Navigating Scout apps

Scout apps are essentially folders that contain related reports and information.

Scout reports are organised within Apps. Apps can also contain other features, including summary information, useful links and videos. Selecting an app tile will launch the app.

View all apps and reports

When you log into Scout, Recommended and Recently used apps will appear on the home screen.

To see all apps and reports available to you, select the Apps button on the left-hand side navigation bar.

Alternatively, you can search for the app or report in the search bar at the top of the window.

After visiting an app or report, you can return to the Scout homepage by selecting the Go back button at the bottom of the navigation bar.

Scout welcome pages

When you launch an app, the default page will be the app’s Welcome page.

Welcome pages contain useful information and are divided into three main sections:

1. Links to resources and support options
2. A brief explanation of the information provided in the app
3. A summary of the report categories in the navigation pane

Scout navigation pane

Use the navigation pane on the left of the screen to view all reports within the selected app.

Note that some reports have a down arrow icon in the title, indicating more views or reports within that heading.

Select the down arrow to reveal or hide the options.

Report explanations

Each Scout report will have a link to its own Report explanation in the top navigation bar.

Report explanations provide context about the benefits to users, source of data, instructions on using the report and points to consider when analysing the data.

Using slicers

What are slicers?

Slicers allow you to filter, or slice, the information in a report to look at a smaller subset of data.

In Scout, slicers are drop-down menus at the top of each report.

Required slicers are mandatory and require a valid selection for the report to generate. Required slicers are not the same across all Scout reports, but they will similarly allow for a high-level view of data.

Optional slicers are not required but if chosen will allow you to further drill down to view a subset of data. For example, you can select a particular student group or a specific class that you teach.

Alternatively, you might want to look at the data for students sliced by Scholastic Year, Gender, Aboriginality, or EAL/D status. Where this information is available, you can use optional slicers to look only at that grouping.

Optional slicers generally default to a selection of All.

Making multiple selections

When using slicers, you often have the option to multi-select, which means selecting more than one option.

Holding down the control key (CTRL – Windows) or command key (CMD – Mac) while selecting allows you to make multiple selections simultaneously.

1. The slicer selection field will indicate that you have made multiple selections.
2. The checkbox indicates that a slicer option has been chosen.

Clearing slicers selections

To clear selections from filters or slicers, select the eraser button that appears when you hover over the slicer.

If you wish to remove all your selections and return to the initial view of the report, select the back arrow button in the top right-hand corner of the report, then select Reset.

Or, if you are in the NAPLAN reports, select the Reset all slicers button next to the slicers.

Note: The system remembers your selections even if you log out and start a new session. Always reset the slicers when opening a Scout report.

Analysing charts and tables

Scout reports contain various types of charts and tables to help you view data and information in a visually meaningful way and support your understanding of the information in a report.

Hover for more information

Due to the scale of some graphs, it can be difficult to gain a precise understanding of the data.

By hovering over any chart segment, a pop-up box of summary information will appear in which the details of each grouping are visible.

View as a table

If you prefer to access information in a table format, hover over the top right-hand corner of the graph or chart to reveal an ellipsis (three dots).

Select the ellipsis (...) and then select Show as a table.

This will take you to a new view, which provides the information in table form.

Vertical scrolling

Some Scout reports contain vertical scrolling, allowing you to access further information within the same report.

You can hover over the scroll bar and use the scrolling function on your mouse, or you can select and hold the grey scroll bar and pull it down to scroll.

Sorting tables

From the More options menu, select Sort and choose from the different sorting options in the dropdown menu. These may vary depending on the type of chart.

Focus mode

Enlarge individual charts or tables within a report by selecting the Focus mode icon on the top-right side of the chart.

Data privacy

Scout contains confidential information, such as student and staff details, that should not be accessed by unauthorised users. It is important to remember to log out of Scout if you are no longer using it or if you walk away from your computer.

This is particularly important if you are viewing reports in a space with students around.

This practice aligns with the Data Privacy responsibilities of all Scout users, ensuring that confidential information, in any form, cannot be accessed by unauthorised people.