Optimized Network Performance (IP Multicast)
In some environments, network activity can be reduced by utilizing multicast rather than broadcast technology, where data is only sent to devices explicitly requesting it. To ensure suitability on all environments, SoftLINK now offers support for both broadcast and multicast modes.
File Transfer
The latest version of SoftLINK features live folders. When initiating a file transfer to a remote PC, the path to any open folders (Explorer windows) on either the Tutor or Student’s desktop are displayed at the top of the file transfer view window to ease quick selection.
Tutor for Google Chrome
The new Tutor for Chrome extends the product’s multi-platform support by enabling teachers in a dedicated Chrome OS classroom to interact with student Chromebooks from their own Chrome OS-enabled system. The School Student app extension for Google Chrome needs to be installed on each student Chromebook.
Key Features when connecting to students from a teacher’s Chrome OS device:
- View a crystal clear thumbnail of each student machine in a single view.
- Zoom in to view a larger thumbnail of any selected student Chromebook.
- The teacher can set objectives and expected outcomes for the current lesson.
- Ask students to register at the start of each lesson.
- Lock the student’s mouse and keyboard when instructing.
- Send an instant survey or request for feedback to each student and display results in real time.
- The teacher can open a discussion session that all or selected students can join, enter their comments and share with the rest of the class.
- Send an attention-grabbing message or instruction to each student machine.
- Request Help facility – students can send a request for help to the teacher.
- Block unauthorized websites.
- Use approved websites only.
- Block all Internet access.
- Launch a website on the student Chromebook.
- Block FTP Access.
- See details of the website that students are currently viewing.
In mixed platform classrooms, the SoftLINK Windows Tutor application can also connect to student Chromebooks.
Student for iOS
The latest version extends SoftLINK’s ability to support your BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) initiatives and the growing use of mobile technology in the modern classroom with the launch of its new Student app for Apple iOS devices.
The Student for iOS ensures students using these devices can still join with your SoftLINK-managed lessons.
Key features when connecting to students using iOS devices:
- Student Register: The teacher can request standard and/or custom information from each student at the start of each class and create a detailed register from the information provided.
- Connecting to Students: The teacher can either browse for students (from their desktop application) or allow students to connect directly to the relevant class from their device.
- Lesson Objectives: If provided by the teacher, once connected, students are presented with details of the current lesson, together with overall objectives and their expected learning outcomes.
- Sending Messages: The teacher can broadcast messages to one, selected, or all devices. Students receive an audible and visual alert when a message is received and they can then be viewed and managed by the student.
- Chat: Both the student and the teacher can initiate a Chat session and participate in group discussions.
- Requesting Help: Students can discreetly alert the teacher when they require assistance. This sends an alert to the teacher’s desktop, enabling them to interact with the student concerned. In addition, a red toolbar appears at the top of the student’s screen, enabling the teacher to easily identify students in need of help as they move around the classroom.
- Class Surveys: As part of student and classroom assessment, teachers can conduct on-the-fly surveys to gauge student knowledge and understanding. Students are able to respond in real time to the survey questions posed and the teacher can then show results to the whole class, enabling students to receive instant feedback on their progress.
- Show Screen: While presenting, the teacher can show their desktop to connected devices, at which point students are able to use touch-screen gestures to pinch, pan and zoom in order to highlight key information when needed.
- Battery Status: View the current battery strength for each connected student device.
- Configuration Options: Teachers can choose to pre-configure each device with the required classroom connectivity settings, or ‘push’ the settings out to each device from within the SoftLINK Tutor program.
SoftLINK Student for Android v2
The latest version enables teachers to:
- Remotely launch a selected website on one or multiple student tablets.
- Remotely assign ‘rewards’ to students to recognise good work or behaviour.
- Blank student screens to gain attention.
- View the current wireless battery strength status for each connected student.
Additionally, for supported devices:
- View thumbnails of all connected student tablets from the Tutor PC.
- Zoom in to view a larger thumbnail of any selected student tablet.
