New features are regularly added to StudyMate Class. Some have been on our roadmap for a long time, while other features were only recently suggested by users. The bottom line is that the "the ultimate study group" keeps getting better by the month. Here are four of the newest features.

Expanded Language Translations
The entire user interface for StudyMate Class can now be displayed in non-English languages including Dutch, Finnish, French, German, and Spanish. Previously, only the Flash activities themselves could be displayed in these languages.

The desired language is selected by the instructor from the Settings tab. Since languages can be set on a per project basis, it's possible to select English for one project and German for another.

Accessibility Enhancements
StudyMate Class supports a broad range of accessible and assistive technologies. The user interface now includes mouse-over alt-text, and there is an all-new "Text View" activity that creates a web page of content to support assistive technologies that are compatible with web browsers.

For the nitty-gritty details regarding accessibility in StudyMate Class, visit http://www.respondus.com/products/accessibility-smcs.shtml.

The "Show All" Activity
We've added a "Show All" activity to StudyMate Class that allows users to view all items in a project at one time. Other Flash activities draw items from only one template — for example, "Challenge" questions come from the "Multiple Choice" template. But "Show All" contains all items contained in that project. Items can be sorted and reordered in a variety of ways, and it's easy to do keyword searches.

A powerful feature in the "Show All" activity is the context menu that appears at the beginning of each item. To quickly see who authored (or last edited) the item, select the "Properties" option from the menu. And if an item needs correction, simply select "Edit" from the context menu. You'll immediately jump to the StudyMate editor and be able to make the change.

Column Sorting
Its now possible to sort items by clicking on column headings. For example, if you want items ordered by their most recent edit date, simply click the "Last Edit" heading. Or, from the Grade tab, to sort items based on the "Topic" or "Type" of item, click the appropriate heading.

As you can see, StudyMate Class continues to evolve. If you have suggestions for a new feature, submit a support ticket with the subject "Feature Request." We're always on the prowl for good ideas!

Related Articles:
StudyMate Class: 4 New Features
Collaboration Tools: Three Ingredients for Success
Spice Up Supplemental Readings with StudyMate Class
What Makes StudyMate Class the "Ultimate" Study Group?

Source: Respondus, Inc. (www.respondus.com)
Originally Published: August 18, 2009

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