EarthEd functional diagram. Click on the arrow at the left of the diagram to view it at full size. Note that there are two main areas of interest for the teacher. One is the "Manager" and the other is the "Class" area which is also visited by students. The Manager is not available to students. This is where the course is configured, grades are assigned, and other teacher operations are performed.

					Course configuration: Course options, assignment due times and points, etc. are specified in a course configuration file that resides on the server. This file also specifies various options for the course, such as the teachers, section due times (if there are sections), start day of the course, course web page, etc. All times are specified relative to the start day, so a course can be easily modified for a different quarter by changing a single time.

					Modularization: The software system is modularized so that new functions and capabilities can be added easily, without requiring reprogramming of the foundation modules. The data access modules are designed to run by themselves, or integrate with EarthEd. The configuration file specifies which modules will be available to students.

					Library organization: Each instructor is assigned a library directory on the server. The library is managed within EarthEd, so the teacher doesn't need access to the server except through EarthEd. Course assignments are contained either in a library or in a database. Only the author of an assignment can edit the assignment. Assignments are indexed with keywords and a description, and are searchable using a controlled vocabulary of keywords.

					Logging on and selecting a class: When the EarthEd program is launched, the user enters a name, 6 digit ID, and a password. EarthEd checks a database and all classes that the user is registered for show up in a selection list. After selection, a teacher has the option of entering the "Manager" or entering "EarthEd." A student has only one option.

					Enter EarthEd: This takes you to the Assignment Index page. Assignments are listed by week. When you click on an assignment, the database is queried for the location of the assignment on the server, and its type. This takes you to the correct screen for a particular assignment.

					Enter Manager: Here the teacher can edit the course configuration, create or edit assignments, create new courses, enter grades, get reports of student progress, etc.

					Assignments location: All assignments are located on the EarthEd Server. Assignments may be a number of types, including auto-graded problem sets, writing activities, student feedback requests, and assignments delivered directly by the teacher, with grades entered individually by bar code, by hand, or imported from an Excell spreadsheet.

					Student work: Student images, writing assignments, and grades are all stored on the class server. Each student has a separate directory (called their "Mailbox") that contains all of their work.

					Student activity monitoring: In addition to student grades, certain student activities are posted to a log file in the student's mailbox. An example is when the student loads the assignment, saves writing, or hands in writing. This protects the student from getting late penalties if something goes wrong with the posting process. This is a rare occurrence, but provides corroborating data if a student claims the software ate their work.