|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Body
|
Part of a report containing written text that provides information
to the reader of the final report. The body is located below
the header and above the footer.
|
|
Browser
|
A computer application that accesses and displays files on
the Web.
|
|
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
|
Part of the computer that executes stored program instructions.
This is what reads software applications, floppy diskettes,
CD ROMs, and hard drives, and allows the user to see the data
or application interfaces.
|
|
Configure
|
To design, arrange, or set up (such as a computer or report)
for a specific use.
|
|
Course
|
Math, English, Art, History, Biology, Computers, and Accounting
are examples of courses.
|
|
Current Grades
|
Grades for today's term.
|
|
Customize
|
To set up according to personal or individual specifications
and needs.
|
|
Database
|
A set of related data stored in fields on a server. Data
is entered by users and can be accessed through preconfigured
and custom reports. Those accessing the data may or may not
be the same people as those who entered it.
|
|
Desktop
|
The page that appears when you log in to your computer and
when any open applications are minimized.
|
|
Demographics
|
The characteristics of a (student) population, such as name,
address, phone, parent/guardian names, and test scores.
|
|
Explorer
|
Microsoft's Web browser application, which is also known
as Internet Explorer or IE.
|
|
Export
|
To send a file or other data from one computer application
to another.
|
|
Field
|
A place in a database where one piece of information is stored.
Examples of fields include first name, last name, date of
birth, phone, and GPA.
|
|
Floppy Diskette
|
A device used to store data. The same diskette can be used
on different computers to work with the same data at various
locations.
|
|
Footer
|
Printed matter or information, such as a title, date, or
page number, positioned at the bottom of a page. In PowerSchool,
this is the information below the report listings. In a word
processing application, the footer also appears at the bottom
of the page, but it is usually repeated on every page throughout
the document.
|
|
Hard Drive
|
The part of a computer that stores data. It is similar to
a floppy diskette, but it has the capacity to store much more
data. The hard drive is located in the central processing
unit.
|
|
Hardware
|
Equipment that makes up a computer and a network: monitor,
keyboard, mouse, server, printer, and central processing unit.
|
|
Header
|
Printed matter or information, such as a title, date, or
page number, positioned at the top of a document. In PowerSchool,
this is the information above the report listings. In a word
processing application, the header also appears at the top
of the page, but it is usually repeated on every page throughout
the document.
|
|
Homepage
|
The start page of a Web site. Its main purpose is to greet
visitors, provide information about the site, and direct them
to other sites with more related information.
|
|
Import
|
To transfer a file or other data from one computer to another.
|
|
Internet
|
A matrix of networks that connects computers around the world.
Also known as the World Wide Web.
|
|
Log Entry
|
A permanent part of a student's record. It is most often
used to record disciplinary problems, but it can also be used
to record good behavior or other events.
|
|
Macintosh
|
Used to describe computers manufactured by Apple Computer,
Inc. |
|
Object Report
|
A report style used to create official documents by merging
an object report template with PowerSchool data. An object
report consists of several parts: line objects, box objects,
transcript-listing objects, and text objects. Each of these
is created separately and in multitude to make up the document.
|
|
Parameters
|
A detailed, exact statement of particulars, especially a
statement prescribing report format and data. Also known as
specifications.
|
|
Password
|
A sequence of characters required to access a computer system.
A password can be letters, numbers, other characters, or a
combination of all three. Some passwords are case-sensitive.
|
|
PC
|
Acronym that stands for personal computer.
|
|
PDF
|
Acronym that stands for Portable Document Format. PDF is
the file format for presenting documents in a manner that
is independent of the original application software, hardware,
and operating system used to create them. Saving a document
in PDF format allows anyone to view or print it using Adobe's
Acrobat Reader application. A PDF file can be any combination
of text, graphics, or images. These documents can be one page
or thousands of pages, very simple or extremely complex with
a rich use of fonts, graphics, color, and images.
|
|
PowerGrade
|
The grade-keeping portion of PowerSchool Student Information
System (SIS). Teachers use PowerGrade in the classroom to
record grades, take attendance, create log entries, and make
notes for themselves and for parents. PowerGrade sends data
to the PowerSchool server every time teachers save their work.
|
|
PowerSchool
|
A Web-based student information management system. PowerSchool
is used to record term grades, attendance, courses, graduation
requirements, and log entries.
|
|
pop-up menu
|
A menu on a page. The contents appear only when the user
clicks the up-down arrow, whereupon other options appear in
a list. The user can then choose an option from the list. |
|
Report
|
A set of data pulled from the PowerSchool database. The user
tells PowerSchool what data to pull, and PowerSchool generates
a summation of the data for viewing or printing, according
to the user's specifications.
|
|
Report Listings
|
Data included on a report. Most often, report listings are
grades or calculations pulled from the PowerSchool database.
|
|
Section
|
One class of the same course. For example, your school may
have one Chemistry course, but three sections of it to accommodate
all the students who want to take this subject.
|
|
Security
|
A method of keeping information confidential. PowerSchool
has several layers of security to ensure privacy of records.
|
|
Select
|
To highlight an option or make a choice. Clicking an item
with a mouse usually selects it.
|
|
Server
|
A computer that provides a service for other computers (called
clients). Servers and their clients are connected to each
other via a network that allows messages to pass back and
forth. Clients send requests to servers using special computer
languages, and servers respond to those requests. Networks
usually have many clients for each server. The PowerSchool
server runs continuously, waiting for requests to arrive from
PowerGrade, administrators, teachers, or parents, and responds
to those requests at any hour of the day or night.
|
|
Software
|
Computer applications that control how hardware functions
and direct its operation. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and PowerGrade
are types of software.
|
|
Specifications
|
See Parameters.
|
|
Student Number
|
The number used to identify a student at your school and
on the PowerSchool server. Each student number is unique and
specific to an individual student. It can be assigned by the
school or by the PowerSchool server.
|
|
Student Number Field
|
The field on the PowerSchool database that stores the student
number for each student. This is probably the most important
field in the PowerSchool database.
|
|
Template
|
A document or file having a preset format; used as a starting
point (for a report) so that the format does not have to be
recreated each time it is used.
|
|
Term
|
A specified period used for keeping grades, such as quarter,
semester, or trimester.
|
|
Title
|
The name of a report or other document.
|
|
Website
|
A set of interconnected Internet pages, usually located on
the same server and including a start page. The site is prepared
and maintained as a collection of information by a person,
group, or organization.
|
|
World Wide Web
|
A matrix of networks that connects computers around the world.
Also known as the Internet or the Web.
|
