BonSAI
BonSAI is a software application for schools to assist with the allocation of SAIs. It was designed by the Analysis and Evaluation Unit of the Queensland Studies Authority. The purpose of the program is to allow teachers to assign subject achievement indicators (SAIs) to students in a more realistic and convenient way. BonSAI allows teachers to use the existing data from the School Data Capture System (SDCS) to check or generate SAI distributions for subjects.
The program allows users to modify SAIs using a natural click and drag interface and displays several graphs representing the SAI distribution. It also performs various checks upon the distribution and calculates the entries for the Form R6.
The BonSAI software is used by the QSA to check SAI distributions, so the checks used by schools are the same as performed by QSA. All data are saved in an internal database so changes can be stored and retrieved later. Distributions generated using BonSAI can also be easily imported back into SDCS.
SAI seminars, including BonSAI demonstration and explanation, are being held in each QSA district during Term 3 and Term 4. See Memorandum 043/08 for details:
Download BonSAI
Download the file and follow the installation instructions below.
Install information
Download the installBonSAI.exe file. Your web browser should allow you to save the file to disk in a directory you select. (We suggest you use a temporary directory, e.g. C:\TMP\ ...)
Navigate to the directory in which you saved the file and open it. You might like to close other programs before you do this. The install program will open. Follow the prompts. The installer will ask you for a directory in which to install the program. Make sure this is a directory to which you can read (access/open) and write (save files/install programs). If you intend to have more than one person run the program over a network, make sure it is in a location that all users can access and that they can write to the directory. A shortcut will be created on your desktop, but any user can run the program by going to the directory where it is located and running the "BonSAI.exe" file.
The demonstration edition has data for an example school. Instructions on how to use the demonstration version are in the UserGuide.pdf file that is installed with the program. You can find the user guide under "Start > BonSAI > UserGuide.pdf". The file is quite large (56 MB), so if you are unable to download the file or you would like a version for another operating system, email analysis_evaluation@qsa.qld.edu.au with your name, school, postal address and what operating system and version you are using (e.g. Windows XP or Ubuntu Linux 7.10). We will post out a CD to you.
If you have problems or enquiries, email analysis_evaluation@qsa.qld.edu.au and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
BonSAI is built on open source software, and so the source code is also available. Email the address above and we will send you out a copy of the source.
BonSAI discussion forum
To help teachers with BonSAI, the QSA has set up an internet discussion forum and group. If you would like to join the group, you can apply by visiting this site:
http://groups.google.com/group/bonsai-qsa. This group is a good place to ask questions about BonSAI and find out how others are using it to help with assigning SAIs.
Last updated: 24 June 2008
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