1. How is SimplyClick used within school?
Each school can be different in terms of their culture and how they communicate and work with one another. Therefore, we work closely with schools to best fit SimplyClick to their school needs. We advise schools to set guidelines on how SimplyClick can be used within the school by sharing best practice from other schools.
For example, some schools assign champions or departments to support the provision of specific school information in the specific content areas. Schools have also set out guidelines on how SimplyClick messages will be dealt with by teachers and staff. Curriculum queries would go to the teachers while School questions would be sent to the Administrator. Discussion boards/forums would be the responsibility of all users as it is the one place for the community to speak.'
2. What other benefits have schools seen since using SimplyClick?
Less paper is used
Less telephone calls from parents to schools.
Homework being completed ontime
More interaction from pupils.
For example: pupils who were shy and didn't talk to other students now found a medium that they could use to get involved and share their ideas with other SimplyClick users.
One student was in the process of changing schools because they were being bullied. SimplyClick had only been in school for a couple of weeks when the student decided to start a discussion on bullying with the following comments, “Bullying, why do people do it?“.
By asking this simple question, a debate had begun and immediately, support was coming in from the whole community of users (administrators, teachers, fellow students, parents). Because of this support, the student realised that they did have friends and ultimately decided to stay at the school rather than to move on. They have now started a bullying club for other students needing support.
Improving in KS2-KS3 transition for Year 6 to Year 7 in schools
Improvement in the strategies of Lifelong Learning and th support of Mentors
Providing means to link to International schools
Providing means to link to local businesses
3. How long does it take to get the system up and running?
For a typical school (Primary or Secondary), the SimplyClick system takes 7 working days to get the system up and running for the school to use. Larger organisations such as that for an Authority may take longer dependent upon the implementation strategy proposed by the organisation.
4. What support is offered to the school?
We provide complete hosting of the platform. There are no software/hardware installation requirements. Your school community can be on-line within 7 working days.
A SimplyClick Usersguide will be provided for the Systems Administrator and key staff. In addition, an easy to use guide will be available online for teachers, pupils and parents.
Free online/call support to our Support Desk.
Will SimplyClick cause more work for teachers?
From our experiences with SimplyClick teachers, the platform actually saves them time and has reduced their workload. By having one central, easy-to-use system, information exchange is quick and concise.
For example, Mrs Armitage, Head of Year 11 from Pudsey Grangefield School in Leeds, stood up at a school conference and told her fellow teachers :
“Whoever isn’t using SimplyClick should start because it’s so simple to use and has saved me so much time. I am now so much more organised thanks to SimplyClick”.
My teachers may be concerned with running multiple systems side-by-side.
SimplyClick will work along side most education/information systems and is intended to help complement how a school operates. Our platform is robust and flexible enabling areas that can be switched on/off so that it best fits the teacher’s and school’s working environment. The SimplyClick platform will be able to evolve as the school’s needs change.
What happens if not all families have access to the internet?
This question is often asked and schools have addressed this issue in a number of ways:
Given the importance of providing greater access to getting online, schools have opened up their ICT Suite after school to allow students and parents to access the equipment.
Local/National government has provided additional resources for access through the local libraries, community and learning centres.
Access through Internet Cafés
PC/Laptop rental programmes
Overall, SimplyClick provides strong rationale to get parents interested in getting online because they have a greater opportunity to participate in their child’s education.
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