Socrates ======== BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TOOL ------------------------- A powerful yet flexible tutor scheduling, resource tracking, and record-keeping system for Learning Assistance Centers. It is designed to replace current hand scheduling on paper, paper record keeping, data entry, and reports limited to reporting from a single database. Using SOCRATES as a relational database, the same information is available from a variety of points and reports are not limited to sorts within a single database. Though SOCRATES was designed for use in scheduling tutors and record keeping for a learning assistance center environment, it would be easy to modify it for other areas, situations, and applications (e.g., counseling, advisement, and computer labs). IMPORTANT FEATURES OF TOOL -------------------------- For our first fully functional Version 1.0 (Target date: Spring '93) + This system will eliminate the inefficient, time-consuming paper scheduling process used by most centers. + It will track time, students, instructor, course, and tutor/resource used which eliminates the need to hire a data entry clerk to be able to report on information. + SOCRATES will be able to provide information on students and tutors which will be immediately available without organizing and updating notebooks or rolodex files, such as scheduling appointments. + Printouts of time worked with specific references to students/groups tutored or time worked with breakdowns by accounts. + Instant specified reports will be available from multiple databases within the system without waiting for batch processing or trying by hand to combine information from various single-database reports into one report. + Students will receive faster, more efficient service. + Ability to find materials appropriate for students based on students scheduled classes, course, or instructor. WHO WOULD USE THIS TOOL? ------------------------ College staff, tutors, faculty, and students. HOW DOES THE TOOL SUPPORT EFFECTIVE TEACHING AND LEARNING? ---------------------------------------------------------- Long-range goals of this project are: to provide a comprehensive tutor scheduling and record-keeping system which college staff, tutors, faculty, and students can access anywhere on carnpus or from home to schedule appointments for students with tutors to provide instant reports in a variety of formats for up to the hour updates of use of tutor and resources. CONTACT PERSON -------------- Gil Gonzales, DIST/ITS 731-8714