FAQs What is OpenClassroom? OpenClassroom is the software that runs on an OpenClassroom Server. You can think of the appliance as a sort of "mini" web server. You basically plug the appliance into your existing network via an Ethernet cable, turn it on, look at the IP address it shows you on its LCD panel, then use a browser on any computer on the network to navigate to the application to begin working. OpenClassroom was designed from the ground up to be extremely easy to use, so it shouldn't take you long to get up and running! Why should I choose a server solution versus a hosted solution? Hosted solutions in schools face the challenges of inconsistent User Interfaces (UI)/log-ins for different solutions (wikis, blogs, etc), distraction and security issues due to open Internet access, and external bandwidth congestion. A server-based solution within the school's LAN (local area network) enables teacher control/flexibility, simplifies the UI (user interface), enables log-in consistency, maximizes safety and security, and optimizes bandwidth usage. Why should I choose a $1,200 appliance (OpenClassroom Server) when there is a variety of free software available (e.g. Moodle, Sakai, WordPress, WikiSpaces and more)? With all of these "free" options, the school still needs to buy the hardware to load the software, and bear the costs of installation and on-going support. A typical 1 GHz server with 160 GB of hard disk will cost between $700 - $1500. Additionally, there are costs for installation, and on-going costs of support and maintenance for updates and upgrades. The $1200 OpenClassroom appliance is a more cost-effective solution for schools that do not want to "do it on their own." If you prefer, you can download OpenClassroom software for free. However, the free software then needs to be installed on your own hardware, and you have to maintain and support it. Can I try a demo version of OpenClassroom? You can access a fully functional version of the OpenClassroom software running on one of our servers over the Internet. To get a trial account, go to the Test Drive link on the home page or click here. How do I get started? If you've just purchased an OpenClassroom Server appliance, it should have come with a Quick Start guide affixed to the top cover. This will give you basic instructions for setup and logging in for the first time. You can also view the Online Manual available on this page and review the section entitled Setup for more information and trouble-shooting tips. Which browser should I use? Firefox: OpenClassroom works well on FireFox on any platform we've tested. Internet Explorer: OpenClassroom has been tested on Internet Explorer on XP, Vista and Windows 7 and there are no known issues. Safari: OpenClassroom has a few known issues on Safari. Most notably, you will not have access to the html editor pane when editing things like blogs, wikis, or online assignments. You will have a text-only editor instead. What is the hardware/software configuration? Hardware: OCS-CLASS: 1.6 GHz Intel Atom dual-core processor, 512 MB RAM, 160 GB hard disk (750 MB of storage per student for 200 students). OCS-SCHOOL: 2.83 GHz Intel Core 2 Quad, 2 GB RAM, 1 TB hard disk (1 GB of storage per student for 1000 students). Software: LAMP Server: Linux (Ubuntu 7.x), Apache (web server), MySQL (database), PHP Can I download the OpenClassroom Source Code? Yes, the OC software is open source. Request source code here. |