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Class Management 🏫

Tiger Grades provides powerful class management tools that streamline the entire educational workflow—from initial class creation to ongoing administration. Built with educators' real-world needs in mind, our system makes managing multiple classes, students, and assignments effortless.

🎯 Overview​

Class Management in Tiger Grades encompasses:

  • Intuitive Class Creation with Microsoft integration
  • Dynamic Enrollment Management with secure codes
  • Flexible Class Organization by subject, semester, and type
  • Automated Gradebook Generation in OneDrive
  • Real-time Student Tracking and progress monitoring
  • Comprehensive Reporting for administrators and parents

🚀 Quick Start: Creating Your First Class​

The Class Creation Wizard​

Tiger Grades features a step-by-step wizard that guides teachers through class setup:

graph TD
    A[Start Class Creation] --> B[Basic Information]
    B --> C[Class Configuration] 
    C --> D[Microsoft Integration]
    D --> E[Student Capacity]
    E --> F[Generate Class]
    F --> G[OneDrive Gradebook Created]
    G --> H[Enrollment Code Generated]

Essential Class Information​

When creating a new class, teachers provide:

Basic Details:

  • Class Title (e.g., "Advanced Biology", "AP Calculus AB")
  • Subject Area from predefined categories
  • Academic Year and semester
  • Class Description for students and parents

Configuration Options:

  • Estimated Student Count (affects gradebook layout)
  • Number of Grade Categories (homework, tests, projects, etc.)
  • Start and End Dates for the academic period
  • Welcome Message displayed to enrolling students

📚 Class Types & Categories​

Predefined Subject Areas​

Tiger Grades supports diverse educational contexts:

SubjectIconTypical Categories
English 📝Reading, Writing, Grammar, Literature
Mathematics 🔢Homework, Quizzes, Tests, Projects
Science 🔬Labs, Experiments, Reports, Exams
History 📜Essays, Research, Presentations, Tests
Foreign Language 🌍Speaking, Listening, Writing, Cultural
Art 🎨Projects, Critiques, Technique, Portfolio
Physical Education ⚽Skills, Participation, Fitness, Games
Chinese 🇨🇳Characters, Speaking, Culture, Literature

Custom Subject Configuration​

Administrators can add custom subjects to meet specific institutional needs:

// Example: Adding a custom subject
$customSubject = [
    'title' => 'STEM Integration',
    'image_id' => 1925,
    'default_categories' => [
        'Engineering Design' => 30,
        'Scientific Method' => 25, 
        'Mathematical Modeling' => 25,
        'Technology Integration' => 20
    ]
];

🔐 Enrollment Management​

Secure Enrollment Codes​

Each class receives a unique 6-character enrollment code that:

  • Expires automatically after the enrollment period
  • Limits access to intended students only
  • Tracks enrollment attempts for security auditing
  • Prevents unauthorized access through randomized generation

Enrollment Workflow​

sequenceDiagram
    participant S as Student/Parent
    participant T as Teacher
    participant TG as Tiger Grades
    participant O as OneDrive

    T->>TG: Create class
    TG->>O: Generate gradebook
    TG->>T: Provide enrollment code
    T->>S: Share code (secure method)
    S->>TG: Enter code + student info
    TG->>T: Notification for approval
    T->>TG: Approve enrollment
    TG->>O: Add student to gradebook
    TG->>S: Confirmation + access granted

Enrollment Approval Process​

Teachers maintain full control over class rosters through:

  1. Pending Requests - Review student information before approval
  2. Verification Tools - Confirm student identity and eligibility
  3. Batch Approval - Process multiple enrollments simultaneously
  4. Enrollment Limits - Automatic blocking when class capacity is reached

📊 Class Dashboard & Overview​

Teacher Dashboard Components​

The class management dashboard provides:

Class Summary Cards:

  • Current enrollment count vs. capacity
  • Recent grade activity and trends
  • Upcoming assignment due dates
  • Parent communication summary

Quick Actions:

  • Generate new enrollment codes
  • Export gradebook data
  • Send class announcements
  • Access detailed reports

Visual Analytics:

  • Grade distribution charts
  • Assignment completion rates
  • Student progress trends
  • Comparative class performance

Real-Time Status Indicators​

interface ClassStatus {
    enrollment: {
        current: number;
        capacity: number;
        pending: number;
    };
    grades: {
        recent_updates: number;
        missing_assignments: number;
        completion_rate: number;
    };
    communication: {
        unread_messages: number;
        announcements_sent: number;
    };
}

🔄 Microsoft Integration Features​

Automatic Gradebook Creation​

When a class is created, Tiger Grades automatically:

  1. Generates Excel Workbook in teacher's OneDrive
  2. Creates Multiple Worksheets for grades, categories, and averages
  3. Sets Up Formulas for automatic calculation
  4. Configures Sharing Permissions for read-only student access
  5. Establishes Sync Triggers for real-time updates

OneDrive File Structure​

📁 Tiger Grades/
├── 📊 [Class Name] - [Year].xlsx
│   ├── 📋 Grades (main gradebook)
│   ├── 📊 Categories (assignment types & weights)
│   ├── 📈 Averages (calculated results)
│   └── 📝 Notes (teacher comments)
└── 📁 Archived Classes/
    └── 📊 Previous semester files...

Gradebook Naming Convention​

Tiger Grades generates unique, descriptive filenames:

  • Format: [Subject] [Level] [Section] - [Academic Year]
  • Example: AP Biology Period 3 - 2024-2025.xlsx
  • Collision Handling: Automatic suffix addition for duplicates

👥 Student Management​

Class Roster Administration​

Student Information Tracking:

  • Full name and preferred name
  • Parent/guardian contact information
  • Emergency contact details
  • Special accommodations or notes
  • Enrollment date and status

Bulk Operations:

// Example: Bulk student operations
$classManager = new ClassManagement();

// Export roster to CSV
$roster = $classManager->exportRoster($class_id, 'csv');

// Import students from external system
$result = $classManager->importStudents($class_id, $csv_data);

// Generate parent access codes
$codes = $classManager->generateParentCodes($class_id);

Student Status Management​

Students can have various status levels:

  • Active - Currently enrolled and participating
  • Pending - Enrollment submitted, awaiting teacher approval
  • Inactive - Temporarily suspended or on leave
  • Transferred - Moved to different class or school
  • Graduated - Completed the course successfully

📈 Analytics & Reporting​

Class Performance Metrics​

Academic Performance:

  • Average grade by category and overall
  • Grade distribution and class curves
  • Assignment completion rates
  • Trend analysis over time

Engagement Metrics:

  • Login frequency and duration
  • Assignment submission timeliness
  • Parent portal usage statistics
  • Communication response rates

Automated Reports​

Tiger Grades generates various reports automatically:

interface ReportSchedule {
    weekly_summary: {
        recipients: ['teacher', 'administrator'];
        content: ['grade_updates', 'enrollment_changes', 'overdue_assignments'];
    };
    monthly_analytics: {
        recipients: ['teacher', 'department_head'];
        content: ['performance_trends', 'comparative_analysis', 'goal_progress'];
    };
    semester_reports: {
        recipients: ['administration', 'parents'];
        content: ['final_grades', 'standards_mastery', 'recommendations'];
    };
}

🛠️ Advanced Management Features​

Multi-Class Coordination​

For teachers managing multiple classes:

Cross-Class Analytics:

  • Compare performance across sections
  • Identify successful teaching strategies
  • Balance workload and assignment timing
  • Coordinate with other teachers

Shared Resources:

  • Template assignments and rubrics
  • Common assessments and standards
  • Collaborative grading workflows
  • Departmental communication tools

Archiving & History​

End-of-Term Procedures:

  1. Grade Finalization - Lock final grades from changes
  2. Archive Creation - Move class data to historical storage
  3. Access Preservation - Maintain read-only access for records
  4. Compliance Documentation - Generate required administrative reports

🔧 Customization Options​

Class Templates​

Create reusable templates for:

  • Standard course configurations
  • Departmental grading policies
  • Assignment category structures
  • Communication preferences

Notification Settings​

Customize alerts for:

  • New enrollment requests
  • Grade submission deadlines
  • Parent communication
  • System updates and maintenance

🚨 Troubleshooting Common Issues​

Enrollment Problems​

Issue: Students can't find enrollment code

  • Solution: Verify code hasn't expired; regenerate if necessary
  • Prevention: Use secure distribution methods; set clear expiration dates

Issue: Gradebook not syncing with OneDrive

  • Solution: Check Microsoft authentication; verify OneDrive permissions
  • Prevention: Regular connection testing; backup authentication tokens

Performance Optimization​

Large Class Management:

  • Use pagination for student lists
  • Implement lazy loading for grade data
  • Cache frequently accessed information
  • Batch process enrollment approvals

Ready to create your first class? Jump to our First Setup Tutorial for a complete walkthrough!