Schools often ask us how they can get the most out of the software and drive participation at their school.
Of course, there are a number of answers to this question. We always encourage schools to stay in close contact with their account managers, to have an effective roll-out plan and adopt a ‘Whole School Approach’ to academic monitoring. This means getting buy-in from teachers, parents, students, and senior staff members so that it becomes a part of the school’s identity. We also share our most common piece of feedback, which is that “the more you use the software, the more you get out of it”.
However, from our experience, the number one way to get the most out of the software is to nominate one or more senior staff members to attend a SuperUser Workshop. There, they will gain a complete understanding of the platform and its value, and can use the knowledge gained to drive engagement throughout the school.
So, What is a SuperUser Workshop?
The Athena Tracker SuperUser Workshop is an intensive, in-person training day for new and existing Athena Tracker users. The workshops are carried out in groups, with users from different schools coming together to learn about the software. Sessions are typically carried out by Athena account managers, product managers or senior executives. Occasionally, we invite a current Athena Tracker user to share their experience of using the software, how they encouraged school-wide engagement, and the benefits it has brought to their school.
Our SuperUser Workshops take place all over the country and delegates from nearby schools come together to learn about the software, advance their own capabilities and drive effectiveness in their school. (See upcoming schedule and book your place here.)
Quickfire Takeaways
- Workshops usually run from 9:30am until approximately 3pm.
- Sessions are carried out in-person, in an open and relaxed environment with anywhere between 3 and 30 attendees from a range of different schools and school cohorts.
- Workshops are aimed at those with ‘SuperUser’ access such as principals, deputy principals, guidance counsellors, year heads, post holders, and any AP position, especially those with an academic tracking role. These users can see all students and historical data and have a 360° view of the software.
- Training consists of a detailed run through the software and a roundtable discussion where attendees get the chance to learn from one another with a host of valuable tips shared along the way.
- Throughout the day, attendees are encouraged to ask questions, provide feedback and share their experience with attendees from other schools.
- SuperUser Workshops count towards a teacher’s CPD requirements.
- All attendees are provided with a certification upon completion.
- Tea, coffee and lunch is included.
- The cost of the training day is €175 for one school attendee, plus €75 per additional member.
What's Involved in a Typical SuperUser Workshop
The agenda of our SuperUser Workshops can vary but usually contains the following:
Athena Tracker Refresher: A member of the Athena Analytics team provides a detailed run-through the entire software system. Our expert outlines the key features, benefits, techniques, and step-by-step instructions on how to use various aspects of the software. This comprehensive overview provides attendees with a detailed understanding of the software and the value it can offer to teachers, students and parents alike.
Feature Update: Our product manager shares information about new and upcoming features and how to use them. While presenting, we encourage input and feedback from attendees. This feedback has been vital in shaping the existing software. Since day one, the Athena Tracker has been built in collaboration with schools across Ireland.
Customer Story: Occasionally, we are joined by a current Athena Tracker user who shares their story. They run through the entire journey from initial software roll-out right through to reaching a point where the software becomes an integral part of the school’s teaching and academic monitoring strategy.
Roundtable Discussion: Undoubtedly the most popular part of our SuperUser workshops are the roundtable discussions where attendees share their experience of using the software and their own academic tracking protocols. Attendees are given the chance to ask questions, offer advice, highlight the challenges they’ve faced to date, and share their story. This portion is always immensely powerful and encouraging for attendees. The discussion is moderated by our team and covers a range of topics, including.
- How each school is using the software day to day.
- Where they’ve found the most value.
- Their roll-out techniques and experiences.
- The biggest challenges they’ve faced.
- Recent learnings that could be of use to other schools.
Why Attend a SuperUser Workshop?
SuperUser Workshop attendees gain next-level insight and understanding of the software. They leave with dozens of useful tips, ideas and valuable takeaways. However, from speaking to past attendees, we have found 3 key benefits that the SuperUser Workshop offers.
- Turning a User Into a Software Champion: Rolling out a new technology in any school comes with its own challenges and a certain level of resistance. We find that the schools that gain the most traction are those that are propelled by one or two members who champion the technology and pass on their enthusiasm and belief to other staff. Attending a SuperUser Workshop is often the catalyst to turning an ordinary user into a brand champion, and thus becoming the driving force behind a successful roll-out.
- Learning From Other Schools: Our roundtable discussions are often the most invigorating portion of the entire workshop. Attendees get the chance to hear from other schools and gain invaluable peer-to-peer support. Many of the attendees are facing the same challenges related to implementation and engagement. Quite often, delegates learn from each other’s experience and overcome obstacles together.
- Real-World Software Use: While our presenter shares practical information about the software and step-by-step instructions, hearing how other schools are using these features in their day-to-day work is incredibly valuable. It’s often the case that one attendee shares a nugget of information that completely transforms how another school uses the software.
Sign Up for an Upcoming Workshop
We run regular SuperUser Workshops throughout the year. A full list of upcoming dates can be found here.
If you want to attend a SuperUser Workshop but can’t see any suitable locations, please reach out your account manager and we will try to accommodate you as best we can.
