You can purchase Virtual School Network as a complete package or ala carte.
VSN Products & Services |
Other Products & Services |
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VSN Products & Services
Consulting - Our experienced consultants specialize in two areas: First, helping organizations design online learning environments, and, second, expanding and improving the use of FirstClass software for communication and collaboration. Consulting might be as simple as a day spent evaluating a school's use of FirstClass. Normally, consulting is the first stage in the larger project to build a VSN.
Website Design & Development - We can either build a website from scratch or redesign an existing site. The organization can choose from one of our designs or we'll build a site based on design specs provided by the customer. When the site is finished, your web coordinators & teachers edit and create web pages using FirstClass. In minutes a day, they can post homework, update calendars, publish news & announcements, and create online slide shows. No special technical skill required!
Purchase FirstClass Licenses - If you don't already own FirstClass licenses, you can purchase or "rent" them through us. We are an authorized FirstClass reseller. We also handle the annual maintenance and renewal contract with FirstClass.
Custom FirstClass Desktops - Custom desktops make it easier for users to do more of their day-to-day work through FirstClass. We make sure each user has appropriate personal and shared calendars, contact databases, and shared workspaces, document folders. We also create a distinctive graphic for the desktop.
Integration of FirstClass & Your SIS - Integrating FirstClass & your SIS reduces the administrative setup by allowing you to create an FC user--teacher or student--when you create the record in your SIS. The new user's FC desktop is automatically populated with the correct calendars, conferences, and permissions, based on their roles and memberships. For those schools where students are also using FirstClass, both teachers and students share a My Classes folder, where assignments are posted and homework turned in--all online!
Website & FirstClass Hosting - We match the hosting arrangement to your needs. Most of our customers have us host their VSN on our servers. This frees up their staff and equipment for other tasks. You can host it yourself, if you prefer. We also have a few customers who give us a server, which we locate and manage in our server room.
Training - We tailor training to the requirements of the different user groups. Basic VSN user training shows people how to use their email, calendars, and shared workspaces. Those who publish to the web learn how to edit & create web pages, update calendars, and publish documents. System administrators learn how to add users, set permissions, and do basic support. On the top end, we teach users how to use online learning environments and FirstClass to maximize their benefits.
Maintenance & Support - We upgrade our customers automatically to any new web templates we create. We also evaluate and implement new releases of the FirstClass client and server software. We provide advanced support to customers who do their own hosting. We support the FirstClass administrators and web coordinators directly. Day-to-day support of most users is normally done by the institution's IT staff.
Note: Buying the whole VSN package is less expensive than buying the pieces individually.Plus, we can't guarantee a particular piece will integrate with your systems until we do an analysis.
Additional Services
Alumni & Development Package - Alumni & Development offices often have different communication needs from the rest of the school offices. We created a set of products just for this office. It includes a uniquely-branded website; alumni database, in which alums manage their own records; low cost, permanent email addresses for alumni; online registration for events; easy online giving options, with credit cards and e-checks; and listservs for automatic emailing of newsletters and announcements.
Online Registration - Online registration relieves the data entry burden on staff, and gives web visitors a convenient way to sign up for one of your programs. This application uses a SQL database connected to an online form on the website. Registration fees can be collected either by credit card or e-check, via a secure Internet connection. This application work beautifully for adult education programs, summer camps, and alumni events.
Custom Database Development - We specialize in custom database applications for learning communities. We've created student information systems (SIS) reflecting the unique pedagogy and assessment needs of the institution.
Online Surveys - We have survey instruments available for use both internally, with users on your FirstClass network, and externally through your website. An example of the internal survey would be a self-assessment to teachers of their IT knowledge. An external survey might be something like soliciting ideas for a mascot for the new high school.
Adult Education Package - Just like a town's recreation programs, adult ed needs to publicize its programs and register participants. More and more, both these functions are done online, reducing staff workload, and printing & mailing costs. This package contains a flexible database for programs and participants, web forms that allow people to manage their own records, ecommerce tie-ins for credit cards and e-checks, automated email of cancellation or other program bulletins, and backend reports for administrators and instructors.
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