FAQs
Are there any size limitations when uploading work to a gateway?
There is a 10MB per file limit by default this can be altered as a global setting by the institution. There are no limits on the number of items that can be published to a Gateway.
Can external examiners give feedback on work?
PebblePad allows external examiners to give feedback on work that has been uploaded on a gateway. An external examiner can be given the permission to access a gateway by the administrator of the gateway even if the examiner does not have a PebblePad account.
Can I customise the tools?
The tools in PebblePad can be customised at a cosmetic level with regards to changing the labels, texts, hints and colour etc. There are also creation tools within the system for building bespoke forms and skill/competency/audit profiles. These easy to use tools make it possible to cater for the needs of very diverse user groups within an institution.
Can I share my work with someone who does not have a PebblePad account?
Work can be shared with individuals who do not have PebblePad accounts via the "external share" feature which allows the external user to view the asset being shared as a website. Assets can be shared with external users or without password protection.
Can PebblePad be accessed externally i.e. outside of the institution?
PebblePad can be accessed externally, the user will need Internet access and Flash installed on their computer.
Can PebblePad be customised depending on the institutional needs?
Some of the features in PebblePad can be customised according to the requirements of the institution. Some installations have purpose built entry wizards some have bespoke interfaces and others link to specialist software within the institution. At a simpler level all of the text labels in PebblePad are drawn from separate text files which can be easily customised by the institution.
Does PebblePad have any form of online/offline synchronisation?
Our next version will include a desktop version but thats not due until 2011. You can use external blog tools to craft entries offline and then post them to your PebblePad blog when next online.
Does PebblePad have PDA support?
Whilst we do not fully support PDA or mobile use we do make freely available a WML/HTML/XHTML mobile version available for handheld devices that have internet connectivity. There is also an application for Windows smart phones running Windows Mobile 2003 or later with Microsofts .Net Compact Framework which is available for free.
Does PebblePad support any means of carrying out assessments?
PebblePad is used extensively for assessments including individual, group and peer assessments. Institutional assessment processes are primarily supported through our Gateways. Work on Gateways can be locked to prevent editing after selected deadlines accessed by selected others for assessment, moderation and external examination and can be archived for QA purposes.
Does PebblePad support Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI)?
Whilst there are no current standards for flash accessibility we are implementing WAI comparable standards in PebblePad. The version of PebblePad to be released in July 08 provides built in texttospeech and screenreading features in additional to full user control over colour schemes and font types.
How are gateways used?
Gateways can be thought of as an institutional space, the place where assets can be published for viewing by other users such as tutors or peers. Access is controlled by permissions so some Gateway users may be able to publish items but not view other peoples work whilst other users may be able view each others work. This means that Gateways can have a wide range of uses including assessment submission, mentoring, sharing items with a group or personal tutoring.
How do I report a problem in the system or request a new feature?
Problems in the system can be reported by administrators of the organisation or institution who have access to the PebblePad customer support area. This facility allows them to download PebblePad updates, report errors in the system, give feedback and submit feature requests. It also allows access to help movies, tipsheets, FAQs and other support related materials.
The PebblePad customer support area is primarily for staff involved in implementing or supporting PebblePad and requires a username and password to log in.
How do I upload a file?
Go to the "upload file" menu and select the appropriate option, in most cases this will be to upload a single file You will then be able to add the title description and tags before choosing the "upload file" icon and if required send it to a person or gateway It will automatically be saved in your asset store.
How does it scale i.e. does it support a highavailability configuration?
PebblePad has been used in implementations with up to 300,000 potential users please contact us at enquires@pebblelearning if you are interested in large scale deployments.
How much am I able to store in my PebblePad account?
There is no limit on the number of PebblePad assets that can be created only file storage is measured. Some institutions use quotas to limit the total space used for file uploads and this can be managed globally within groups or at an individual level. If quotas are enabled the free space remaining will be displayed on the home pad.
How much does a PebblePad account cost?
To give you a broad idea our prices range from £20.00 for individual accounts hosted by us to as little as £1.00 per user for our largest customers hosting PebblePad themselves. For largescale enterprise use you can expect to pay between £1.50 and £2.50. For institutions considering PebblePad please contact us on enquiries@pebblepad.co.uk so that we can provide a quote which is tailored to your specific needs.
How much does PebblePad cost?
We are trying to be realistic with our pricing and so are setting prices dependent on the size of the institution. Feedback from some of our customers indicates that the annual cost of PebblePad is 60-70% cheaper than even simple paper-based systems.
We now offer hosting for smaller institutions and for pilot projects and offer incremental licensing to allow you time to develop your eportfolio population.
To find out more about pricing for your institution please contact us.
I am a tutor and I want to take an RSS feed from a Gateway. I've tried my usual aggregator but it doesn't seem to work. Can you help me configure this?
To take an RSS feed from a Gateway you need to use an aggregator that supports logging in. Two suitable options are Feedreader (http://www.feedreader.com/) and NetVibes (http://www.netvibes.com) as both allow you to enter your username and password.
I am an administrator and I am having problems resetting a password
A user can generate a reminder of their password from the login screen. However, if this does not solve the matter or for other general administrative issues please contact us at support@pebblelearning.co.uk
I cannot log into my PebblePad account!
Make sure you use the correct username and password
If you have forgotten your password click on the link below the login form to receive a new one
Check the URL to confirm that you are trying to log into the correct installation of PebblePAD for example http//wwwpebblepadcouk/myInstitutionName
Make sure your browser has JavaScript and cookies enabled and runs the most recent version of Flash All of these settings can be checked here: http://www.pebblelearning.co.uk/browsercheck.asp
I cannot publish my asset to a particular gateway.
Assets can be published to a gateway by selecting 'send to gateway' and clicking on the Unit name in the structure followed by the green tick. If an error message is displayed you may not have permission to publish to that particular gateway. You will only be able to publish to the gateways of the Units you are taking.
I have deleted an asset from my asset store by accident!
If you click on the view menu and then view all, you will see a list of your assets. In the tab at the top of the list you will see ''my assets'', ''browse by type'' appears as you hover the mouse over the arrow. Click on the arrow to access the sort tools which allow you to sort items using a range of different options. Click on the dustbin icon and all your deleted items will be listed Click on an item and use the undelete option to return it to your asset store. Any deleted assets that have been shared will not be visible to those you have shared it with. If you undelete a shared asset this will be reinstated.
I have lost or forgotten my password.
Click on the link "Forgotton your password" under the login form where you will be asked to enter your username. A new password will be emailed to you. You can the change your password to something more memorable.
I want to change my password.
Click on the "Change your password" link under the login form. You will be asked to enter your old password and confirm your new password. The next time you log in you can use your new password. Be sure to make it something you will easily remember and something which is secure eg includes numbers as well as letters.
I want to publish an asset eg an action plan meeting or webfolio to a Gateway!
Assets are the items in the eportfolio that you can create yourself such as action plans meetings and webfolios using the "create new menu" To get these viewed/marked by the tutor you can publish the asset to the relevant gateway On the endpad click send to Gateway Select the appropriate gateway from the list and click the green tick to publish it.
I want to upload some video to PebblePad, are there any file size limitations I should know about?
There is no actual limit on the size of files you can upload to the server, although the size of the file you can upload depends on your connection speed. The server opens a connection for a fixed period of time and so the size of the file you can upload depends on amount of data you are able to transfer in that time.
For example, a dial up connection would only manage to upload a small file whilst a university connection at 100mb for instance would upload a file much larger. One thing to remember when putting large files into/onto your eportfolio is the kind of connection that the person viewing any shared files/assets might have. If they have a slow connection speed then viewing large files will inevitably take longer than smaller ones.
PebblePad does not open.
You may need to click on the yellow pop-up bar at the top of your browser to allow the pop-up. If the problem persists contact your centres IS department to check your pop-up blockers or alternatively hold down the Ctrl key when you click on the links.
Somebody has shared an asset with me but I can't see it
Be sure to view your shared assets on the 'view' menu rather than your own assets. A record of shared assets which have not yet been viewed should also appear on your current e-portfolio activity when you first log in. If you still can't see the asset, check with the person sharing the asset with you whether they have selected the correct username and set the appropriate permissions.
What about Open Standards?
Whilst we argue against Open Source we absolutely support Open Standards. PebblePad is based on XML and uses a range of web-services to communicate with it's database. All of the assets are mapped against the emerging ePortfolio Standards and web outputs are CSS compliant.
We expect to develop and/or support links with a range of Management Information Systems and to support importing/exporting of assets created in other eportfolio-like systems. PebblePad supports Shibboleth authentication and RSS.
What authentication protocols does PebblePad support?
PebblePad supports the following:
LDAP with group support on Active Directory, any database which is supported by .NET with group support and prepopulation of About Me, single signon from Blackboard, WebCT, Moodle and SITS, and Shibboleth.
What happens to my account once I leave the institution that provides me with PebblePad access?
If you are leaving the institution the work saved in PebblePad can be exported in different formats according to your intended future use. Some institutions provide ongoing access for their graduates and some professional bodies also use PebblePad for their members use. You can also purchase a personal account and import your work into that if you want to carry on using PebblePad.
What has been put in place to ensure the information saved in the system is secure?
The system is designed to ensure that other users can only access assets if they have been granted permission to do so, this includes tutors and administrators. We also perform nightly offsite backups to ensure we can cope with server failures or other situations in which data might be lost.
What kind of APIs/integration does PebblePad have?
PebblePad uses a SOAP webservice as the main interface to the portfolio through the Flash interface this is available to an authenticated user and could be used to access the users portfolio from another system.
We are planning to add support for the Atom Publishing Protocol to provide a simpler standard compliant way to interact with PebblePad.
PebblePad also supports RSS feeds for following information: Portfolio status, blogs, assets that have been shared with a user, comments on an asset and the contents of a Gateway
What's the link with the University of Wolverhampton?
Pebble Learning has worked closely with the university since being formed. Pebble's directors still work and teach at the university and all of Pebble's team are graduates of the university. The University of Wolverhampton initially approached Pebble Learning to discuss electronic provision for personal development planning. Pebble demonstrated some software already developed as well as some conceptual designs which were very well received by staff at the University. These designs and ideas were developed further by Pebble with some input from staff at the University to create the initial version of PebblePad.
Where to go for general ''How to'' questions?
General queries on how to use PebblePad can be answered on our PebblePad Online Help page at http://www.pebblepad.co.uk/help/2.5.0 This can also be accessed from within PebblePad by clicking the help icon on the lower right hand corner of the pad.
Who are Pebble Learning?
Pebble Learning are an independent limited company "spun-out" in 2002 by two eLearning specialists. Pebbles principle area of activity has been the mentoring of staff to develop their confidence, competence and understanding of eLearning. After some frustration with the quality of existing eLearning software Pebble decided in 2003 to expand its operation by employing additional designers, programmers and specialist e-mentors and began to develop software to support learning.
Will PebblePad be available as Open Source software?
PebblePad has received no public funding for its development. Its functionality and appeal is the product of considerable investment and the (long, hard) work of a dedicated team. So, PebblePad will be available as a commercial offering from Pebble and the UoW but it will be sensibly priced. The benefits of a commercial product are numerous but the most obvious ones are a clear product development plan with a dedicated team and reliable product support.
Won't I be better off using an Open Source option rather than PebblePad?
We don't think so, but we would say that wouldn't we! In an ideal world Open Source is a great idea, in reality there is no such thing as a free lunch! Open source software is not really free. You will have to support the software yourself and develop local custom facilities in house.
This typically means you'll have to employ a highly skilled member of staff to look after your system. This alone will cost you more than PebblePad and you'll still have no local support for the 5 weeks a year when your staff member is on annual leave! The other problem with open source solutions is that they often get stuck. For example funding comes to an end and no one is available to make a concerted effort to take the product forward, lead developers get moved to other positions or other projects, technical support, if any is available, is usually at best via email on a best endeavour basis.
So all in all we think you will get a better service by paying for your software.
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