Orbit

[Marz283]

Does anyone use orbit for learning journals. I stumbled across it when I was looking at options online but am reluctant to sign up without hearing other peoples experience of it.

[hectors house]

I tried it for a while but didn't get on with it, I now use Tapestry, it's not free but what it costs is far cheaper than printing out photos for learning journals, plus parents tend to comment and leave feed back now.

[moggy]

I too tried it briefly, but then heard about Tapestry and now use that and love it. Small fee to pay but as my LA has membership to the foundation years forum it is cheaper- worth checking, if you look at Tapestry. Free trial available too- just email and ask them.

[Marz283]

Thank you. I would like to do online journals to minimise the amount of printing I have to do and the amount of paperwork I have to store and saw orbit and that it was free so wondered if it was worth trying. I'll look at tapestry instead.

[Rick]

Thank you. I would like to do online journals to minimise the amount of printing I have to do and the amount of paperwork I have to store and saw orbit and that it was free so wondered if it was worth trying. I'll look at tapestry instead.

I have used Orbit and found it very useful if you only want to do obs. Free is always good. I have gone back to pen and paper out of choice so don't use it anymore. You can always try it out and see if you get in with it. Minding Matters is also free and does accounting and all sorts of other things as well.

[mumofone]

I thought it became defunct a while ago??

[BallyH]

Orbit is still up and running. i currently use it. It is basic. I will see my current mindees through to end of July with it then try tapestry. I have found it easy to use, essential for me as I have very limited IT skills. Try it for a while and then move on to one of the bigger apps. It'll give you a taster of what is available.

[loocyloo]

I use 2simple which I find great for obs. That is pretty much all they do-but that's all I need.

[mumofone]

Can someone tell me how i link a new observation in Orbit to a child? I cant seem to save my new observation, has there GOT to be a photo attached? Thanks :-)

[blue bear]

Can someone tell me how i link a new observation in Orbit to a child? I cant seem to save my new observation, has there GOT to be a photo attached? Thanks :-)

Photos are not necessary.

I use it on the internet not on the app, don't know if that makes a difference.

New observation from left hand colum.

Write the obs in the box
Edit the date
Add children by clicking in the box and typing child's name and choose from drop down. Press save.
Then click on eyfs box, choose areas of learning characteristics of learning etc and press save
Then click on eyfs complete for it to add to the child's stream and parents to see it

[mumofone]

Photos are not necessary. I use it on the internet not on the app, don't know if that makes a difference. New observation from left hand colum. Write the obs in the box Edit the date Add children by clicking in the box and typing child's name and choose from drop down. Press save. Then click on eyfs box, choose areas of learning characteristics of learning etc and press save Then click on eyfs complete for it to add to the child's stream and parents to see it

Thanks blue bear, ive done it now, it wasn't linking to the child but is now :-)

[mumofone]

Is it possible to log "wow" moments in orbit at all? I'm Trying to get my head around it all! :-)

[blue bear]

Not sure what you mean? Do you want to log something but not make links? If it has a photo you could add to the album. Personally all my obs are wow moments all things make me go wow to be honest. I don't observe for the sake of it if that makes sense.

[moggy]

I do not use Orbit, but I too see wow moments just as any other obs- all the obs I make are things that have made me go 'wow'!
Sometimes I link them to an Area/Aspect but not always; sometimes they are related to a next step I had identified but many times not; sometimes they are related to something in EYO but more often not. If you have 'observed' a wow moment it is an 'observation' and can be documented in the same way as any observation you make.