Information Technology Update – February 18, 2016

eDiary for 1:1 Devices Years 7 – 12

2016 will see all students at the College with their own 1:1 device for the first time. One of the key apps the College will continue to use in 2016 is the App4 eDiary. App4 replaces the hard copy diary that has been used in the past and is available on the iPads through and App4 student app and as a web portal on the Year 10 Spectre notebooks. As last year, teachers are able to set homework and assignments for their students which automatically appear in the student App4 app or web portal. Teachers can also send notes to students 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 your 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. Alternatively, you can access the App4 portal on any device using a web browser. To use the parent app on your own iPad or access the App 4 portal you will first need to create a Parent Access Code/Password.

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 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 previously found in the -‘hard copy’ diary on a variety 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

• through the App4 for Parents app on your own iPad

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

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

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 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.

Mr Mark Holland

Director of ICT