MIS Teacher Apps

[Aftab_Ahmed]

I have read with interest on other forums, how various MIS providers have built in Teacher Apps to allow the ability to undertake various MIS related tasks.

 

How are other schools embracing this, and are you allowing Apps to run on personal devices which potentially has access to sensitive data, therefore ensuring GDPR is met.

 

Are there any apps that have proven to work effectively with MIS systems and has anyone encountered any GDPR issues?

 

Many thanks

[Oaktech]

We enable the bromcom teacher app for school devices. It works well enough for day to day things.

 

We certainly don't encourage the use of the MIS or the app on personal devices. Their have been a couple of times, mainly for school trips where it has become necessary to access pupil data in an emergency and the staff know to do this via the website in incognito mode so the data is removed at the end of the session.

[William1]

Hi,

 

I would also be interested to hear other schools position on this.

[synaesthesia]

This is wider than just MIS data; after all, it's been accessible for years on personal devices whether in someone's pocket, on their tablet, on their home PC, or the public library PC they've logged onto whilst on holiday abroad. The same goes for shared file access, 365/Workspace data, email - all of which can include special category data and therefore the data protection aspects should already be in place from a policy perspective. Risk mitigation should be in place for these - requiring biometric/pin authentication to unlock the device, a "work profile" on personal devices, 2FA etc.

[William1]

Agreed. But just taking one example. A teacher app could have and does have biometric/pin but what happens if the app is left logged on. I suppose it the same theory if someone left themselves logged on signed in with 2fa on a shared computer... Just the risk might be more.

[synaesthesia]

You can't eliminate the risk, only do as much as you can to reduce it - otherwise we'd be in the dark ages.

[Aftab_Ahmed]

I suppose this all then links back to the schools cyber security policy and plan to ensure that data is accessible in a safe and secure manner.

Have many of you started to undertake a cyber security audit -especially with MIS systems being online?

[molitor]

We use iSAMS, which has its own iTeacher app. They are discontinuing this however in favour of a dynamic web app. So basically, accessing via a browser. The advantage is that all devices will have the same functionality, which isn't the case at the moment and will obviously make development easier and standardised at iSAMS. It's not an app but users can add a shortcut to their device home screen so that it is easier to access.

[paulkerton]

It's not an app but users can add a shortcut to their device home screen so that it is easier to access.

 

They could easily just package it as an app with a wrapper, to help with discoverability!

[Quark]

I personally think it's enough to be able to access on any device, whether it's an app or a browser. Most providers allow for responsive design (at least in the demo's I've seen), which means in theory it works on any device

[Synkrox]

We use Bromcom teacher app - it's recently had a lick of paint. It's OK, not amazing, but OK.

 

All our staff have school issued and managed mobiles, so they can stay in touch with 3CX and use the Teacher app for registers/dinners/behaviour etc amongst all the usual stuff.

 

I am reluctant to ask anyone to use their own devices for anything. We actively block connections from unmanaged devices.