The Learning Management System (LMS), Enrollment Application (EA) and the Course Level and Credit Summary (CLCS) tools have all been updated with new features this December. The following is a rundown of some of the many changes made to continue to improve upon our systems.

Updates to the LMS

The LMS is constantly being updated to keep up with changes to browsers, system configuration improvements, and background functionality maintenance. Not all updates to the system are noteworthy items. They are more like a conduit support hanger placed high above some T-Bar ceiling, not visible, but they are definitely there. Others are worthy of sharing. The following is a list of recent highlights for the LMS.

Ability to Show All questions within the Answer Key

This feature allows the Instructor or Administrator to either see one question at a time (by default) or scroll through the entire quiz by selecting Show All in the upper right of the Answer Key. Click the image and note the circled button.

Continued removal of Flash items from the system — This latest batch of removals affected the reporting system. This continues the process to remove Flash items from the system.

The attachment upload feature was temporarily deactivated from the Errata and Activity Submission forms
We are currently undergoing some back-end remodeling of the architecture regarding the handling of uploads. This will allow some future local uploading tools to be implemented. Until the back-end components are ready, we have a message and a request that any uploads to support errata or activity submissions, be emailed directly to attachments@njatc.org

Enabling of System SSL Compliance — Likely the biggest item worked on over the past few months, enabling support of a Secure Socket Layer (SSL) on our system was completed a little over a week ago. There are all kinds of good articles that can be googled about SSL, but the basic gist is that when a user submits their username and password into the LMS, due to the encrypted connection between the browser and our servers, this information is protected by encryption.

Updates to the EA

No different than the LMS, the EA must also be updated to keep up with changes to browsers, system configuration improvements, and background functionality maintenance. The following is a list of recent highlights.

Course — Train-the-Trainer and PreRequisite background functionality
This functionality will allow for the instructor role to act as a student for both enrollment and coursework for specified courses. The first course to offer this set-up will be the Leadership course. Please look for updates on this course to be coming very soon.

New Student Import Tool
A new student import tool has just been completed. This tool offers a 3rd way to add new users to the EA.

The 1st way to add a new student is to simply use the Add New Student button in the Roster.
The 2nd way to add a new student to have them Request Access via the Register button on the login page.
This new 3rd way utilizes a CSV file upload where the file includes all the details needed. It is accessed from the Roster.

The student import tool has been created to allow for training locations to easily import many new students into the roster without having to enter each one individually. That said, there are guidelines that must be met in order to import a list of students successfully, and whether you are creating this spreadsheet manually or you are getting it generated from another system, it must conform to the rules in order to import correctly. Please pay close attention to the video and instruction page for successful use.

Options for use are to Manually Create the Spreadsheet for Import or Obtain the Spreadsheet from External Software

Instructions can be accessed by clicking the Student Import button in the EA Roster, and a video explanation is located here.

Updates to the CLCS

The CLCS continues to evolve as a tool for curriculum layout and coordination. The tool acts as a scratchpad for identifying current and past curriculum, credits, prerequisites, minimum criteria for completion, options for meeting those minimums and really, much, much more. Highlights are:

Custom Syllabus Export of Individual Years of a Worksheet — CSV (spreadsheet) or PDF

The Pdf includes fillable areas for instructions and due dates or check off, as well as hyperlinks directly to LMS courses. Click the image to review.