Encarta Server Aims at Schools

Aiming to leverage its strength in the encyclopedia business into a stronger position in education, Microsoft has created a special version of its Encarta encyclopedia that not only delivers information about thousands of topics but also helps teachers put together homework assignments and mark tests.

Supported with digital content from other educational publishers, Encarta Class Server (ECS) can also deliver many other types of learning resources, such as book excerpts, multiple-choice quizzes, and reading assignments, to students. Teachers can assign tasks through the server, students can review their homework, and parents can check a Web site to see what their children are supposed to be working on.

What’s in ECS

ECS has several components:

The ECS software runs on a Windows server in a school or at a school district. It can also be hosted by an application service provider (ASP). Several schools can share the same server.

The teacher client software allows teachers to communicate with students; assign homework, tasks, or tests; review homework submitted by students; and keep track of student grades.