Information Technology Update – February 7, 2019

Year 7 and Year 10 1:1 devices

2019 sees the continuation of the 1:1 eLearning device program. The year commenced with two very busy days with our new Junior and Middle school students setting up their iPads, while new Senior School students received laptops as they started the laptop program. This is a very exciting time for our students as they learn how to use a new device and become familiar with its use in the classroom. Our 1:1 Co-ordinator, Mr Ian Fernee, quoted Spiderman to the students, -‘with great power comes great responsibility’ as they were reminded of their obligations to use the devices responsibly and stepped through the ICT Responsible Use and Classroom Protocols.

While the days were successful with the vast majority of students already working with their device in the classroom, there will inevitably be small issues that arise. If your son has expressed any concern with configuration of software on his device please encourage him to speak to his Homeroom teacher so they can be helped in a timely manner.

eDiary for 1:1 Devices Years 7 – 12

2019 will again see all students at the College accessing the App4 eDiary on their own device. App4 replaces a hard copy diary and is available on the iPads through the App4 student app and as a web portal on the Year 10, 11 and 12 Spectre notebooks. Teachers are able to set homework and assignments for their students which are automatically pushed out to the student’s App4 app or web portal. Teachers can also send notes to students and add events on the calendar which will also automatically appear in the student App4 eDiary.

One of the great features of the eDiary is that parents are able to access App4 to check their son’s homework, assignments or any notes sent by the teacher. You can do this simply by opening the app on your son’s iPad or you can install the App4 for Parents app on your own iPad or iPhone from the AppStore. Alternatively, you can access the App4 portal on any device using a web browser.

The following outlines the functionality and setup of App4.

App4 for Students eDiary

The App4 for Students eDiary app is installed on all student iPads and is accessible through a browser on the Year 10, 11 and 12 notebooks and has a number of excellent features. The eDiary allows students to check their timetable, homework, assignments and any notes that may have been sent to them by their teacher. The eDiary also allows the boys to have quick access to official school documents such as various agreements the boys have signed off on. The -‘Info’ tab provides the boys with access to a variety of information on a range of topics such as College uniform, Homework policy and bell times. Parents can access all of this information three different ways:

-¢through the App4 for Students app on your son’s iPad (for Years 7. 8 and 9 parents)

-¢through the App4 for Parents app on your own iPad

-¢through the App4 Parent portal (http://stpats.app4.ws/parent/index.php)

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You can download a Quick Start Guide which covers the main features of App4 from http://ipads.stpats.vic.edu.au/app4.html There is also more information for parents at the App4 website at http://www.app4software.com.au/app4parents.php

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Creating an App4 Parent Access Code/Password

To access your son’s homework using the App4 for Parents app on your own iPad you will first need to create a Parent Access Code/password. This can be created a couple of ways. One way is by using the App4 app on your son’s iPad. Simply open App 4 and click on the -‘About Me’ link on the home page and access the -‘Parent’ tab where you can create the parent access code. It is important that the parent access code you create is complex and difficult to guess. Once the parent access code is created you will be able check and even sign-off on your son’s homework. Instructions on how to create the parent access code/password and setting up the App4 for Parents app on your own iPad can be found on http://ipads.stpats.vic.edu.au/app4.html

Alternatively, you can go to the App4 Parent login page http://stpats.app4.ws/parent/index.php and create a new parent login code. You will need to ask your son to enter their student username and password and you will be able to create your own password to login.

Checking your son’s Homework on App4

Accessing and checking your son’s homework using the App4 app is quite easy to do. Again, you can do it using the App4 app on your son’s iPad, the App4 for Parents app on your iPad or the App4 Parent Portal. When working on their homework, your son is able to click -‘Start’ when each piece of homework is commenced. Once the homework is completed they can click the -‘Completed’ button. This helps organise their homework into -‘Current’ and -‘Completed’ categories. Once you access the app, you can check your son’s current, completed and signed-off homework. To sign-off on your son’s homework you will be asked to enter your parent access code which is discussed above. Instructions on accessing your son’s homework through App4 can be downloaded from http://ipads.stpats.vic.edu.au/app4.html

App4 available through Web Portal

Parents can also access their son’s App4 iPad eDiary though a web portal on any device that has a browser by going to this URL http://stpats.app4.ws/parent/index.php

However, it is recommended that you do not use the Internet Explorer browser as there are some issues accessing the site with this browser. To access the App4 parent web portal you will need to have setup your Parent Access Code/password first. Instructions on how to do this can be found at http://ipads.stpats.vic.edu.au/app4.html or you can create a login at http://stpats.app4.ws/parent

For instructions on using the App4 parent web portal go to http://ipads.stpats.vic.edu.au/app4.html

App4 Login Details

To login to App4 you will need to supply three things:

School Identifier: stpats

Username: Student ID Number

Password: Parent Access Code/Password

You will need to know the ID of your son which is the username for their App4 eDiary. The school identifier is always -‘stpats’ for all students and parents.

Switching App4 for multiple Sons

You are able to use App4 to check on all of your children at the College. You will need to create a Parent Access Code/password for each son so that you can switch between your son’s diaries. It is a good idea to perhaps use the same Parent Access Code/password for each son for ease of switching. You will also need to know the College ID for each of your sons to enter at the login screen.