Getting Started with Admin Mobile App

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This section covers what you need to know when your district is getting ready to roll out the eSchoolPLUS Admin Mobile app for staff.

What does my district need to use the app?

Your district needs to have the following requirements before staff can use the app.

• eSchoolPLUS version 2.3 and above.
• To use the Notifications component of the app, the district must be running at least eSchoolPLUS version 3.0.
• To use the push notifications for the app, the district must be running at least eSchoolPLUS version 3.1.
• SQL Server 2005 and greater.
• Public IP and SSL will typically be required, unless the district plans to only grant access within the local network.
• License key for eSchoolPLUS Admin Mobile App.
• Web services need to be installed on an eSchoolPLUS server outside the firewall, such as the HAC server.
• Database updates must be installed. Stored procedures that are used to transfer data back and forth, and which will be used to assist with security and authentication.
• The "Connector" database must be installed.
• The Mobile Connector Admin tools must be installed on the app server. The eSchoolPLUS Admin Mobile app Version 1.1 includes features that work only when the district has installed Mobile Connector Admin Version 1.1. For more information on backward compatibility between the app and the connector software, refer to "App and Mobile Connector Admin Version Compatibility" below.
• LDAP access from the server with the public IP and SSL into the same domain eSchoolPLUS users use to authentication.
• To display student photos in the app, the photo files must be accessible from the server where the Mobile Connector Admin is installed. For example, if the Mobile Connector Admin is on a server outside of the domain where photos are stored, the eSchoolPLUS Admin Mobile app may not be able to display photos.

What does my staff need to use the eSchoolPLUS Admin Mobile app?

Before you announce that the eSchoolPLUS Admin app is available for your district administrative staff, make sure that they have everything they need to use the app. Here's what they'll need:

• A supported device. The app was developed for iOS and Android devices. Currently supported: iOS 7.0+ (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch) and Android 4.0.3 (Ice Cream Sandwich)+.
• Internet/Intranet access to the database server. Either WiFi or the carrier's cellular network can be used.
• A data plan for the device or WiFi access.
• Security for eSchoolPLUS. The eSchoolPLUS security determines the user's building access and data access within the app.
• A Staff Catalog record to use the Discipline Referrals feature. Use the Scheduling > Courses > Resources > Room to add the staff member and enter the user's Login ID on the Staff District Information page.
• The district passkey to access the database. The passkey is a unique key generated for your district. You can send the passkey to staff via email or you can have IT staff manually enter the passkey on each device. The first time the app is opened on the device, the staff member will enter the district passkey and tap Verify. If successful, the device settings for the app will then store the District GUID, District Name, and Server URL.
• Additional security on the device to secure district data in case the device is lost or stolen. For example, require staff to install an app that can remotely wipe the device.
• To use the barcode scanner for reading student ID barcodes, the device must have an autofocus camera.

Finally, the staff member needs to download and install the app. Here's where to get the app for free:

• For iPad, iPod Touch, and iPhone, use App Store.
• For Android devices, use Google Play Store app.
• For Kindle Fire, use Amazon App Store.

App and Mobile Connector Admin Version Compatibility

Do all users need to upgrade the eSchoolPLUS Admin Mobile App after we install the new Connector version?

No. The eSchoolPLUS Admin Mobile app Version 1.1 includes features that only work with the Mobile Connector Admin Version 1.1. But, users can continue to use the previous version of the app after the district has installed the new Mobile Connector Admin version. On some screens, the user may notice some fields that display differently than they did before the district upgraded the Mobile Connector Admin software. But, none of these issues will prevent the user from viewing student data.

Can users upgrade the eSchoolPLUS Admin Mobile App before we install the new Connector version?

Yes. A user can install the updated eSchoolPLUS Admin Mobile app Version 1.1 and run the app even when the district is running Mobile Connector Admin Version 1.1. The user will not be able to make use of some of the features that were added to the app. For example, House/Team was added to the student search. The field will display, but no house/teams will be available for the user to select so the user will not be able to search by house/team.

What features are included in the most recent release?

The most recent release of the eSchoolPLUS Admin Mobile app is version 1.1. The following features were added.

iOS Enhancements

• Add push notification messages for the user's high priority subscriptions from eSchoolPLUS notifications. This feature requires eSchoolPLUS version 3.1.
• Add option to enable the app to receive eSchoolPLUS push notification messages.
• Add locker combination to Demographics screen
• Add "Last Sync date/time" to Settings page
• Add ability to tap student on Attendance screen to open student record
• Add ability to tap student on Birthday screen to open student record
• Remove marking period banner from Full Schedule screen
• Move Active/Inactive flag to lower edge of student photo
• Add Student ID above Gender on Student Information Banner
• Provide ability to email a teacher by tapping teacher name hyperlink
• Add course #-Section# to Grades screen for both RC & IPR
• Modify Contacts screen so the iOS and Android apps display data and the background color consistently
• Modify Demographics screen so the iOS and Android apps display data and the background color consistently
• Add settings option to limit photo download to run when using WiFi only
• Change banner name on Student Full Schedule screen
• Removed Alerts banner from Student Medical screen
• Add ability to tap Physician phone number hyperlink on Student Medical screen
• Improved security processing for private and sensitive notes
• Change font for help overlays to make the text more readable
• Add home building to Demographic screen
• Add ability to search for students by house/team
• Change search default to find Active students
• Add progress bar for photo downloads
• Show course building information on the Schedule screens
• Improve support information by displaying the Mobile Connector build number within the app

Android Enhancements

• Add push notification messages for the user's high priority subscriptions from eSchoolPLUS notifications. This feature requires eSchoolPLUS version 3.1.
• Add option to enable the app to receive eSchoolPLUS push notification messages.
• Improve security processing for discipline entry screen if the user does not have security permission for default building
• Add ability to tap student on Attendance screen to open student record
• Add home building to Demographic screen
• Add ability to search for students by house/team
• Change search default to find Active students
• Add progress bar for photo downloads
• Show course building information on the Schedule screens
• Improve support information by displaying the Mobile Connector build number within the app

How safe is our school's data?

Users must always enter the eSchoolPLUS User ID and Password to access the eSchoolPLUS Admin Mobile app in online mode. In offline mode, the user must enter the special user id and pin that was created when the user put the app in offline mode. Without that information, no one can reach your eSchoolPLUS data.

We also encrypt all communications, both on the device and as they are transferred between the device and the eSchoolPLUS system. Although student photos are encrypted on iOS devices, they are not encrypted on Android devices.

What is the security for eSchoolPLUS Admin Mobile App?

The eSchoolPLUS Admin Mobile app uses the user's eSchoolPLUS security. Users can only access the parts of the app that are parallel to the parts of eSchoolPLUS that they can access.

Note that the Mobile Connector Admin tool that IT staff may need to use also has eSchoolPLUS security requirements. For more information, refer to What security is needed to access the Mobile Connector Admin tool?

Refer to the tables that follow for the resource used for each part of the app.

Dashboard Screens

Student Screens/Fields

Discipline Screen

To enter a referral, the user must have a staff record that includes the user's login ID, as well as the following security resources.

How does the user's device connect to the server?

The eSchoolPLUS Admin Mobile app uses the following server configuration settings to connect to eSchoolPLUS:

• District GUID
• District Name as it is entered in the District Configuration.
• Server URL for the mobile connector service.

A district passkey will be provided that you can distribute to users that will use the eSchoolPLUS Admin Mobile app. The first time a user opens the eSchoolPLUS Admin Mobile app, the user will be prompted to enter this passkey. When the passkey is entered and validated, the required information will be loaded to the device.

If the passkey does not work, the user will be prompted to enter the server configuration settings to set up the connection.

Where are the server configuration settings stored on the device?

The District GUID, District Name, and Server URL are stored in the eSchoolPLUS settings on the device.

For iOS devices

The eSchoolPLUS settings are accessed from the device's settings, not from the eSchoolPLUS Admin Mobile app itself. To view the settings, tap Settings on the user's device. Swipe through the available settings until you find eSchoolPLUS. Tap eSchoolPLUS. The server configuration fields are at the top of the eSchoolPLUS settings screen.

For Android devices

The eSchoolPLUS settings are accessed from the eSchoolPLUS Admin Mobile app menu. To view the settings, display menu while in the eSchoolPLUS Admin Mobile app. The option to display the menu varies depending on device. Tap Configuration. The server configuration fields are at the top of the Configuration screen.

What happens if server configuration settings change?

If the Server URL for the Mobile Connector server changes, then all users will need to reset the data for the app and re-enter the district passkey. If a user does not do this after the URL is changed, the user's login and password will not be recognized.

Refer to the following topic for a detailed procedure: How does a user switch to a different district or reset the district passkey?

Is there a timeout period for the eSchoolPLUS Admin Mobile app?

Your district specifies the timeout period for the eSchoolPLUS Admin Mobile app using the Mobile Connector Admin tool. By default, the timeout period is 15 minutes.

A user's authentication token will expire after the specified amount of time has elapsed since the last time the user retrieved or saved data to the eSchoolPLUS database. The eSchoolPLUS Admin Mobile app will not close, but data will not be refreshed. The user will need to login again if the user tries to complete an action that requires data from the eSchoolPLUS network.

For information on changing the timeout period, refer to How can the timeout period be changed?

Is there any documentation available from within the eSchoolPLUS Admin Mobile App?

Help overlays display for key screens the first time the screen is accessed after the eSchoolPLUS Admin Mobile app is first installed or any time the data on the device is reset. Additionally, it is possible to reset the help without resetting the data. For more information, refer to Is there a way to display help overlays again?

In addition, you can open an FAQ from the eSchoolPLUS Admin Mobile app on an Android device. Note that this option is not available for iOS at this time.

For Android devices

1. From the eSchoolPLUS Admin Mobile app, display the menu. The option to display the menu varies depending on device.
2. Tap User Settings.
3. Tap View FAQ to open the FAQ in Adobe Reader. Note that you may be prompted to install Adobe Reader if it is not already installed on the device.
4. Tap the device's Back button to close the FAQ.