From my observation, much of the worry around report cards, and the awkwardness that teachers have, is related to discomfort with the computer environment in general. The handling of data files is a concrete example of this. Funny thing: those of us who are uncomfortable with moving data around are quite vocal and willing to say things like "I hate computers" or whatever. We seem to know our area of weakness, but are slow to overcome it. However, we're getting better at it! Yes, it's true.
The number of times that I have guided teachers through the import or data submission process over the past three weeks, not counting the memos I typed and the eTeacher manuals that I made available, is about fifty. This is fewer than previous times, but I'd like to hope that this number will continue to diminish. There are still a sizeable handful of us who have not taken complete ownership of getting the submitted data file where I can get it. The email solution is the best one, but alas, it didn't work for some. (It worked for Sue and for Joanne, and Wally, finally!) This is still my best way of getting your data, because I can get the file from any internet workstation, any time, and I check it regularly. A few used floppy disks to transfer data from home, but I never had to handle the disks because they copied the file from their floppy into the "TAB done" folder themselves. A couple of others gave the disk to me personally, then I did the copy and had to give them back their disk, and a few others didn't transfer data at all, they just left it in eTeacher, where I had to get them to log in, start eTeacher, then submit their data file while I led them through the process. Do you see how we're all over the map?
What a bunch! We're sooooo human.
