myclasses

Tap into a global community...

myclasses is an Online Learning Environment (OLE) that provides teachers with a flexible set of tools to enhance the discovery, management, and delivery of online resources to students.

Built specifically for schools by a global software provider, myclasses features a range of useful classroom material including class pages, learning object viewers, collaboration tools, and e-learning folios that can be accessed from school or home computers anywhere, anytime. It also allows teachers to share material across schools or store content from other sources, such as external resources.

myclasses is fun and easy to use, providing safe and secure access to technology for students. They can be used by any school - big or small - and are available through Telecom's market-leading Broadband, security and network infrastructure.

"myclasses gives me access to an online community of teachers and resources far beyond my classroom."

Benefits
Features
Case study
Example and demo

Benefits for all

"With myclasses, kids can send through their homework electronically so that I'll have it marked and ready for us to discuss the following day."

myclasses makes achieving learning outcomes easier by bringing classes and electronic content together in a fun and easy-to-use way. Teachers save time by no longer having to print out online material or search for extra information - with myclasses, the information is at everyone's fingertips. And because myclasses is an online community, teachers are encouraged to work collaboratively, and share information and expertise, allowing them to deliver the best possible curriculum.

Bringing content and classes together

myclasses has been designed for teachers who want to bring the benefits of electronic resources to the classroom, but find themselves forever standing next to the school printer or photocopier preparing handouts. But, with myclasses, content and classes come together in a way that can be easily delivered and finetuned for multiple classes. Just look at the difference!

	Using online resources without myclasses	Using online resources with myclasses
Find resources	Teachers search the internet: Locating relevant resources takes a long time as general web resources don't use educational metadata standards. Assessment of material is done by individual teachers - no collaboration or sharing of ideas. Teachers have to conduct repeated searches for each chosen repository.	Teachers use the myclasses search tool to search multiple sources simultaneously: Search learning object repositories, education databases and the internet in one easy search. Uses educational metadata standards. Materials often created, reviewed and commented on by teachers.
Organise resources for learning	Assemble URLs manually: No centralised online storage. Difficult to find resources for a subsequent class or to share a sequence of resources with other teachers.	Assemble resources and add educational context: Create an online class. Create an e-Learning Folio (eLF) for the lesson or learning outcome. Assemble learning resources and set tasks for the class.
Deliver	Hand out printouts, photocopies or URL lists: Paper or clumsy URL lists. No centralised online access. No online collaboration, submission or feedback.	Deliver the online class: Seamless delivery of resources in an educational context. Work can be accessed and submitted from home. Easy-to-use software tools facilitate communication, collaboration and feedback.

Imagine the possibilities

No more photocopying
No more long hours on the internet trying to find resources
An easy-to-use global community to tap into
Information is available to students anytime, anywhere

The features

Developed specifically for school communities
Includes learning object delivery tools
Contains easy-to-use class tools such as journal and homework submission
E-learning folios provide educational context for resources used in a class
Resource management made simple via an easy-to-browse folder hierarchy - or metadata
Ability to create PDF and print all (or part of) classes to enhance and support current teaching practice
Class management and administration tools for individual or multiple teachers
XML presentation engine
Support for open standards such as SOAP, XML and IMS
Scalable - with the ability to service thousands of schools, whatever their size

Case study

The next step for online learning

Nine rural Far North area and secondary schools are harnessing the power of online learning with newly appointed e-Principal, Carolyn Bennett, dedicated to developing its potential.

Working from her coastal home near Te Tii (Bay of Islands), she's one of 10 e-Principals nationally, working as part of a Ministry of Education initiative to develop the online learning environment for teachers and students.

The FarNetSchools cluster is combining face-to-face video conferencing via Telecom School Zone with Telecom myclasses.

"We have classes via video-conferencing and are using myclasses to provide a shared online resource to make it easier for students and teachers to access and collaborate on our class content," says Carolyn.

SchoolZone provides schools with secure access to fast Internet, using broadband, and can host a number of features, including videoconferencing. myclasses provides teachers with tools to build their own online learning environment including class pages, email, calendars, notice boards, collaboration tools, discussion forums and class resources.

"Using myclasses I am able to gather resources which teachers and students from other schools within our cluster can access. For example some schools do not have a careers advisor, so I have created a Careers Corner where students can go for information about different careers, training options or scholarships."

"We're using a communication tool which students already relate to. They enjoy the medium and are able to do things in their own time, while still working with a teacher."

"It's essential to have this hybrid of personal interaction and an online resource to support the students' learning."

Students can revise classroom material to check they have understood the lesson, including taking online tests which generate answers. They can also enter into discussions groups on topics.

Carolyn teaches an accounting class with students in Kaikohe, Inglewood, and Dunedin. "If one of my students misses a class the lesson is online for them to review and they can easily correspond with me if they need to clarify a point."

There are other practical benefits to using an online resource such as ready access to reference tools, calendars or school rules when away from school, and reducing paper use within the school.

In the future, Carolyn sees myclasses providing the opportunity to tap into the international community of teachers and students to share resources, lesson plans and experiences.

"I can easily foresee students sharing stories, photographs and their experiences with students on the other side of the world. It would add a fresh perspective to any topic being studied."

Example

Check out what Mt Albert Grammar School is already doing with myclasses.

Things you should know

Telecom terms, conditions and charges will apply. To subscribe to this service schools must have the Telecom Schoolzone service. A minimum term of 12 months will apply. Disconnection fees may apply if the contract is terminated before the end of the 12 month term. To view our full terms and conditions visit www.schoolzone.co.nz.