Aladdin Schools Connect 4+

Very handy

Both my kids schools use this and I find it very useful! So far I have used it for making payments, booking teacher meetings, viewing report cards and getting messages from the schools. It’s great to be able to look back at previous messages all in one place.

Frustrating app

I find the app really frustrating to use. I would love if the following changes: an option to keep me logged in . I seem to have to repeatedly log in with password almost anytime I navigate away using a link to a website I’m to use for kids homework. Secondly, an option to receive homework the night before (working from home so could really use to have everything prepped and laid out ahead of time as spending all evening after work doing it is really frustrating). Third, there finally seems to be a print button added to homework list but it doesn’t actually work. I have two kids leaving lots to scroll through to read all the homework, I would love to print it off so I have a one pager and can tick things off as I go along. Also would like an easy option to print all attachments in one go instead of going back and forth. Please make these improvements Aladdin developers!

Developer Response ,

Hi Liz,

You can remain logged in once you have selected 'Secure Device' and 'Keep me logged in' from the 'Security Settings' page in app. This can be accessed on the log in page or by going to Menu > Switch account when within your account. Once these settings have been selected you will only be logged out after two weeks of persistent inactivity.

Your school does have the ability to release the homework in advance if they wish, you will need to contact them directly to request that they use this facility. We certainly do provide it!

There was a very brief issue with the print button mentioned yesterday, this has been resolved and you should be able to print without issue now. I will pass your request to include the printing of attachments in this feature to our development team and will be sure to update this response if any work is done in that area.

If you have any further queries/suggestions you can get us on app@aladdin.ie

Terrible UX, looks designed from someone who doesn’t understand schoolwork

This is one of the worst apps I’ve ever used and I’m so annoyed our sons school use this. It is not intuitive that I’ve, messy design and hard to navigate links and videos (actually the fact that video isn’t prominent feature is so poor). This needs a scheduling and better messaging feature also. For comms during homeschooling it’s again a mess. Clearly designed by someone who would not use it/ target audience. The entire thing should be scrapped. Please hire a new dev and a bloody designer!!! I have to use the desktop and copy and paste info into an excel as reading info and clarification between links isn’t good. Must be a nightmare for anyone with dyslexia. All this is a terrible app and adds to workload of parents. The desktop is also poor and logs you out and switches screen when you click on a link. Pity I couldn’t give this zero starts. This is the hardest review I’ve ever written. It’s that bad

Developer Response ,

Hi,

Sorry to hear you're not happy with your experience using the Aladdin App.

If you would like to give further detail on your comments please get in contact with us on ux@aladdinschools.com.

In terms of video - this is an area we are actively working on enhancements for. Please keep an eye out for improvements in the coming month.

Scheduling - not clear what you mean here. The school can schedule messages on their side. Your replies cannot be scheduled, if you would like to be able to schedule a reply please let us know and I will feed that back to our development team.

You are never 'logged out' of Aladdin just by clicking a link (Unless that link is labelled 'Sign Out'), you are however signed out after a period of inactivity. This is for your own security as your Aladdin account contains personal information. Clicking on a third party link in Aladdin generally causes the link to open in a new tab in your browser - this allows you to continue where you left off in Aladdin once finished with the third party site.

Genuinely sorry to hear that you feel we have added to your workload as a parent - this is the opposite of what we strive to do.

If you would like to discuss this further please do get in contact on the email address above.