[sims] Moving from SIMS Gateway to TASC Insight

[Quatermass]

Like some others here we're just about to make this move, with some relief as you can imagine!

 

With Gateway we had a long-winded (LEA-recommended) system whereby parents received a paper letter containing an AUP and their username; they then had to sign and return the AUP in order to receive a second letter containing their password.

 

With the impending Insight rollout we had thought of doing something similar (albeit regarding existing Gateway users as already "signed up") but do you think this is really necessary? Or should we just roll out the full logon details to parents anyway and simply have a disclaimer (link to AUP perhaps) on the logon page?

 

Insight is generally nicer anyway but we'd like to maximise parental goodwill (and therefore takeup) for it - we don't want to replace "Gateway pain" with "changeover pain"...

[Edu-IT]

We did it the first way. Send username by email, confirm receipt, we then send sticker home in child's organiser with password.

[Quatermass]

Did you get parents to physically sign anything or just confirm by email?

[Edu-IT]

We sent out a letter for them to opt in and sign the AUP. Then we did everything else by email / organiser. It gave us the opportunity to explain the system, what measures we'd taken for security, how it works etc. Edited December 10, 2013 by Edu-IT

[Quatermass]

Sounds good; I think we should stick with a physical signing as that's what all our other users do. BTW, am I right in thinking Insight passwords don't expire?

[number34]

Why do they need to sign an AUP? You are only showing them data on their child that they are entitled to see. And why do they have to opt in?

[Quatermass]

Yes it's their own data in that sense, but they sign an AUP because they're using one of our ICT services (just like students, staff, governors, visitors etc). What if they tried to exploit that service to try and look at other childrens' data, for example? And, uh, data protection?

[number34]

With Insight they cannot get to data for other pupils, it does not work like that. It is very secure and links only to the data in SIMS or PARS for the pupils that the account is linked to. As to them using one of your ICT services that is an interesting concept as they are only viewing data most of the time. I don't sign an AUP to use iPlayer......

And I think you are right, the passwords do not seem to expire but when a child leaves the school the account is closed next time you synchronise with SIMS.

Edited December 10, 2013 by number34

[Quatermass]

Fair enough. We tend to use AUPs throughout so that we have the flexibility to offer different services (or features of an existing service) which may or may not be more interactive and therefore need them. Not too many child/data protection issues with iPlayer! And although systems like Insight are designed to display only the appropriate data, like any other system (including our network) I think it would be rash to assume they were unhackable, so an AUP is always wise.

[woody]

I think in this scenario, I would be tempted to send a letter home explaining the do's and dont's and consequences of any attempted hacking etc. But also put the login credentials on there. Then have a statement that says they are agreeing to abide by the rules when they log onto the system. You can also have the AUP or whatever as a link on the login page.

 

When you sign up for online banking, you don't have to send a signed AUP or equivalent document back to the bank before they send out your password. They just have a terms and conditions that they push in front of your nose when you sign up.

[Steven_Cleaver]

We have found Insight excellent, we also found setting up students to access Insight extremely beneficial as they can access various information including Time tables, Exams info etc which has been useful and staff admin staff time as well as made students and parents become more involved in discussing Progress, Behaviour etc as they can keep up to date with this info.