Parents can now use their phone to monitor child’s school performance

Parents at Scotch College can now monitor their child’s class attendance, homework load, upcoming assessments and test results all from their smartphone, tablet or laptop thanks to a new online system to better engage parents in their child’s education.

Believed to be a first for independent schools in South Australia, the leading-edge SEQTA Learning Management System (LMS) provides every parent with a unique username and password to log on anywhere at any time to track their child’s school progress.

Parents can also check their child’s class timetable, unexplained absences and school notices and communicate directly with their child’s teacher online.

The innovative LMS software also enables teachers to manage lesson planning, student welfare, attendance, marking and reporting while engaging parents and students in an interactive community.

For students, the new system allows them to view timetables, homework requirements, school notices and messages from their teachers. They can also complete assessments online and view results and comments from teachers about their assignments.

Scotch College Principal Tim Oughton says the high-tech system – which has been rolled out across Scotch’s Torrens Park Campus for Year 7-12 students – has been designed and implemented to provide greater access for mums and dads, and to encourage greater involvement from parents in their child’s education.

“The new system allows students and parents to login securely at their leisure whether that’s after work or at home on the weekend to check grades, homework requirements, calendar notices and school announcements among other things,” said Mr Oughton, who said the system has been in the planning phase for two years.

“Teachers can also send progress reports and messages directly to parents and students, as well as share teaching programs with other classes and observe academic trends.”

“It is making life much more efficient for teachers, while parents have been given a terrific opportunity to involve themselves in their child’s education like never before.

“For example, parents can now use their username and password to login and view their child’s homework assignment in real time and then log back in the following day or week to check the grade their child received for that particular assignment.”

The LMS has also been embraced by boarding school parents such as Sarah Heinjus from the Clare Valley whose son Ben currently boards at Scotch as a Year 9 student.

“As a boarding parent, the new LMS really helps me be a part of Ben’s academic journey at Scotch,” she said.

“When he is upset or excited about a grade he has received, I have been able to speak to him about all the reasons that may have led to that grade. I can then counsel him to help him set aside more time in the future, or look at what critical information might have been missing, or look at why he did so well so he can repeat it next time.

“The LMS has also helped me better communicate ways for him to really make a significant improvement in his next submission or assignment.

“As assessment criteria for all Ben’s assignments are also available, even as a remote parent I can help Ben with his assignments. I might not be there in person, but I can still be nearly as involved as I would be if Ben was living at home. It just gives me the opportunity for that extra connection that can be reduced in a boarding situation.

“It certainly is very different from waiting until parent teacher meetings to find his science or maths teachers to understand why Ben is or isn’t doing so well with his studies. I can respond much quicker if required.”

Mr Oughton says the LMS continues Scotch’s leading role in embracing new technologies to enhance student education.

“We’re really excited to be leading the way once again with new technology that puts our staff, students and parents at the forefront of IT accessibility,” he said.

“Ever since we introduced our pioneering laptop program in 1993, which now sees every Middle and Senior School student equipped with a laptop that is connected to the college’s own wireless network, Scotch has continued to explore new ways to enhance student education.

“This new learning management system is a fantastic online solution that enables us to combine the incredible power of learning at school with learning that takes place at home, with a clear goal to enhance the education of students and help their progression as young people.”

ISSUED BY HUGHES PUBLIC RELATIONS: Please contact
Kieran Hall on 0422 147 151 or kieran@hughespr.com.au