Difference between revisions of "Category:Configuration"

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=='''Grading'''==
 
=='''Grading'''==
  
====Configure comment bank====
+
====Managing the comment bank====
  
====Configure grade schemes====
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You can '''[[configure comment bank|configure a comment bank]]''' so that staff can select from pre-defined comments when entering grades. Comments can include mail merge fields for a personal touch. <br> <br>
  
====Configure grade elements====
+
====Configure grade schemes (grade sets)====
  
=====Edit PARS grade element=====
+
You may need to '''[[configure grade schemes]]''' before configuring other areas of the grading system. This is not necessary if you are linking SIMS Assessment Manager aspects to PARS. <br>
 +
''A grade scheme is the equivalent of a Grade Set in SIMS - it is a list of grades that can be used by staff i.e. A*, A, B, C, etc.'' <br> <br>
  
=====Bulk add SIMS elements=====
+
====Configure grade elements (aspects)====
  
=====Edit SIMS grade element=====
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Grade elements are the equivalent of Aspects in SIMS Assessment manager. Go to the '''[[configure grading elements]]''' page for instructions and more information. <br> <br>
  
 
=====Custom grading reports=====
 
=====Custom grading reports=====
  
====Key Indicators====
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You can create '''[[custom grading reports]]''' which allow you to choose exactly what data you want to see. You can also include personal details, such as SEN, EAL or Pupil premium. <br> <br>
 +
 
 +
====Creating templates for grading analysis====
 +
 
 +
If you wish to do a grade analysis through PARS Connect, then you will need to configure '''[[key indicators]]''' once your elements have been create (see above). <br> <br>

Revision as of 13:51, 20 June 2014

This category contains a list of the configuration pages found in this wiki.

General

Beginner's guide

getting started.

User permissions

permissions

Global system settings

preferences

Group management

group manager

Notes for the beginning of the academic year

preparing for September

Configuring Heads of Subject

subject leaders

Creating on report cards

on report group management

Default slip (used to generate OUTPUT.xml)

default slip

Importing report and certificate designs

slip designer

Homework categories

assignment categories

Importing IEP designs

IEP writer designs

Technical

Installing PARS Connect

If you have recently purchased PARS, the first thing to do is intall it. Follow our Installing PARS Connect guide for this.

Allowing PARS to access the internet

You will need to configure the proxy server in order for PARS to communicate with other websites. This is important for your licencing and for sending emails or SMS messages through PARS.

Installing Keep Alive

You will need to have the Keep Alive service running for Automation to function. See the installing Keep Alive for instructions about this.

Testing Automation

Once the above has been done you can test automation is working by following the instructions on this page.

Configuring the jobs performed by Automation

To view and manage the jobs that the automation module will perform, go to the job list.

Attendance

Managing custom attendance codes

The Maintain codes feature can used in PARS to create custom attendance codes. This can also be done via SIMS and any custom codes from SIMS will be pulled into PARS.

Taking AM or PM marks from lessons

Mapped periods are used when you want your attendance data from a lesson to write back to a session (for example, period 5 being copied to the PM session). You will need to configure this in SIMS.

Signing in & out, and biometric systems

The instructions on the pupil scan page should be used if you are using a biometric system for attendance.

Global system settings for registers

Registration preferences apply specifically and only to registers, unlike permissions and preferences which apply to all areas of PARS.

Preparing for a fire

The Fire module may need some configuration before use. The fire module keeps a copy of current attendance data in the case of a fire.

Communications

Importing pupils' email addresses

The bulk import emails tool allows you to import email addresses for pupils into your SIMS database, if you have a .csv file with the pupils' email addresses and an identifying number for the pupils, such as the ADNO or UPN.

Configuration for sending SMS messages

If you wish to send SMS messages via PARS then you will need to create an account with Text Anywhere (the SMS provider that we work with) and then enter your account details into PARS. You can access Text Anywhere's website and enter your details into PARS both via the configure SMS page.
Texts from Text Anywhere cost approximately 3 pence each.

You may also need to configure your proxy server in order to send emails and SMS messages via PARS Connect.

Pre-defined messages

Generic messages can be stored to a message bank so that staff do not have to recreate them every time they want to send a message.

Behaviour

Global system settings for behaviour

A number of global settings for behaviour can be found in the behaviour preferences page, including SIMS writeback, which copies behaviour incidents from PARS to SIMS. Go to this page for a list of the available options.

Automatic behaviour alerts

Behaviour alerts are used to inform staff of behaviour issues within the school, where the staff are not expected to take further action within PARS. This might be to alert the form tutor is a pupil in their form group has received 5 or more positive incidents this week. Go to the configure alerts page if you wish to set these up.

General configuration for behaviour

If you are configuring behaviour in PARS for the first time, then you will need to create Grounds and Outcomes. These are the equivalent of Types and Outcomes in SIMS.

When adding a behaviour incident, a ground is what the pupil has done, and the outcome is what the staff member is going to do about it.

The configure behaviour page covers the basic setup that you will need to do in order for staff to begin adding behaviour incidents.

Reporting - behaviour, attendance, detentions and more

custom behaviour reports

Automatic behaviour points

Rule based behaviours will issue automatic behaviour incidents when pupils hit certain criteria e.g. 100% attendance in a half term, or 0 negative incidents in a week. This is a fantastic way of fairly and consistently rewarding pupils who do the right thing.

When looking at a "behaviour league table" (to see which pupils have the most positive behaviour points) many schools find that the best behaved pupils sit at the top of the table, closely followed by the worst behaved pupils. Many more pupils who rarely do anything wrong and quietly get on with their work (sometimes known as "unseen pupils" or "greys") sit at the bottom of the table as they are not frequently rewarded. Rule based behaviours are a great and effective way to deal with this.

Detentions, Removals and Extra Classes

Creating types of detentions or removals

Before you can use the Detention or Removal systems in PARS, you will need to create some slots e.g. "SLT" detention or "Isolation". This is done using the configure time types page in PARS.

Custom attendance codes for detentions and removals

When pupils are placed into detention or removal, PARS will create a register for them. PARS comes with four attendance marks that can be used in detention or removal registers, but you can create extras if required. To do this, go to the configure statuses page.

Automatic detentions

Rule based detentions can be used to automatically place pupils in detention for hitting certain criteria e.g. 3x late in a week. Follow the link for instructions on creating rule based detentions.

Grading

Managing the comment bank

You can configure a comment bank so that staff can select from pre-defined comments when entering grades. Comments can include mail merge fields for a personal touch.

Configure grade schemes (grade sets)

You may need to configure grade schemes before configuring other areas of the grading system. This is not necessary if you are linking SIMS Assessment Manager aspects to PARS.
A grade scheme is the equivalent of a Grade Set in SIMS - it is a list of grades that can be used by staff i.e. A*, A, B, C, etc.

Configure grade elements (aspects)

Grade elements are the equivalent of Aspects in SIMS Assessment manager. Go to the configure grading elements page for instructions and more information.

Custom grading reports

You can create custom grading reports which allow you to choose exactly what data you want to see. You can also include personal details, such as SEN, EAL or Pupil premium.

Creating templates for grading analysis

If you wish to do a grade analysis through PARS Connect, then you will need to configure key indicators once your elements have been create (see above).