Istation FAQ 09/17

We've had several questions asked recently.  Here are the answers.

Question:  Is there a Kindle (Android) version of Istation to install for use on the Kindles?
Answer:  The Istation development team is currently analyzing and monitoring the demands and feasibility of release on various Android devices. The goal of Istation is to be able to deliver its products on all the industry standard platforms. Future Android development plans will be forthcoming.

Question: Is there a report in Istation that can show all the kids that have not completed the initial assessment (campus wide)?

Answer: No, but I will ask the company regarding this request.

Question: From the Classroom page, when I click the ‘Incomplete’ filter on the top to see who has not completed the Spanish Test, it does not work. What is the problem?

Answer: Because the English Assessment cannot be deactivated for students and it displays on the Classroom page, if the students take only the Spanish Assessment…..the English Assessment will display as “Incomplete”.  The Filter button displays ALL students with an Incomplete assessment for BOTH English and Spanish.  Thus, it doesn’t accomplish the task that you want of filtering ONLY Spanish Incompletes (rather than BOTH tests.) I will consult with the company about the possibility of adjusting this Filter so that it allows for choosing either the Spanish or the English Assessment, but not both.  

Question: If a class (section) is completely removed from a campus, the "old" class remains in the classroom list.  How can it be removed?

Answer: The removal of classes no longer used (deactivated) at a campus can only be done by a Campus or District Manager. Click Classrooms at the top right. Click Add/Remove on the left. Click Remove by the class/section name.  Click Yes.

Question: Why do students remain in classes that they transfer out of?  Why are they not removed from these "old" classes?

Answer: In Istation’s auto update process, students are not removed from previous classes if they, for example, transfer to another class on the same campus or transfer to a new campus within the district. And the removal of students from their previous class can only be done by a campus or district manager. See instructions on the next question. 

Question: How can students be removed from classes in which they are no longer enrolled?

Answer: Only Campus or District Managers can do this.  Click Classrooms at the top right.  Then, click the class name from the list. Click Add/Remove Students on the left. Scroll to the bottom and click Remove by the student's name.  Click Yes.

·      Question:  Is it possible to set up a separate group for our 4^th Grade recent immigrants?  If so, how?

Answer: Manual classes can be set up in Istation and students can be enrolled in multiple classes. However, these class enrollments will not update with the nightly uploads.  In addition, only students who are already in the system should be added; none should be manually added.  Also, see next question and answer re: Spanish for 4th grade students.

Question: It is possible to assign the Spanish components to 4th graders?

Answer: Yes  The 4^th grade students can be assigned the Spanish component with no problems using the Manage Subscriptions area like we do for other students. We have unlimited licensing even though it doesn’t officially cover that grade level.

From a curricular perspective, I would point them to a specialist to make sure this is in the best interest of the student. I would not want to advise a teacher in this area….

·    Question: How do we go into the preferences and change the grade level of a student?

Answer: Changing the grade level in preferences will not help as the grade will update each night to the correct grade level.

·     Question:  Is it possible to add a SPED teacher so he/she can see the students they work with?

Answer: Yes. But only your Campus Manager can do this. 

Question:  Can ISIP scores be deleted for a student (example: student took English version by mistake)?

Answer: No

Question:  Is there a report that shows Grade Level Equivalency?

Answer: Yes. The Grade Level Equivalency shows on the Student Summary Handout, with some limitations.

• Spanish version only has Overall Reading Grade Level Equivalency.
• English version has Overall Reading and Text Fluency Grade Level Equivalency only.
• A request has been made for display of Grade Level Equivalency for all skills and Overall Reading and that it be available in the English and the Spanish reports.

Question:  Students are missing in Istation (even though they have been enrolled since day one). Can the Campus Manager manually add the student into Istation so he/she can be assessed?

Short Answer: Please try to wait as long as possible before adding this student manually to the Istation system via the website.

Long-Winded Answer:

Here is an overview of the situation:

1.      The state does not assign a TSDS (UID) number for a new student from out of state or out of country until all required fields are completed by the campus/district.

2.      Until the TSDS (UID) number is assigned to the student(s), they are not auto-uploaded into Istation.

3.      Students cannot be manually entered into Istation by campus personnel without entering a TSDS number.

4.      And although a “fake” TSDS number can be manually entered into Istation, this is not a best practice for entering students into Istation.

All of these circumstances result in the following situation:

5.      Since we have some students who, although enrolled since day one, don’t have a TSDS number assigned to them, teachers are not able to test the student using Istation because they do not have an account.

6.      PISD PEIMS department has given the elementary campuses a five-day (business day) window to “clean up” the missing fields for students on their campuses.  This five-day window ends on September 11

7.      As a result, the 400+ students who are currently without a TSDS number could be reduced significantly after this date.  As a result, they will be auto-updated/enrolled into Istation after the TSDS number is assigned.

8.      After September 11, there will continue to be a concerted effort by the campuses and the PEIMS department to rectify any missing fields so that the state would then provide a TSDS number for each student that doesn’t have one.

Question: At the Intermediate Level (7^th-8^th), will the student-issued tablets present any problem for the student as they complete the Istation ISIP Assessment?

Answer: No as long as they use the glide (mouse) pad to move the mouse and the left/right click on the keyboard to make their choices on the screen. Using the touch screen capability of the tablet will still work, but a minor and possibly confusing and/or annoying sound problem will occur if they use the touch screen and not the keyboard.

Question: Can we manually create a class in Istation and enroll students?  Example might be a Test Prep class, etc.

Answer: Yes, but only the Campus Manager can do this.  If you need assistance, feel free to email or call Emily Bourgeois or Christy Foster.

Question: Can a teacher turn off Books Button on the Desktop Application so that when the student logs in he/she doesn’t have this as a choice?

Answer: Yes. Teacher logs into Istation website---Click Classroom---Click Pencil icon by the word About on the left---Make sure that the radio button by “Student Access to Online Books?” has a filled circle next to “Only with a teacher’s password”.

Question: Does the Writing Button show as a choice when the student logs into the Desktop Application at the 5^th-8^th grade level?

Answer:  Yes


Question: How can I add a teacher to my class so he/she can see my student results and/or print reports about their progress?
Answer:  Only Campus or District Managers can add teacher(s) to your class in Istation.  
Here is how they can do this:

Scenario: You co-teach with another teacher (or teachers) at your campus.  You would like for this teacher to have access to your student homeroom list so he/she can see their progress, etc.  In this case, you can add the teacher to your class so he/she can have access to it.

1.      Go to www.istation.com

2.      Click Customer Login and enter your Istation Username and Password

3.      Click Classroom at the top right

4.      Click the Pencil/Paper icon on the left near the word About

5.      Click the drop menu by Teacher Name

6.      Click the Teacher’s name that you would like to add to your Homeroom.

7.      Click Add Teacher

8.      When the added teacher logs in, he/she will see all Homerooms to which they have been assigned or added.

9.      Using the same steps, you can also remove a teacher who has been added to your Homeroom.

Question: What is the latest possible date we can assess our students using Istation in order to meet the submission deadline for the At Risk Report that goes to the state?

Answer: September 26 

Question: I am a Bilingual Teacher (PK-3rd). Which test should my students take?

Answer: Spanish

Question: I am a Bilingual Teacher (PK-3rd) and my students have completed the Spanish test.  Can they also take the English test?  Will this create any problems?

Answer: Yes they can. No it will not create any problems because the reports are separate for English and Spanish.

Question: I am an ESL teacher. Which test should my students take?

Answer: English

Question: I am an ESL teacher with Spanish speaking students who have completed the English test. Can I also give them the Spanish test?  Will this create any problems?

Answer: Yes then can. No it will not create any problems because the reports are separate for English and Spanish.

Question: I am a Dual Language teacher. Which test(s) should my students take?

Answer: Each student should take the test that corresponds with their “first language”. 

Question: I am a Dual Language Teacher and my students have completed the test associated with their first language.  Can they also take the other language test?  Will this create any problems?

Answer: Yes they can. No it will not create any problems because the reports are separate for English and Spanish.