Creating and Using Snippets

What is a snippet?

A snippet is a piece of text you can save to Arbor that you can use wherever you can add a comment to the system. They can be used to ensure comments are consistent across a department and they also save time inputting long responses. Using the merge fields can also prevent misspelling of student names.

Snippets can be used in:

• summative assessment comment boxes
• report card subject comments

Creating a snippet

To add a snippet linked to a summative assessment, go to where you would like to use it. For example, a summative assessment marksheet.

When on the marksheet, make sure you have chosen to display the comment box using the filters at the top of the page. This is the column that you can use snippets with.

To create a snippet, click on a comment box.

This will bring up the comment box. Click the 'Snippets' option.

Click the green New Snippet button.

Choose the name of the snippet, and add your text. You can also add merge fields so the comment will display the student's name.

Choose whether to link the snippet to the assessment you created it from or to the overarching subject. This means you will only be able to use the snippet in these assessments. You can also click the x to remove any links so you can use the snippet in all assessments.

Finally, choose whether to make the snippet available to all staff, or just for you. In my example, all staff who can input marks for the assessment can use the snippet.

Then click Create Snippet.

Using a snippet

To use a snippet, click where you want to add the snippet then select the Snippets option.

For example, in report cards teachers can select a student, then click the Edit/Review button.

They can then add a comment to summarise the student's attainment in the subject they teach for the report card.

To use a snippet in a summative assessment comment boxes, click on the box and the comment box will appear.

Select the snippet you would like to add, then click Insert Snippet. You can also edit or delete the snippets available from here, but note that any changes to the snippet will not affect text already created with the snippet.

If you add a snippet to a field that already has a comment on, it will add the snippet text to the previous comment rather than replacing it. You can add as many different snippets in a comment box as you like.