Updates

This page informs you on the latest changes to VCAT, its version and improvements.

Version 2.1.3.0

• The Bulletins blue link only shows if there is at least one bulletin.

• If any bulletins are 'Active', the number of active bulletins will display to the right of the Bulletins blue link.

• You can now set an Expiration Date on Bulletins! Setting the date a bulletin expires on will allow that bulletin to remain active until that specific day.

• Rating descriptions are preserved when importing curriculum units.

Version 2.1.2.1

• New SECT Section now available under the 'A' tab. This year, SUs will be able to upload their SECT files DIRECTLY to the State right from VCAT!!! Check out the SECT section of the Wiki.

• New Birth Date format (mm/dd/yyyy) will sort in chronological order in the reports when this student field is the first column.

• Select Information is now grayed out with a message showing below it that reads 'Select a course or section to select information' when only a Year or Year/School has been selected.

and

• New feature: Bulletins! You now have the ability to add messages that will pop up when users log in VCAT. Priority level (Low, Medium, High) can be set for each message, and they can be individually marked Active (or not) as well.

Priority Levels

When a bulletin is NOT marked as Active (therefore Inactive), its priority will display as a circle (with its priority color), and will be 'closed' - meaning its message will not be automatically displayed. You can simply click on its title to get it to open to display it.

Once the Bulletins window has been closed, you can access them again by clicking on the Bulletins blue link, at the top left, right under your SU/District name (here under Demo 2):

To add, delete, and edit bulletins, you need to go to the 'A' tab and click on Bulletins listed on the left.

If you click on Edit in front of a bulletin, you can edit its status (Active or not), set its priority level (Low, Medium, High), edit the title by clicking on it and typing what you need, edit the bulletin text right in the box below the title, delete the bulletin by clicking on Delete button on the bottom right corner, and click the Save button when you are done making any changes and want to keep them. The Cancel button will get you out without saving any changes. The Bulletin Preview lets you view what the actual message will look like:

• The feature 'All Students/Raw Data' used to search for the data ever entered for a particular assessment is now faster than ever!

• New 'Upload to VCAT' feature! This feature allows for a secure upload of your files to our ftp server. Under the 'A' tab, click on Upload to VCAT.

• Fixes:
  • You can now use demographics in your student selection for data entry.
  • When editing students, the demographics are now listed in the same order as they are in your system under the Demographics tab.

Version 2.1.1.2

• Adds the ability to expand the text visible in previously entered text fields.

Initially, the previously entered text field may only show part of the text.

Simply click anywhere in the previous text cell to expand it.

Once expanded, click again to shrink it.

• Adds the Birth Date and Email to Student Fields in the reports.

• Gender Demographic is now part of the demographic set called 'Permanent' in the new importer.

• Adds a document tag [DOB] for Birth Date in custom reports.

• Fixes:
  • Under Student Fields in the reports, the Reset button has been removed and the Clear button now resets to the default student fields of Last Name and First Name.

Version 2.1.1.0

• Adds new Student Fields: Middle Name, Birth Date, Email.

The new student fields are available under the Information tab, when editing a student account, and can also be imported using the new importer!

• Adds an Importer to take care of students and teachers assignments, new student fields, AND student demographics as well.

The Importer uses the files that have been uploaded to our FTP server. In order for the Importer to read and process those files correctly, we first need to set up an agent for you.

The file format has to be .csv (comma separated values) or .txt (tab delimited text).

Here's a sample file:

This sample file has headers but they are not required. If your files don't have headers, we'll need to know what each column represents in order to set up the agent.

As for demographics, each column has its own demographic (IEP, 504, SES,...), and the text within the fields is the demographic value (Yes, M, ...).

The Import feature is accessible under the A (Admin) tab.

Once your files have been uploaded to our FTP server and your agent has been set up, you will simply click on 'Go to Importer' to run the import.

The importer will present you with information on New Records and/or Merged Records, if any.

The New Records include new students and/or staff, and their new assignments, and/or demographics.

Merged records are the changes to existing students and/or staff accounts that the importer will make.

It is strongly recommended that you go through every section to verify that the information is accurate before finalizing the import.

Those changes will only apply after you click on Save Import and then, click on Reset and Reload to update VCAT.

If you wish to get out of the importer, you can click on the Exit button on the top left of the screen. If you just need to make a quick change in VCAT to adjust something, you can do so and then come back and click Restart Import.

Under Merged Records: Students, you will find students with any student field changes (State ID, Last Name, First Name, Middle Name, Birth Date, Graduation Year, Email).

If there are any new students, you will get a RED warning. It is very important to verify that every student listed as new does not already exist in VCAT. This will prevent duplicate students.

If there are any new staff, you will get a similar RED warning as well. It is also very important to verify that every staff listed as new does not already exist in VCAT. Again, this will prevent duplicate accounts, and possible staff access problems.

• Fixes:
  • The criterion type 'Related Data' now displays correctly - with the proficiency level colored background and its corresponding value with an asterisk to indicate it is coming from supporting data.

Version 2.0.8.4

• Adds a State ID check when manually creating a new student account or editing an existing one.

• To emphasize the scale that is entered on the data entry page, its row is now colored light blue in the rubric view when multiple scales are assigned to the criterion.

• Fixes:
  • In Individual Series report when students individually selected, the report now displays the student name above each section.
  • In Rubric View when under the Data tab, the scroll bar is now visible.
  • Copying a unit using Numeric Sum criteria now keeps the criteria and the proficiencies associated with them.

Version 2.0.8.3

• Adds a new 'Site Details' page under the A (admin) tab that includes the following:

Login Note: This is used when you want to include a link that appears on the login page, right underneath the username and password fields. In this sample, the link is called 'Login Help' and brings the user right to the Log In/Log Out section of the Wiki.

Copyright Note: This information appears on the bottom of Curriculum pages.

Help URL: This link is displayed as a circle with a question mark in it in the upper right corner of the login screen when your mouse hovers over.

Public Curriculum Header: This field allows you to create a custom banner across the top of the public curriculum access site. You may use HTML tags and can define custom css within css tags. There is also a preview of the public curriculum banner right below the field. You can view a sample of a Public Page below.

• New Public Page layout. The public page has been redesigned with the format of VCAT2. The curriculum made public is listed on the left and only gives access to the Curriculum page of the units.

• Adds a new binding called 'Assessment Date' to display the date assessed when used in Custom Reports.

• Fixes:
  • The Export feature is now working for Individual Series report.
  • 'Show Category Mean' option is now functional.
  • Clicking on Individual Students works correctly now with a slow click.
  • When running reports for Individual Students as the cohort in Confidential Mode, the cohort listed also becomes confidential - just like each individual student.
  • Criterion with long list of numeric values are no longer shortened (displayed with '...') when it has other scales assigned.

Version 2.0.8.0

• Adds the ability to recalculate a composite score to update data already entered. When you need to make a change for a composite score and data has already been entered, you can now make the change, then click on the Recalculate button (refresh arrow on the left side of the criterion) to have the system recalculate the new composite scores and update the existing data.

• Adds the new filter to Show/Hide students without data in reports. When running a student criterion report, you now have the options to hide students without data. By default, Students Without Data is checked. To hide the students without data, just remove that check and it will update the report.

• The All Students feature is now available in data entry for criteria with a score range.

If you enter a score that is out of range, the system will warn you and will not accept the out-of-range score.

If there is already some data entered, the dialog will give you the option of filling in all the scores or just scores for the ones that don't already have data. If you leave the box blank, you can remove existing data as well using the Change All option.

• The Criterion TYPE now displays in Edit Rubric mode. In this example, the criterion type is Complete.

• The Toggle Dev functionality was moved to the Numeric Scale.

When you hover over Numeric Scale, you will see a zoom in icon appear (magnifying glass type of icon with a + sign). (Sorry it doesn't show on the screenshot)

When clicking on Numeric Scale, it will open up and give you 3 options: Score Range, Code Value, and Code.

To close those options, click on Record. When you hover over Record with your mouse, it will show the zoom out icon. (Sorry, it doesn't show on the screenshot)

• Adds the ability to run previous year's custom report for a current student group. You can now select a current student group, click on Custom Reports, select a custom report (last year's report card for example), set the date in the calendar that pops up to a previous year's date, and the system will pull the data from that year onto the custom report. If the report pulls general information like 'Year', 'School', and 'Section', the Year will be filled in based on the date selected in the calendar, but the School and Section will be filled in based on the student group selected. You can edit those fields by typing in the appropriate information, if need be, before creating the pdf.

• Fixes:
  • Data can now be deleted for criteria with a score range that don't start with 0.
  • Criteria using supporting data are now supported in the criterion level reports. The n values are now calculating correctly and will include regular data and data coming from supporting data as well.

Resources 12.9.15

• The anchor standards for the National Core Arts Standards (NCAS) are now available in VCAT.

http://www.nationalartsstandards.org

Version 2.0.7.6

• Added new Active feature for Custom Reports!

Under the A tab, there is now an Active checkbox.

If you uncheck the Active box for the custom report selected, that report will become inactive. Every inactive custom reports will be marked with [Inactive] and shaded gray.

Under the Data tab, the Custom Reports list now has an Active Only checkbox in the filter bar, at the top. By default, the Active Only box is checked.

If you uncheck the Active Only box, all inactive custom reports will be included in the Custom Reports list.

• Added the ability to set the proficiency scale using a range of scores. This range editor supports all scales, except the code scale.

When Editing rubrics, click on Add Scale for the criterion you wish to edit and select Proficiency. It will add a row called Proficiency.

To edit the proficiency, click in the row.

All the ratings are separated by little green knobs. To mark a proficiency range, hover over the green knob where you wish to divide the range. It will display ]|[. Click on it to set your divider. The divider will then show in blue.

If you wish to remove a divider, hover over with your mouse and it will show <X and X> in red on each side of the divider.

If you click on the <X, the divider will be removed and the range will extend to the nearest divider on the left.

If you click on the X>, the divider will be removed and the range will extend to the nearest divider on the right.

If you wish to move the divider, click on the <|> blue symbol between the red X symbols, it will set the 'movement mode' for that divider and will look like this.

In 'movement mode', you can move a divider anywhere you wish to by simply clicking on the divider or green knob where you need it to be.

Once you have the ranges set, click in that range within the proficiency row to set its proficiency level.

To get out of edit mode for the proficiency scale, just click anywhere outside of that row.

As always, if you wish to completely remove the proficiency scale row (entire row), click on the red minus sign to the right of the row.

• Fixes:
  • In the Common Core Standards Math, the Standards for Mathematical Practice now display correctly and are selectable.
  • Fixed Invalid Key Exception experienced by a few users when using 'login as a user' feature.

Version 2.0.7.3

• Added print capability to the Criterion Detail report:

1.When running a criterion report (student criterion report or cohort criterion report), hover over the criterion name with your mouse to see the little blue i appear on the left.

2.Click on the i to create the Criterion Detail report. The print button will be at the top right corner.

• Updated styling of the retired curriculum units in the information selection. The units are shaded darker and identified with the word RETIRED preceding the unit names.

• Retired units are now hidden from the information list when the filter is set to 'Show information for data entry'. They can be made visible by checking the Show Retired box when the filter is set to either 'Show all information', 'Show current and historical information', or 'Show current information'. See example below.

• A tab (Admin tab): added the 'login as a user' feature to the staff section.

• Data import via Data Entry window works without student names, as long as the students have a Local ID and/or State ID.

• Fixes:
  • In the Develop tab, filtering by retired units (Show Retired) has been fixed.

Version 2.0.7.0

• Custom Reports section under 'A' tab is now complete. It allows you to create custom reports; bindings, conditional, terms, PDF, view report, export/import fo files, export/import custom reports, copy report, and delete a report.

• New 'All Information' feature available for individual students. Under Individual tab, select student(s), click Select Information, select All Information at the top of the list, click on Raw Data (above Custom Reports). The data displays as a spreadsheet and can be exported.

• 'Ignores Automatic Updates' feature available at the Year, School, Course, and Section level. When checked, it will prevent the assignment import to change it.

• All Students note field data entry supports multiple lines, and now allows to remove notes from all students.

• Export to PDF with Colors!! You can now export a student criterion report that has colors into a pdf with colors as well.

• New Data Entry Export/Import: right from the Data Entry screen, a group of students with or without data can be exported, and reimported with new data. This feature no longer needs the complete curriculum paths in order to import data, it uses the criterion names from the unit selected.