function __construct()
 {
     //calling the parent constructor as I require some of the variables
     //that intialised in the parent class
     parent::__construct();
     //specify the regions that exist in the template file
     //note the region names in the template must be exactly
     //the same as the regions named. Also a region name must
     //be unique in a template
     $this->regions[] = 'region1';
     //the region where student information is usually displayed
     $this->regions[] = 'region2';
     //the region where ilp information is displayed
 }