4 Parent's Guide to Using the OSL Learning Tool

This chapter guides parents on how to use the OSL Learning Tool (LT). It describes the components and the concepts that parents must understand in using the application.

The OSL LT enables parents to:

View and respond to teachers' feedback regarding their child's participation
Review the progress of their child
View and create observations about their child

For information on the OSL LT terms, see the Glossary.

4.1 About the User Interface

The user interface is made up of a number of elements:

The global area. See Section 4.2.
The work area tabs. Section 4.3.

4.2 About the Global Area

The global area at the top of the OSL LT user interface consists of:

An area showing the name of the currently logged in user; BEETON AARON
A filter that lets you select a child's name so that only the relevant records appear. This is applicable when you have more than one child in the system.
A Refresh icon.
A Preferences icon. See Section 4.2.1.
A Logout icon.
A Help icon. See Section 4.2.2.

Figure 4-1 Parent Global Area

4.2.1 About the Preferences Icon

The Preferences icon takes you to the Preferences page where you can specify your own preference values.

Table 4-1 Parent Preferences

In	You can
Accessibility Mode	Set accessibility to: Inaccessible. Accessibility features are removed, which optimizes the performance of the system. Accessible. Accessibility features are on. Screen Reader. Accessibility features are on but are optimized for a screen reader.
Months of recent demonstration data to display	Set the number of months of demonstration data that the OSL LT retrieves.
Number of recent observations	Set the number of observations that the OSL LT retrieves.
Workspace background	Modify the background of your workspace.

4.2.2 About the Help Icon

From the Help icon, you see:

The build number and version number of the OSL LT.
A link to the Release Notes related to the version of the OSL LT that you use.
A link to the online or PDF copy of the OSL LT User's Guide.

To return to the OSL LT home page, click the Home icon.

4.3 About the Work Area Tabs

4.3.1 About the Home Tab

In the Home tab, you see:

The Recent Observations panel, which lists the most recent observations about your child.
The Current Activities panel, which lists learning items currently assigned to your child.

Figure 4-2 Parent Home Tab

4.3.1.1 About the Recent Observations Panel

From the Recent Observations panel, you can:

View the most recent observations regarding your child
Create an observation about your child. Click the New icon to create an observation from the Recent Observations panel. See Section 4.3.4.2.
Reply to an observation. See Section 4.3.4.3.

4.3.1.2 About the Current Activities Panel

From the Current Activities panel, you can view your child's participation and the teacher's feedback for any activities (learning items) that are currently assigned to your child.

The Current Activities area displays the following details:

Activity—The icon and title of the learning item.
Class—The name of the class in which the learning item is held.
Due—The submission due date for Submission Item. For other learning items, the end date is displayed.
Progress—Your child's progress in the learning item.

4.3.2 About the Activities Tab

In the Activities tab, you can view the classes in which your child is enrolled, along with all the learning items assigned to your child.

Figure 4-3 Parent Activities Tab

On the left pane is a class selector, which by default, displays a list of your child's current classes across all schools.

You may also locate a previous class via the All Classes tab.

When you select a class, a list of learning items associated with the class appears on the right.

On the upper right-hand corner of the Activities tab is an activity filter. Use the activity filter to:

Show all activities
Show current activities
Show overdue activities
Show upcoming activities
Show completed activities

To view your child's participation or teacher's feedback, select a learning item.

4.3.2.1 Creating Feedback on a Learning Item

Click the Activities tab.
From the Active Classes tab, select a class.
From the Activity panel, locate the learning item for which you wish to provide feedback.
Click the corresponding Feedback icon.

The Feedback window appears.
In the Observations area, click the New icon.
In the Observation Entry window:
1. In Summary, enter a summary of the observation.
2. In Category, select a category.
3. In the text field, enter your observation.
4. To add an audio record, click the microphone icon.
5. To add other files, click the paper clip icon.
6. Click OK.
The feedback appears in the Observations area.

4.3.2.2 Responding to Feedback on a Learning Item

In the Observations area, locate the observation to which you wish to reply.
Click the Reply icon.
In the Observation Entry window:
1. In Summary, modify the summary as necessary.
2. In the text field, enter your reply.
3. To add an audio record, click the microphone icon.
4. To add other files, click the paper clip icon.
5. Click OK.
The feedback appears in the Observations area.

4.3.3 About the Progress Tab

From the Progress tab, you can review your child's progress against a relevant curriculum framework.

The first column displays the curriculum framework as a hierarchy of curriculum outcomes. The next column displays your child's current confirmed level for each curriculum outcome. The subsequent columns represent the levels of the default proficiency set for the curriculum. Each cell in the columns displays the number of times your child demonstrated a curriculum outcome. In brackets next to each number is the total number of opportunities your child had to demonstrate this level of proficiency for the particular curriculum outcome.

If your child is enrolled in classes across multiple curricula, a curriculum framework selector is provided in the toolbar for you to select another curriculum framework. If the selected curriculum has multiple proficiency sets, a proficiency set selector is provided in the toolbar for you to select another proficiency set.

You can click the chart icon to review information about your child's demonstrations across the proficiency levels for each framework item (outcome). For information on the child demonstrations report, see Section 4.3.3.1.

Figure 4-4 Parent Progress Tab

4.3.3.1 About the Child Demonstrations Report

The Child Demonstrations Report is a graphical representation of the outcomes your child has had to demonstrate, as well as the opportunities your child has missed demonstrating.

Figure 4-5 Child Demonstrations Report

By default, the framework item and the child selection is set using the context information provided by the OSL LT.

The table on the left displays your demonstrations and missed opportunities. You can click the number in the Missed Opportunities column to view the list of learning items where you were unable to demonstrate a proficiency for the given curriculum outcome. Similarly, you can click the number in the Demonstrations column to view the list of learning items where you demonstrated a proficiency for the given curriculum outcome.

The chart on the right shows the missed opportunities and demonstrations for each proficiency level. The light blue bar on top shows the number of missed opportunities while the dark blue bar below shows the number of demonstrations.

4.3.3.2 Viewing Teacher's Assessment

To view the details of proficiencies your child has demonstrated:

Click the Progress tab.
If necessary, from the framework list select a curriculum framework.
In the proficiency levels area, click the appropriate cell that displays the demonstration data of the framework item you want to view.

The Demonstration area appears and lists all learning items for which the student has actually demonstrated the outcome at the specified level.

Missed Opportunities lists all learning items for which the student has had the opportunity to demonstrate the outcome at the specified level, but has either not participated in the learning item or has not demonstrated the planned outcome.
From the Demonstrations panel, click a learning item.

The Participation and Feedback tabs appear. The Participation tab lists records of your child's participation in the learning item.
Click the Feedback tab.

The teacher's assessment appears.

4.3.3.3 Viewing Confirmation History

The teacher assesses your child's proficiency against curriculum outcomes on a periodic basis, typically at the end of a semester. These assessments are called confirmations. To view the records of your child's confirmations:

Click the Progress tab.
If necessary, from the framework list select a curriculum framework.
In the Confirmed Level column, select the current confirmed level for the curriculum outcome of interest.

The Confirmation History window appears. This window lists records of confirmations in which your child has attained a particular level of competency for a curriculum outcome.

4.3.4 About the Observations Tab

From the Observations tab, you can retrieve, create, and reply to observations. The number of observations that appear are based on the preference value you set. For information on preferences, see Section 4.2.1.

Figure 4-6 Teacher Observations Tab

4.3.4.1 Searching for Observations

Click the Observations tab.
In the text box, use any one of the following as your search criteria: title, class name, author, learning item.
Click the Search icon. .

The system displays a list of observations that match the specified criteria.
To view the contents of the observation, click the title.

4.3.4.2 Creating an Observation

To create an observation, perform the following:

Click the Observations tab.
On the upper left corner of the results panel, click the New icon.
In the Observation Entry window:
1. In Summary, enter a summary of the observation.
2. In Category, select a category.
3. Use the rich data editor to enter your observation. See Section 4.4.
The observation appears in the results panel.

4.3.4.3 Replying to an Observation

Click the Observations tab.
In the results panel, select the observation to which you want to reply.
On the upper left corner of the results panel, click the Reply icon.
In the Observation Entry window:
1. In Summary, if necessary, modify the summary.
2. Use the rich data editor to enter your observation. For information on using the rich data editor, see Section 4.4.
The observation appears in the results panel.

4.4 Editing Rich Data

Figure 4-7 Rich Data Editor

You can create rich data (rich text with additional document and audio attachments) throughout the OSL LT and use these in activity instructions, discussion posts, submission entries and observations.

You can enter text via a rich text editor that also enables you to insert images and links to content that you obtain from the internet, an intranet, or within a content management server.

Documents that are stored locally, or in a shared location, can be attached to the rich text. Audio can be recorded and attached to the rich text.

4.4.1 Inserting Images

You can insert an image by clicking the Image icon in the text editor. The Image Properties dialog appears.

In the Image Properties dialog, you can specify the image to insert in one of the following ways:

In the Image Info area, select an image from a content management server. Click Browse Server to locate the image.
In the Image Info area, enter the URL to the image.
In the Upload area, select an image from your hard disk or a network drive.

Click OK to insert the image in the text area.

4.4.2 Inserting Links

You can insert an image by clicking the Link icon in the text editor. The Link dialog appears.

In the Link dialog, you can specify the link to insert in one of the following ways:

In the Link Info area, select a document from a content management server. Click Browse Server to locate the document to which you wish to link.
In the Link Info area, select the link type and enter other required information, such as the URL of the Web site to which you are linking.
In the Upload area, select a file from your hard disk or a network drive.

Click OK to insert the link in the text area.

4.4.3 Attaching Files

You can attach files from your local system by clicking the Attach Files button below the editor. The Attach Files dialog box is displayed, which enables you to select a file from your hard disk or a network drive. The selected file is attached and shown as a hyperlink with the file icon.

You can click the hyperlink to open or save the attached file.

You can also remove the attached file by clicking the Delete File icon.

4.4.4 Recording Audio

You can add audio instructions to complement your text and attachments. This is especially helpful for young students or those with poor reading skills.

To record audio:

Click the Record Audio icon in the editor.
In the Record Audio dialog, enter a name for the audio file.
Click the Start Recording Audio icon, and then speak into your microphone.

Make sure your computer has the necessary hardware to record audio.
When you are done recording, click the Stop Recording icon.
To exit the Record Audio dialog, click the Close button.

The recorded audio listed below the text area
If you want to remove a recording, click the corresponding Delete icon.