You have a choice to configure the surveys to your school's unique needs or alternatively, you can use our standard templates that we have found over the years work for most schools.
By default Class Creator surveys are set to a certain number of options/levels/columns:
- Behaviour: 5 options/levels/columns
- Academic: 5 options/levels/columns
- Special Needs: 3 options/levels/columns
- EAL/ESL: 3 options/levels/columns
However, some schools might only want to use 3 options for Academic/Behaviour.
In that case, we recommend using the 1st, 3rd and 5th options. You can check the 'Hide' button on the 2nd & 4th levels. (See image below)
The reasons for using the 1st, 3rd and 5th are:
- The placement algorithms place greater emphasis on spreading the 5th (high needs) students. By using the 5th option you will likely generate a better spread of students.
- The colour coding will be much clearer when you are viewing and editing the new classes. (Green, Yellow, Red)
Things to keep in mind if making changes to the standard survey templates:
If you wish to make changes to the standard template, firstly review and rename where applicable the Headers, Custom Labels, and Details/Rubric to meet the needs of your school.
If you adjust these labels please make sure you keep the order the same, highest to lowest. The Class Creator algorithm uses the data in the order below to generate classes.
Behavior: Very Good to Very Challenging
Academic/English & Mathematics: Well Above-Level to Well Below-Level
Additional Support Survey: None to Lots of Extra Support
You can also "Hide" survey column by clicking the checkbox beside it. You can see this example in the first picture below.
Note: If at anytime you would like to revert back to the standard templates for the survey you are currently in, you can click on options in the top right and select reset 'XYZ' labels.
For special needs or additional surveys and EAL/ESL, there are only 3 options plus 'none'.
Behavior /Social Survey
Academic Surveys
There are three options in Academic Surveys to ask your teachers:
* General Academic
* English & Mathematics
* Reading, Writing & Mathematics
Type of Academic Survey: Select General Academic, English & Mathematics, or Reading, Writing & Mathematics surveys from the down menu at "Academic Surveys".
Academic Score: A 3 character score can be entered for all academic surveys if enabled. Use the 'Options' menu at "Academic Surveys" to enable. This score is NOT used by the algorithm to sort students.
Additional Support Surveys
Additional support surveys can either be Special Needs only or Special Needs and ESL/ELL. You can do this by selecting from the drop down box on the top right, as shown on the picture below.
ESL/ESOL/EAL: Enable/Disable 'English for speakers of other languages' in the survey. Use the drop down menu at "Additional Support Surveys"
ESL/ESOL/EAL/ELL: None to Beginner: High Support
Other Surveys
Hide Teacher Notes: If you do not wish teachers to be able to add student notes you can disable them. Admin notes will always be active and only accessible/viewable to administrators.
Ethnicity: Enable or Disable the collection of ethnicity data in the surveys.
Additional Surveys
If you would like to add an additional survey, scroll to the bottom of the page, where you will find additional surveys. On the right hand side, click options, add survey title of your choice, before clicking 'Add Custom Survey'.
In this example below, we have asked teachers about their students dance abilities.
You can add as many additional surveys as you wish to suit your school.