This documentation is specifically designed for teachers who may be new to digital systems. Every step is explained in detail with simple language.
- π― Quick Start Guide for Teachers
- π» System Overview (What This System Does)
- π Getting Started (Your First Login)
- π Teacher Portal (Your Daily Hub)
- π¨βπ Student Portal Overview
- βοΈ Admin Portal
- π Public Website Features
- π Authentication System (Login & Security)
- π Report & Application Systems
- π οΈ Troubleshooting (When Things Don't Work)
- π Technical Support
- π Glossary of Terms
Important Notes for New Users:
- You need a computer, tablet, or smartphone with internet connection
- You need a web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge)
- Keep your login details in a safe place
- Don't worry if things seem confusing at first - this is normal!
- Open your web browser (the program you use to browse the internet)
- Type this address in the address bar:
[Your School Website URL] - Press Enter on your keyboard
- Look for a button or link that says "Teachers Login" or "Teacher Portal"
- Click on it with your mouse or tap it on your device
- Username/Email: Enter the email address the school gave you
- Password: Enter your password (ask the IT department if you don't have one)
- Click the "Login" button
- After logging in, you'll see your "Dashboard" (main page)
- Take a moment to look around - don't click anything yet
- Notice the menu items on the left or top of the screen
- Look for a menu item called "My Class" or "Class Management"
- Click on it to see your students
- This is where you'll spend most of your time
What you'll do most often:
- β View Student Lists: See all your students in one place
- β Mark Attendance: Digital attendance instead of paper registers
- β Enter Grades: Input student marks for different subjects
- β Generate Reports: Create report cards automatically
- β View Announcements: Check school notices and updates
Think of this system as a digital replacement for all your paper files, registers, and manual processes.
Instead of using:
- β Paper attendance registers β β Digital attendance tracking
- β Handwritten report cards β β Automatic report generation
- β Physical student files β β Digital student profiles
- β Manual grade calculations β β Automatic grade calculations
- β Paper announcements β β Digital notice board
- Teachers (That's You!): Manage classes, enter grades, track attendance
- Students: View their grades, download reports, submit applications
- Administrators: Oversee the entire school system
- Parents: View their children's progress (future feature)
- Save Time: No more manual calculations or paperwork
- Access Anywhere: Check your classes from home or school
- Automatic Backups: Never lose student data again
- Instant Reports: Generate report cards in seconds
- Better Organization: All student information in one place
- Easy Login: Secure access with your email and password
- User-Friendly: Designed to be simple and intuitive
- Mobile Friendly: Works on phones, tablets, and computers
- Automatic Saving: Your work is saved automatically
- PDF Reports: Download and print reports easily
- Dark/Light Themes: Choose the display that's comfortable for your eyes
- A computer, tablet, or smartphone
- Internet connection (WiFi or mobile data)
- A web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge)
- Your teacher login credentials (email and password)
- On Computer: Look for an icon that looks like a colorful circle (Chrome), orange fox (Firefox), blue "e" (Edge), or compass (Safari)
- On Phone/Tablet: Tap the browser app icon
- Double-click or tap to open it
- Find the address bar (the long white box at the top)
- Click inside it and type your school's website address
- Press Enter on your keyboard or tap Go on mobile
- Look for: A button or link that says one of these:
- "Teachers Login"
- "Teacher Portal"
- "Staff Login"
- "Login" (then choose Teacher)
- It might be: At the top of the page, in a menu, or as a large button
- Click or tap on it
- Email/Username field:
- Type your school email address
- Example:
j.smith@stmaryshigh.edu.zw - Make sure: No extra spaces before or after
- Password field:
- Type your password exactly as given to you
- Remember: Passwords are case-sensitive (A β a)
- Can't see it?: This is normal - passwords are hidden for security
- Click "Login" button
If this is your very first login, you might need to:
- Change your password: The system may ask you to create a new one
- Complete your profile: Add your full name, subjects taught, etc.
- Accept terms: Read and click "I Agree" to the school's digital policy
You're now logged in! You should see:
- Your name somewhere on the screen
- Menu options like "My Classes," "Grades," "Attendance"
- School announcements or notices
- A "Logout" button (usually top-right corner)
- Bookmark the page: Save the school website to your browser favorites
- Remember your login: Write down your username and password in a safe place
- Don't share credentials: Never give your login details to students or others
- Log out when done: Always click "Logout" when you're finished
- Ask for help: Contact the IT department if you have any problems
Your Dashboard is like your digital teacher's desk - everything you need is organized and easily accessible.
- Header Bar (top of screen):
- School logo and name
- Your name (confirming you're logged in)
- Hamburger menu (three horizontal lines) β°
- Logout button
- Main Content Area:
- Welcome message with your name
- Quick statistics about your classes
- Recent activity summary
- Navigation Menu (left side or hidden behind β°):
- Links to all your teacher tools
- Find the Menu:
- On Computer: Usually visible on the left side
- On Mobile/Tablet: Look for three horizontal lines (β°) and tap it
- Menu Items You'll See:
- π Dashboard - Main page (home)
- π₯ My Classes - View your students
- π Set Grades - Enter student marks
- π Reports - Generate report cards
- π’ Notices - School announcements
- βοΈ Settings - Your account preferences
- After clicking a menu item on mobile: The menu might stay open
- To close it: Look for an "X" or tap outside the menu area
- Or: Tap the β° button again
- From Dashboard: Click "My Classes" or "Class Management"
- Alternative: Look for "View Students" or "Student Lists"
- URL Reference:
/myclass(you might see this in your browser address bar)
When you open your classes, you'll see:
-
Student Cards (boxes containing student info):
- Student name (in larger text)
- Class/Form (e.g., "Form 4A")
- Student ID number
- Status indicators (colored dots or badges)
-
Color Coding System π¨:
- Green border/dot: Student has complete report card
- Red border/dot: Missing grades or incomplete report
- Yellow badge: Student in your assigned class
- Blue indicators: Various status updates
-
Search and Filter Tools π:
- Search box: Type student name to find them quickly
- Filter dropdowns: Sort by class, form, or subject
- Total count: Number showing how many students you have
To View Individual Student Details:
- Click or tap on any student card
- You'll see:
- Full student profile
- Current grades
- Attendance record
- Contact information
- Previous report cards
To Search for a Specific Student:
- Find the search box (usually at the top)
- Type: Student's first or last name
- Watch: The list filters automatically as you type
- Clear search: Delete the text to see all students again
- From your dashboard: Click "Set Grades" or "Grade Management"
- Look for: "Enter Marks," "Set Report Card," or similar
- URL Reference:
/setreportcard
- You'll see: A list of all your students
- Student cards show:
- Student name
- Current class/form
- Status (if grades already entered)
- Click: On the student you want to grade
- Confirmation: Student's name will appear at the top of the grade form
The form contains several sections:
-
Student Information (read-only):
- Full name
- Student ID
- Class/Form
- Academic year/term
-
Subject Grade Fields:
- Subject Name: Math, English, Science, etc.
- Grade/Mark Field: Where you enter the numerical score
- Letter Grade: Often calculated automatically
- Comments Box: For your remarks about the student's performance
-
Additional Fields:
- Overall Comments: General remarks about the student
- Attendance: Days present/absent
- Term: Which term this report is for
For Each Subject:
- Click in the grade field for that subject
- Enter the numerical mark:
- Example: 85, 72, 91
- Range: Usually 0-100
- Use numbers only: Don't type letters like "A" or "B"
- Grade conversion: The system automatically converts to letter grades
- Move to next field: Press Tab key or click next field
Grade Scale Reference (Important to remember):
- O-Level: A (70-100), B (60-69), C (50-59), D (40-49), U (0-39)
- A-Level: A (76-98), B (67-74), C (55-64), D (45-54), F (35-44), O (0-34)
- ZJC: A (75-100), B (65-74), C (50-64), D (40-49), U (0-39)
- Find the Comments section (usually at the bottom)
- Types of comments to include:
- Subject-specific feedback
- Areas for improvement
- Strengths observed
- Behavioral notes
- Keep comments: Professional and constructive
- Length: Usually 1-3 sentences per subject
- Look for: "Save," "Save Grades," or "Update" button
- Click it: Your work is saved to the system
- Confirmation: You should see a success message
- Important: Always save before moving to another student
- After saving grades: Look for "Generate Report" or "Create PDF"
- Click the button: System creates a formatted report card
- Preview: You can usually preview before downloading
- Download: Click "Download PDF" to save to your computer
- Print: You can print directly from the PDF
Advantages of digital attendance:
- Automatic calculations of attendance percentages
- Easy to correct mistakes
- Searchable attendance history
- Automatic reports for administration
- No lost or damaged registers
- Go to: "My Classes" or "Attendance"
- Select: Today's date (usually pre-selected)
- Student list appears: All your students for current period
- For each student:
- Green checkmark (β): Student is present
- Red X or absent button: Student is absent
- Yellow warning: Student is late
- Click "Save Attendance" when complete
- Select date range: Choose from calendar
- Mark patterns:
- "Mark All Present" (then change absent students)
- "Mark All Absent" (then change present students)
- Individual adjustments: Click on specific students to change status
- Save: Confirm all entries before saving
- Access: "Attendance Reports" or "View Attendance"
- Choose period: Weekly, monthly, or term reports
- Student selection: Individual student or whole class
- Generate: Click "Create Report" for PDF download
- Log in to your account
- Check notices on your dashboard
- Go to "My Classes"
- Mark attendance for first period
- Review: Any pending grade entries
- Check: New student applications or messages
- Access: "Set Grades" or grade management
- Select: Student you want to grade
- Enter marks: For completed assignments/tests
- Add comments: Feedback for student improvement
- Save work: Ensure everything is saved
- Generate reports: If needed for parents or admin
- Review: All grades are entered for all students
- Check: Comments are complete and professional
- Generate: PDF reports for each student
- Download: All report cards to your computer
- Print: Physical copies if required
- Submit: Digital copies to administration
Understanding what your students see helps you guide them better
- View Grades: Students can see the marks you've entered
- Download Reports: PDF report cards you've generated
- Check Attendance: View their attendance record
- Submit Applications: Online forms for various school needs
- School Notices: Read announcements you or admin post
- Login Process: Similar to yours, but using student credentials
- Grade Viewing: They see the grades you enter in real-time
- Report Downloads: Can download the PDF reports you generate
- Profile Management: Update their personal information
- What students see: Any grades you enter are immediately visible to them
- Report generation: Students can download reports after you generate them
- Comments visibility: Your comments on reports are visible to students and parents
- Privacy: Students cannot see other students' information
This section is for your information - you cannot access these features as a teacher
- Create teacher accounts: Add new teacher users
- Assign classes: Determine which teachers handle which classes
- Manage permissions: Control what teachers can access
- View activity logs: Monitor system usage
- Grade scales: Set the grading boundaries (A, B, C, etc.)
- Academic terms: Configure current semester/term
- School information: Update school details and policies
- System settings: Global configuration options
- School-wide reports: Overall performance statistics
- Attendance summaries: Aggregate attendance data
- Grade analytics: Performance trends across the school
- User activity: System usage reports
- Can't access your account: Login problems or forgotten passwords
- Missing students in your class: Student assignment issues
- System errors: Technical problems you can't resolve
- Grade scale questions: Clarification on grading standards
- New features needed: Suggestions for system improvements
This is what people see when they visit the school website without logging in
- School Information: General information about the school
- Academic Programs: Information about courses offered
- Admissions Process: How to apply to the school
- News & Events: Public announcements and school events
- Contact Information: How to reach the school
- AI Assistant: Chatbot to answer common questions
- Fee Information: Payment schedules and fee structures
- Student applications: Come through the public website
- School reputation: Your work contributes to the school's digital presence
- Parent information: Parents can see school updates and announcements
- Community engagement: Public can see the school's achievements
Your digital safety is important - here's what you need to know
- How you got it: Created by school administration
- Your credentials: Email address + password
- Access level: Can view and manage your assigned classes only
- Security: Your account is protected and monitored
Creating a Strong Password:
- Length: At least 8 characters (longer is better)
- Mix: Use uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols
- Avoid: Your name, birthdate, or common words
- Example:
MyClass2024!orTeachMath#2024
Password Safety Tips:
- Don't share: Never give your password to anyone
- Don't write it down: In places others can see
- Change regularly: Update every 6 months
- Use different passwords: For different websites
- Always log out: Especially on shared computers
- Check the URL: Make sure you're on the real school website
- Don't save passwords: On public or shared computers
- Report problems: Tell IT if something seems wrong
- Keep browser updated: Use the latest version
- Go to login page: Click "Forgot Password" link
- Enter your email: The one the school gave you
- Check your email: Look for a reset message
- Follow instructions: Click the link in the email
- Create new password: Follow the password tips above
- Can't find email?: Check spam/junk folder
- Still problems?: Contact school IT department
- Why it happens: For security, the system logs you out after inactivity
- How long: Usually 30-60 minutes of no use
- What to do: Simply log in again
- Tip: Save your work frequently to avoid losing data
Everything you need to know about generating student reports
- Enter all grades: For each subject you teach
- Add comments: Professional feedback for each student
- Generate PDF: System creates formatted report automatically
- Download: Save to your computer or print directly
- Quality check: Review before distributing to students
- Automatic calculations: System calculates averages and GPAs
- Professional formatting: Consistent, official appearance
- Multiple copies: Generate as many as needed
- Digital distribution: Email directly or save for later
How to review and process student applications
- Access applications: Through your teacher dashboard
- Review details: Student information and supporting documents
- Make decisions: Approve, reject, or request modifications
- Add comments: Provide feedback to help students
- Submit decision: Complete the review process
Most problems have simple solutions. Here's your step-by-step guide to fixing common issues.
Step-by-step solution:
- Check your internet: Make sure you're connected
- Check the website address: Ensure you're on the correct school website
- Check your email: Make sure it's typed correctly (no extra spaces)
- Check your password: Remember it's case-sensitive
- Try again: Sometimes a simple retry works
- Clear your browser: Close browser completely and reopen
- Still stuck?: Contact IT support
What to do:
- Click "Forgot Password": On the login page
- Enter your email: The school-provided email address
- Check your email: Look for reset instructions
- Check spam folder: Sometimes emails go there
- Follow the link: In the reset email
- Create new password: Use the security tips from earlier
Try these steps:
- Refresh the page: Press F5 or click refresh button (π)
- Check internet: Try visiting another website
- Try different browser: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge
- Clear browser cache:
- Chrome: Ctrl+Shift+Delete (PC) or Cmd+Shift+Delete (Mac)
- Firefox: Ctrl+Shift+Delete (PC) or Cmd+Shift+Delete (Mac)
- Safari: Safari menu > Clear History
- Restart your device: Sometimes this fixes everything
Common causes and solutions:
- Missing fields: Make sure all required grades are entered
- Invalid numbers: Use numbers only (not letters like A, B, C)
- Out of range: Check that grades are within 0-100 range
- Internet connection: Ensure you're still connected
- Session expired: You may need to log in again
What to check:
- Correct class selected: Make sure you're viewing the right class
- Filter settings: Check if any filters are applied
- Search box: Make sure search field is empty
- Contact admin: Student might need to be assigned to your class
Solutions to try:
- Allow pop-ups: Your browser might be blocking the download
- Check downloads folder: File might have downloaded already
- Try different browser: Sometimes browsers behave differently
- Disable ad-blocker: Temporarily turn off ad-blocking extensions
- Right-click and save: Try right-clicking the download link
Tips for mobile use:
- Rotate device: Try landscape mode for better view
- Zoom out: Pinch to zoom out for better overview
- Use menu: Tap the β° button to access all features
- Scroll carefully: Some forms are longer than the screen
What to try:
- Clean screen: Remove fingerprints and smudges
- Remove gloves: Touch screens need direct finger contact
- Try different finger: Sometimes pressure makes a difference
- Restart app: Close browser and reopen
- You've tried all troubleshooting steps
- You get error messages you don't understand
- The system seems completely broken
- You need your password reset
- You think there's a security issue
- Students are missing from your class lists
- You need additional permissions
- You have questions about grading policies
- You need training on new features
- Your name and school email
- What you were trying to do
- What happened instead
- Any error messages (take a photo if needed)
- Device and browser you're using
- Save frequently: Don't lose work due to timeouts
- Use recommended browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge
- Keep browsers updated: Install updates when prompted
- Don't use multiple tabs: Can cause conflicts
- Log out properly: Always use the logout button
Contact for:
- Login issues and password resets
- Website not working properly
- Browser problems
- PDF download issues
- System error messages
- Account access problems
How to reach them:
- Email: [IT Support Email]
- Phone: [IT Support Number]
- Office: IT Department
- Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Contact for:
- Questions about grading policies
- Missing students in your class lists
- Permission or access issues
- Training requests
- General school system questions
How to reach them:
- Email: [Admin Email]
- Phone: [Admin Number]
- Office: Main Administration Office
For urgent issues during school hours:
- Principal's office: [Emergency Number]
- IT Emergency: [Emergency IT Contact]
Try these first:
- Restart your browser: Close completely and reopen
- Try different browser: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge
- Check internet connection: Visit another website to test
- Clear browser cache: Follow troubleshooting steps above
- Log out and back in: Sometimes this fixes everything
Be ready to provide:
- Your full name and teacher email
- What you were trying to do
- What went wrong
- Any error messages (exact wording or screenshot)
- Device type: Computer, tablet, or phone
- Browser: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, etc.
- When it happened: Date and time
Don't let technical words confuse you - here's what they really mean
- App: Short for application - a program you use on your phone or computer
- Browser: The program you use to visit websites (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)
- Cache: Temporary storage that sometimes needs to be cleared to fix problems
- Click: Press and release the left mouse button
- Dashboard: Your main page after logging in - like your digital desktop
- Download: Copy a file from the internet to your device
- Email: Electronic mail - digital messages sent over the internet
- Filename: The name of a file, like "Report_Card.pdf"
- Homepage: The main page of a website
- Internet: The global network that connects computers worldwide
- Login: The process of entering your username and password to access the system
- Logout: The process of safely exiting the system
- Menu: A list of options you can choose from (like a restaurant menu)
- Navigate: Move around a website by clicking links and buttons
- Online: Connected to the internet
- Password: Secret word or phrase that proves you are who you say you are
- PDF: A file format for documents that looks the same on any device
- Pop-up: A small window that appears on top of the main page
- Refresh: Reload a web page to see the most current information
- Save: Store your work so you don't lose it
- Screenshot: A picture of what's on your screen
- Search: Look for specific information by typing keywords
- Tab: A separate page open in your browser (like having multiple books open)
- Upload: Send a file from your device to the internet
- URL: The web address of a site (like www.schoolname.com)
- Username: Your unique identifier for logging in (usually your email)
- Website: A collection of related web pages (like this school system)
- WiFi: Wireless internet connection
- Zoom: Make text and images larger or smaller on your screen
- Class Management: Where you view and organize your students
- Dashboard: Your teacher home page with all your tools
- Grade Entry: The process of inputting student marks
- My Classes: Section where you see your assigned students
- Report Card: Official document showing student grades and progress
- Session: The time you're logged in (ends when you logout or time expires)
- Student Portal: The section where students view their information
- β° (Three lines): Menu button - tap/click to see navigation options
- π (Magnifying glass): Search function
- βοΈ (Gear): Settings or configuration options
- π (Document): Usually means download or view a report
- βοΈ (Pencil): Edit or modify information
- πΎ (Disk): Save your work
- πͺ (Door/Exit): Logout button
- β (Question mark): Help or support information
Remember:
- Take your time: There's no rush - learn at your own pace
- Don't be afraid: You can't break anything by exploring
- Ask for help: Everyone is here to support you
- Practice makes perfect: The more you use it, the easier it becomes
- Save your work: Always save before moving to something else
Most Important Tips:
- Bookmark the school website: Save it to your favorites
- Write down your login details: Keep them somewhere safe
- Always log out: Especially on shared computers
- Don't hesitate to ask: IT support is there to help you
Every expert was once a beginner. With this guide and a little practice, you'll be managing your classes digitally with confidence!
π Teacher Documentation Guide
Version: 2.0 (Comprehensive Edition for Teachers 50+)
Last Updated: January 2025
Created specifically for: Teachers transitioning from paper-based to digital systems
Next Review: June 2025
For additional support, training sessions, or suggestions to improve this guide, please contact the IT department or school administration.