Wonde and GCSEpod

[bobsmith]

Wonde_usertype.xml.txt

 

Learn something new everyday @matt40k

 

Just rename back to .xml and it should hopefully be good to go.

[synaesthesia]

Wonde have just popped up for me, a school has had an email which looks like something a Nigerian scammer would knock up in 2 minutes asking to set up a link for SIMS to Classroom Monitor. I initially said no, I've never heard of them and the email looks awful, and after reading this I've asked them to say no and ask Classroom Monitor to set up via groupcall instead. It doesn't smell right, it doesn't look right. I mean, just no.

 

 

Their website is utter turd with next to no information, and another linked company "Eschools Ltd" that does VLEs, websites etc uses the same, informationless website template. It looks unprofessional. minimalistic and dodgy!

Edited June 8, 2017 by synaesthesia

[bobsmith]

This looks like a school that has already set up Wonde and this is just an approval for them to send the data?

 

Does this school have the Wonde SIMS link software installed?

[synaesthesia]

Nope, first thing they've heard from them. Well, specifically it's the first thing that that member of staff has, so no saying if someone else hasn't agreed to something!

[deKay]

"Diagnostic Questions" use Wonde, it seems. Installing it now, using Bob's group template - thanks!

[deKay]

Hmm. Alarm bells! Had a call back from "Pupil Asset", name given as the same person at Wonde who I'd spoken to. We have no dealings with Pupil Asset.

[Killer_Bot]

Are people happily using Wonde now or is there still some concerns around their processes? We've had a similar request from our Maths team today from "Diagnostic Questions".

[chinesewhispers]

Nope, we're continuing with Groupcall.

[GREED]

Hmm. Alarm bells! Had a call back from "Pupil Asset", name given as the same person at Wonde who I'd spoken to. We have no dealings with Pupil Asset.

 

That's poor form...

[GREED]

Their website is utter turd with next to no information, and another linked company "Eschools Ltd" that does VLEs, websites etc uses the same, informationless website template. It looks unprofessional. minimalistic and dodgy!

 

They are owned/run by the same people.

[Love_Sausage]

Posted this on the other thread mentioning Wonde, we knew in advance they were being tested by our supplier but we had a torrid time getting them to say who they were and correctly identify the software from our supplier. Their first contact is a technical guy who doesnt know anything of your relationship with the supplier, just expects you give them instant full access to your data and server. Needless to say, that didn't happen.

[LeMarchand]

Anything changed in the last few months? Just found out the pig's ear made on our Hyper-V host was by someone installing Wonde for Diagnostic Questions. According to the ICT Co-ordinator, "It's safe because they won't take any data until we say they can."

[bobsmith]

Yep - Wonde wanted more access because their extract wasn't working. I'm still refusing to give them the SIMS permissions they ask for since that's almost as much access as I have!

 

However this time I've had a better explanation of how they are pulling data:

 

1. they are using the API rather than the scheduled reports that get imported to SIMS, so they have access to whatever their permissions grant them access to.

2. they are going to be changing how they access due to the GDPR stuff coming out, but it hasn't happened yet.

[LeMarchand]

Yep - Wonde wanted more access because their extract wasn't working. I'm still refusing to give them the SIMS permissions they ask for since that's almost as much access as I have!

 

However this time I've had a better explanation of how they are pulling data:

 

1. they are using the API rather than the scheduled reports that get imported to SIMS, so they have access to whatever their permissions grant them access to.

2. they are going to be changing how they access due to the GDPR stuff coming out, but it hasn't happened yet.

 

Thanks, sounds like it'll be an "uninstall and tell them to come back when they've sorted themselves out properly" then. (Especially as I think this is primarily a vanity project).

[Michael]

Wonde and Groupcall XoD are very similar services, but it's interesting a lot of providers seem to be looking at Wonde. I believe their API is simpler than Groupcall's, but then I'm sure cost also has something to do with it somewhere (just pure speculation).

 

Either way, both providers are fully aware of GDPR - they don't have a choice, it will be the law.

[Love_Sausage]

Uninstalled Wonde. Will deal with the aftermath next week. Zero transparency and also zero response to emails.

[LeMarchand]

Luckily I was sitting down when I read the email, because after I reported back based on this thread the school decided to wait before going live with this. Just need to uninstall it now.

[MK-Jester]

What are the current views on Wonde?

 

We are getting pestered by Wonde. Asking to set up a date for its installation on our network. The source of these requests appears to be Softlink (supplier of Oliver library software).

 

I am annoyed by this for many reasons.....

 

1. I never gave my email address nor the librarian's email address to Wonde. Must have been passed to them by Softlink. Who gave them permission?

 

2. Softlink are still developing the interface to Wonde.

 

3. The current arrangement is perfectly acceptable. The library software is updated from SIMS using Groupcall Xporter. This occurs within school and does not need data to be sent externally only to have it pulled back to the school.

 

4. It appears to me that Wonde is going around and aggressively signing up companies. I suspect that they have a campaign that is based on get one application in a school, capture data from SIMS and then convince other applications to sign up because they already have the data.

 

How do we protect the data with Wonde's harvest it all and then control what is passed on? How do Wonde prove that they are secure?

[RichCowell]

My school's recently bought into Hegarty Maths, which uses Wonde, so I've been through the process...

 

I got an email from Hegarty Maths (email address provided by the head of maths) notifying me that they use Wonde to sync data, and that I would hear from them directly.

 

I got an email from Wonde to explain and to schedule the installation, which went as planned - they have a portal to show all the software linked to your school and which data it uses etc. - he said something about that not being available for all yet but it's being rolled out.

 

I can't comment about how secure everything is at their end obviously, but as far as the installation / experience goes from my point of view, it was really quick and painless...

[djrscally]

What are the current views on Wonde?

 

We are getting pestered by Wonde. Asking to set up a date for its installation on our network. The source of these requests appears to be Softlink (supplier of Oliver library software).

 

I am annoyed by this for many reasons.....

 

1. I never gave my email address nor the librarian's email address to Wonde. Must have been passed to them by Softlink. Who gave them permission?

 

2. Softlink are still developing the interface to Wonde.

 

3. The current arrangement is perfectly acceptable. The library software is updated from SIMS using Groupcall Xporter. This occurs within school and does not need data to be sent externally only to have it pulled back to the school.

 

4. It appears to me that Wonde is going around and aggressively signing up companies. I suspect that they have a campaign that is based on get one application in a school, capture data from SIMS and then convince other applications to sign up because they already have the data.

 

How do we protect the data with Wonde's harvest it all and then control what is passed on? How do Wonde prove that they are secure?

 

In your position I'd just reply to Wonde and tell them you have no interest in using their service and that Xporter is working fine for you. Unless Softlink have indicated to you that they'll discontinue their support for Xporter in the future.

 

I suppose they prove they're secure by promising faithfully in their terms of service and so on; that's not really any different from anyone else though.

[GREED]

In your position I'd just reply to Wonde and tell them you have no interest in using their service and that Xporter is working fine for you. Unless Softlink have indicated to you that they'll discontinue their support for Xporter in the future.

 

Please check with the vendor (i.e. Softlink in this case) that they have authorised Wonde to act on behalf of them, and to contact you.

 

Also worth checking that the vendor has exclusivity with Wonde, or they give you the option to use either Wonde or keep Xporter.

 

Obviously treat anything I say as sceptical, working for Groupcall and all, but this is just helpful advice. We have had reports from both schools and vendors where 'enforcing' an installation and removal of Xporter was more optional than mandatory.

[MrMat]

We've had a couple of schools start using it (for OTrack) but we refused to grant all the permissions they were requesting. I spoke to OTrack directly and found out exactly what information their software needed and thats all the permissions i gave to the Wonde user. Seems to be working fine and Wonde don't have access to any info they don't require (hooray!).

[djrscally]

We've had a couple of schools start using it (for OTrack) but we refused to grant all the permissions they were requesting. I spoke to OTrack directly and found out exactly what information their software needed and thats all the permissions i gave to the Wonde user. Seems to be working fine and Wonde don't have access to any info they don't require (hooray!).

 

Yeah, I did the same. Just found out what the company actually needs and only granted Wonde access to those things - has been working without a hitch since setup (the Wonde part anyway).

[MrMat]

Yeah, I did the same. Just found out what the company actually needs and only granted Wonde access to those things - has been working without a hitch since setup (the Wonde part anyway).

Yeah I just find it absolutely mad that they just blindly ask for all the permissions regardless of what the app is going to be used for.

 

In their current guidance docs they ask for:

a. Assessment Co-Ordinator

b. Personnel Officer

c. School Administrator

d. Senior Management Team

e. Third Party Reporting

 

Which gives them access to practically everything. I just don't understand how they can justify it.

[GREED]

Yeah I just find it absolutely mad that they just blindly ask for all the permissions regardless of what the app is going to be used for.

 

Which gives them access to practically everything. I just don't understand how they can justify it.

 

It is good that you and so many are asking these questions