As a Web application, the first decision that will need to be made is about hosting. Hosting requirements can be found in the system requirements section of this manual.
If your organization has the proper Windows or Linux server environment that is accessible from the Internet, hosting on your own systems can be an option.
Various providers are available which can host the GRA for a monthly fee.
Setting up multiple programs gives a library system the flexibility to deliver targeted content to varying audiences, while still unified in the same overall campaign. Libraries have the freedom to customize the content of each program, all so that participants can access audience-appropriate activities, badges, and events. Users can self-select which program to enroll in or the system can automatically place them into an age-appropriate program, based on age or school grade.
Setting up multiple programs adds flexibility but increases complexity.
By default in version 4 of the GRA, setting up a single program at the start gives you reading tracking by books (i.e. participants say "I read a book" and get a point). When you select the multi-program initial setup, participants track their reading by minutes read (one minute is one point). You can add and remove programs once you perform the initial setup and you can change whether programs are tracking by books or minutes read.
Creating a single reading program is good if you:
- Are targeting a single age group
- Intend to have the same experience for all participants
- Aren't intending to require a literacy test for only some participants
Several age-specific reading programs are better if you:
- Want to report on age groups differently
- Intend to have Badges, Challenges, and Events specific to age groups