The Dashboard module is what most users see as soon as they log in to PortalHQ — a tile-and-link interface that points to the systems and pages they use most often. Canvas, the school’s learning platform, the library, the timetable, the parent portal — anything a parent, student or staff member needs is one click from the dashboard.
This module manages the links and link categories that populate those dashboards.
What it covers
- Link categories — groupings shown as headed sections on the dashboard (e.g. Learning, Communication, Wellbeing).
- Links — individual entries within a category. Each link points to a URL, an internal page or a mobile app.
- Tile display — visual style for prominent links — an image or large icon block rather than a plain text link.
- Mobile app deep-linking — links can open native mobile apps directly (Canvas, Sentral, etc.) rather than the browser.
Who sees what
The dashboard is rendered differently for each audience:
| Audience | Where the dashboard appears |
|---|---|
| Staff | Staff dashboard on the web portal. |
| Students | Student dashboard on the web portal and the mobile app. |
| Parents | Parent dashboard on the web portal and the mobile app. |
Links and categories can be targeted at specific audiences — a Canvas Teacher link only shows for staff, a Library Catalogue link might show for everyone.
Where to start
- Plan your structure: Setting up link categories.
- Add the links your community uses: Adding and managing links.
How parents and students experience it
When a parent logs into PortalHQ on the web:
- The dashboard loads with the categories you’ve configured.
- Within each category, the links you’ve assigned appear in the order you set.
- Tile links show as large image blocks; standard links show as text with an icon.
- Tapping a link opens the URL (or the mobile app, on a phone with the app installed).
On the mobile app, links marked Show in mobile app appear under the Dashboard tab. Links with a mobile app scheme (e.g. Canvas, Sentral) open the native app directly rather than a web browser.
Tips for a usable dashboard
- Categories first. Plan two to five categories that match how your users think (Learning, Communication, Forms and slips, Wellbeing). Don’t have one category called Everything.
- Most-used links at the top. Set the Ordering field so the most clicked link appears first within each category.
- Use tiles sparingly. A dashboard of all-tile links is visually overwhelming. Reserve tiles for the top one or two links per category.
- Test from a parent account. What looks logical from staff-admin view often looks crowded from a parent’s perspective.