignments are created at the beginning of the year. Modifications may occur within the year, but to mitigate any calculation risk, set the categories before grades are entered. You will be required to recalculate final grades after any such updates.

Example Category Options for Assignment Defaults

How to Create Assignments

Navigate to A+ Grading > Assignment List > +Create

PT Pro has continued the use of the “+” sign to indicate adding in a new feature (assignment, category, etc). By selecting Create, you may choose either Category or Assignment from the next menu.

Unlike the former PT Gradebook, PT Pro allows teachers to create assignments for one or more students, and to create the assignments for one or more classes at the same time. This is especially helpful to middle/high school teachers, and for those with combo classes/mixed grade levels. Fm8 vst free download.

Step 1: Assignment Tab

Select the class or classes from the drop down menu for which you would like the assignment to be available.
Assign a name, a category, and a score type for the assignment.
From the Score section, provide a Score Entry Point value (total points for the assignment).
Confirm that the assignment calculates into the final grade
Provide a due date
Select Save, or continue working on the next tab options for the assignment.

Step 2: Students Tab

Select any number of students for whom the assignment will be available.
- Default settings are for all students enrolled in the courses you have chosen in the previous step.
- By Selecting the “Add/Remove Students” secondary tab, you may select or de-select any students that should not have the assignment available to them.

Step 3: Standards Tab

For courses that have been provided school, state or common core standards, the Standards tab allows the teacher to cho