[sims] New to SIMS - Major Problems with SLG - What Are Others Using?

[ronnoco]

Hello,

 

We have recently moved to Hosted SIMS. SIMS ID itself seems to work ok but the SIMS Learning Gateway - I can't believe how bad it is compared to ePortal. We have lots of issues that have been outstanding for weeks and considering we are a new customer, I have really lost my faith in CAPITA and this system to the point where i'm thinking about pulling the plug whilst it's early doors and going with a third party product.

 

We only use SLG for parent access although we would have moved on to giving students access too.

 

My question, what other third party supplies are people using and would you recommend them? I've seen links to Go4Schools and Tasc software Insight. Are they any good? Are there any others?

 

We don't want staff to enter CP data into the third party product though, we simply want to use it to give parents (and if possible, students) access.

 

It seems ridiculous thinking about buying into an alternative product but that's where I am right now.

 

Any answers or advice would be much appreciated.

[2ilent8cho]

When we ran SIMS we had SLG for our Parent Portal initially , but it was awful so moved to INSIGHT from Tasc, it is a much better product.

[ronnoco]

Thank you - can student have logins for Insight too?

[PhilNeal]

@ronnoco I would talk to your account manager as the next generation of SLG is available - Teacher App, Parent App & Student App.

[ronnoco]

Thanks - I did think about that but unfortunately, we've just literally given all of our parents SLG Logins. Also, based on the issues with SLG, i'm not sure it's wise to use newly launched system. If the SLG has been operation for years and has this many issues, it's pretty worrying.

[2ilent8cho]

Thank you - can student have logins for Insight too?

 

Yes, and AD linked too. You just populate a field in each AD account with their MIS ID to marry them up.

[PhilNeal]

@ronnoco Teacher App has been out for several years and gets great reviews. Parent App is new but its been on trial at a number of schools for quite a while - on boarding is very straight forwards.

 

SLG does have its fans BUT not on this forum!!

[Banjo]

@ronnoco Teacher App has been out for several years and gets great reviews. Parent App is new but its been on trial at a number of schools for quite a while - on boarding is very straight forwards.

 

SLG does have its fans BUT not on this forum!!

 

http://netdna.webdesignerdepot.com/uploads/2013/08/81.jpg

[dapaulio]

We use SLG and we have got it to the point where we are happy with it. Granted we have experienced a number of hurdles along the way but all Is good (thru gritted teeth)

Had you asked before deploy SLG I would have said no. Avoid it but now your in I would say grin and bare with it. I think what makes it easier now is i have a routine that makes it alot less a pain to deal with.

We self host sims and SLG. I Trust my servers more than I do capita. And we deploy users to students and parents.

It is a bit of a pain with students as you provision the user's from sims in to ad then consolidate them so that they only have one username and password.

Parents use the sims provisioned accounts.

Eventually we will look to go to teacher and student app as I have heard only good things so far about it

[Mistert89]

Phil, did I read somewhere that SLG will be phased out in favour of the new Parent App?

Incidentally I am proposing to our Head that we run from the SLuG as I think it is awful (and has become flaky) and push Parent App now as it is really really good and overcomes many of the complaints our parents have......

[PhilNeal]

Yes the next generation of SLG is parent, pupil & teacher app.

[Steven_Cleaver]

We also use Insight which has been excellent Attendance, behaviour, Reports, Homework's links well to SIM's good support also has modules for Parent Evening bookings, links to AD for students but as someone has said have a look persevering with SLG now you are on their and Parents are on or take a look at Insight. Or possibly wait till as Phil suggests next generation of "Yes the next generation of SLG is parent, pupil & teacher app." and see if any better.

[Mistert89]

We have run Teacher App for a while, and found it good. We started on the Parent App pilot and also found it good - as well as being so much better than SLG.

My Head has accepted my recommendation this weekend to launch Parent App with our new intake in September, and then to roll it through the rest of the school.