Skip to main content

Write an observation in a student's portfolio

An observation is a text you add to a child's portfolio. It never waits for an approval, and its page does not offer "Approve". Who reads it depends on one choice, made once for the whole class. It stays on the portfolio and does not appear in the class feed. On the tile, LinoClass shows the name of the person who wrote it, the title, or the first line of the text, then the opening of the text.

Write an observation​

Two paths lead to the same form.

From "Capture", pick one child, or several on the Pro plan, then tap "Note" in the row of modes. From a student's page, tap "Add an observation".

The "New observation" form has three fields.

  1. "Title (optional)", for example the name of the activity.
  2. "Observation", the text itself. LinoClass shows "What you saw, in a few sentences." and counts the characters under the field. The limit is 4000.
  3. "Developmental domains", if the class has any. LinoClass adds "Optional. Pick one or more domains."

Tap "Save". From "Capture", LinoClass confirms with "Observation saved". For one child, the line under it says "The observation is in the student's portfolio." For several children, it shows the number of children picked instead, for example: The observation is in 3 portfolios. The same observation is then saved in each portfolio, one child at a time.

Decide whether families read the observations​

The first time an observation is written in the class, "Save" opens the "Your observations: visible to families?" dialog. The choice applies to every observation in the class, this one included.

  • "Yes, families see them" shares each observation with the family as soon as it is saved. The family reads it as written on the child's portfolio.
  • "No, teaching team only" keeps the observations among the class's teachers. Families never see them, and the page of each observation carries "Visible to the teaching team only".

The observation is saved as soon as you answer. LinoClass does not ask again in this class.

If you close the dialog without choosing, nothing is saved. Your text stays in the form. Tap "Save" again to answer.

Change this choice later​

  1. Open "My account", then "Level and domains".
  2. In the "Written observations" block, tap the "Families see the observations" switch.
  3. LinoClass confirms with "Setting saved. Observations already written keep their visibility."

The new choice applies to the observations written after it. An observation already shared stays visible to the family, and a team-only observation stays team-only. Until someone answers, the block says "The question will be asked with the first observation written in this class."

Only the lead teacher of the class can change this setting. A collaborator sees the switch but cannot use it, with "Only the classroom's lead teacher can change this setting." If LinoClass shows "Could not save the setting. Try again.", the switch goes back to where it was. Tap it again.

Edit an observation​

  1. Open the observation from the portfolio or the student's page.
  2. Tap "Edit". The "Edit the observation" form opens with the title and the text.
  3. Correct it, then tap "Save".

The domains of an existing observation change right on its page, in the "Developmental domains" block. Each tap is saved at once.

To delete an observation, tap the "Delete" bin at the top of its page, then confirm in "Delete this item?". There is no way back.

When saving does not go through​

"Write the observation before saving."​

The "Observation" field is empty. A title alone is not enough.

The counter turns red​

The text is over 4000 characters. LinoClass refuses to save and tells you the limit. Shorten it, or write a second observation.

"The observation could not be saved. Please try again."​

The observation did not leave, often because of the connection. Your text is still in the form. Tap "Save" again.

With several children, LinoClass tells you which ones already have the observation, then "Try again for the others." The second try skips the children already done: none gets the observation twice.

Frequently asked questions​

Can a photo be attached to an observation?

No. An observation is text, with a title and domains. For a photo, add it separately from "Capture", with the same domains.