Description and Utility
Focus Settings provide myFolio admins the ability to assign employee-specific action items, distinct from the broader community-wide Milestones (such as setting a Goal). This allows admins to set more personalized professional growth requirements for specific individuals or groups within the school.
There are three types of Focus Settings that myFolio admins can apply to employees:
-
Observation: This Focus can be used for tracking up to three distinct observations. Examples of Observation types include an Informal Observation, a Formal Observation, a Department Chair Observation, and so forth.
-
Mid-Cycle Conversation: This Focus is used to facilitate a mid-cycle conversation or review with the employee. This Focus type is typically set to ensure a formal conversation takes place around the midpoint of a school cycle to assess progress, adjust goals, and address concerns.
-
Project: This Focus is used for assigning and documenting specific projects or tasks. Projects are typically time-bound to the current cycle year.
How to Set Up Focus Settings
To set up Focus Settings for employees, myFolio admins need to follow a multi-step process that involves toggling the Focuses on, activating them as Milestones, and setting dates for their implementation via the Milestone Timeline.
Step 1: Toggle Focus on in the Customization Manager
- Go to the Customization Manager page by selecting "Customizations" from the Manage dropdown bar.
- Toggle on the specific Focus types (Observation, Mid-Cycle Conversation, and Project) that you wish to apply to your employees. This action activates the Focus for use within your school community.
- Click the "Update" button at the bottom of the page.
Step 2: Set Focus as an Active Milestone in the Milestone Manager
- Once the Focus has been toggled on in the Customization Manager page, go to the Milestone Manager page by selecting "Milestones" from the Manage dropdown bar.
- Toggle on the Mid-Cycle Conversation, Observation (up to three), and Project Milestones accordingly in order to activate them as active Milestones.
- Click the "Update" button at the bottom of the page.
Step 3: Set a Date for Each Focus in the Milestone Timeline
- Navigate to the Milestone Timeline page by selecting "Milestone Timeline" from the Manage dropdown bar.
- Enter a due date for each individual Milestone in accordance with your implementation timeline (e.g., when an Observation should occur or when a Project should be completed).
- Note that you can apply a unique name to each Observation Milestone on this page.
- Click the "Update" button at the bottom of the page.
Step 4: Assign Focus to Employees
- Navigate to the Focus Settings page by selecting "Focus Settings" from the Manage dropdown bar.
- To assign a Focus individually:
- Find the employee to whom you want to assign the Focus and check the respective box next to the Focus type.
- To assign Focus in bulk:
- Filter the Focus Settings page by supervisor or group.
- You can also filter by your direct reports or view all individuals you have access to.
- Once you've filtered the list, you can click the buttons under the "Mass Update" section to assign the respective focus to everyone that matches the filter criteria you designated.
- Click the "Update" button at the bottom of the page
Note that you will be unable to create Notes associated to focus types (i.e. Observation Notes) until the focus has been applied to the employee.