iSAMS - Attendance capture solution, what do you do?

[Bgmcderm]

Feel free to point me to another post if this is already answered but we are working through a deployment of iSAMS and I need to make a recommendation on the solution to capture the attendance in the class. We will be using the iTeacher portal, so my question is moreso what you have found worked best for this in terms of

 

- what device to use (tablet, phone, laptop)?

- provided by the school or BYOD, or a device that remains in the classroom ?

- does it meet the expectations of the teachers taking the attendance (ease of use)?

 

many thanks...

[drewp]

We use iSAMS and take registers at every lesson.

 

You can have one AM register, one PM register and unlimited "Other" registers, we have a form tutor sessions which we use as "AM" and "PM" then use "other" for each lesson.

 

The registration rules can be set up so they are based on set lists, as long as the set lists are correct and timetabled you should see the correct pupils when you take registers.

 

Our Teachers use desktop computers in classrooms, we also have the iTeacher App on BYOD (iOS and Android) which can be faster to take a register.

[Bgmcderm]

Many thanks for that Drew, much appreciated.

Would you happen to have any stats (guesses even) on how long it takes for a teacher to log in and take the register start to finish when using their own device? Do you use 2FA for authentication, does this present a barrier for the teachers logging in, and finally, are there any data concerns/considerations for teachers accessing the pupil data from personal devices?

 

Thanks again, Brian

[drewp]

I would guess it would take approx. 1 minute to take a register on their own device.

We do use 2FA with personal devices, you can tick a box to remember the 2FA on the device for 7 days.

[TechMonkey]

2FA can be set to not be necessary on site, you set your school IP as a trusted network.

If staff are allowed to use mobile phones then there is a staff app that can take registers. We've not pushed it but I know some staff do use it. Data is kept within the app and so is secure. I can't remember if that is an extra cost though.

[Danp]

AM and PM only here (at the moment). 2FA not needed when on school network. All staff are provided with a Chromebook which they carry around with them but most are based in the same room.

 

Assuming the device is already on, time it takes to open iSAMS in Chrome, sign in, open 'take a register' from the Wizard Bar, find their tutor group, mark them accordingly takes under 2 minutes, probably less.

[Bgmcderm]

Appreciate the feedback folks, I guess the solution that works best can be different for different schools depending on the infrastructure, iSAMS options selected, tech savviness of the staff etc etc ... If anyone else has a solution that works really well for their school for iSAMS attendance capture please do share it here, thanks!