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Naming subject folders - recommendations Follow

In this article:

Overview

Hāpara can automatically create folders for students according to the classes that they belong to. For each class, you can specify the names of the folders to make for the class. When students are added to a class, folders are created for the students, if they do not have folders of the same name already.

Subject folders can be specified in three ways (depending on how you use the Data Loader):

  • If you are using the Data Loader Sync method, you can specify the desired behavior in the Student Folders section of the Sync Configuration page.  
  • If you are using the Data Loader Manual Load method, you can specify the desired behavior in the Student Folders section of the Manual Configuration page.  
  • Alternatively, if you are using the Data Loader Manual Load method, you can specify the desired behavior by adding a "Subject Folders" column to your Classes spreadsheet. 

Important notes on folder names

Once subject folder names are specified for a class, and the class is added to Hāpara, it is difficult to change the folder names. This is because the Data Loader creates new folders when subject folder names are changed. It does not rename old folders. As a result, it is important to name the folders correctly during the initial Classes load.

Here are links to FAQs on items to do with subject folders that you should note:

Folder naming strategies

Schools use two main strategies to determine folder names:

  1. generic subject names
  2. class names

Especially for large schools, a major factor in choosing a naming strategy is what information can be extracted from their student information system (SIS). If class codes, names, teachers and subject folder names can be extracted, then loading classes into Hāpara is very easy, requiring few manual steps.

Strategy one: Using generic subject names

Folders can be named according to the subject that is taught in the class. For example, an "English Year 9 Section A" class might use "English" as the folder name.

Advantages

Disadvantages

Folders can be reused by different classes, providing continuity when students change classes. For example, the "English Year 9 Section A" and "English Year 9 Section B" classes can both use the "English" folder. If a student moves from section A to section B, the existing "English" folder from section A will be reused for section B. The teacher from section B will be able to see the work that the student did in section A.

The folders may confuse students, as it may not be obvious which folder corresponds to which class. Students will just see the folders created for them in their Google Drive. Because the folders have generic names (e.g. "English"), students may not know that the folder is for the "English Year 9 Section A" class.
 

Multiple classes can share the same folders. For example, "English Year 9 Section A" and "English Year 9 Extension" classes might both use "English" as a folder name. If a student is enrolled in both of these classes, then the same English folder will be used for both classes. Teachers from both classes will see the contents of the student's English folder.

 

This strategy is most commonly used in elementary and primary schools, where students belong to a single class that covers multiple subjects, such as Reading, Writing, and Math.

Strategy two: Using class names

Folders can be named using the class name. For example, the folders for an "English Year 9 Section A" class might be named "English Year 9 Section A".

Advantages

Disadvantages

It will be obvious to students which folder corresponds to which class.

If a student moves to a new class and the teacher of the new class wants to see the student's work from the old class, then the student must move all files from the old folder into the new folder.

Each class will have its own folders, so multiple classes will not share folders.

  

If a student moves from one class to another, then a new folder will be made for the student. 

  

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