Classroom Monitoring

[DSAGEY]

Hello,

 

We currently have Ergo Free2Teach (F2T). In which we are now facing some issues, so are looking to move away from this software.

 

Is there any good alternatives that you use to monitor/freeze/remote/shutdown/restart machines? I have been looking at LanSchool, which pretty much does everything F2T does but more modern plus more features.

 

Just look for advice on whether ahyone else has used this system or have another system they would reccomend using.

 

Thanks in advance.

[mikeprice]

I set up Veyon - which is free - at my last school

 

Quite limited but works OK for what it does

 

When I was at a Secondary school we used AB Tutor - which was wonderful - but I believe the prices have gone up a lot so it is no longer a cheap option and I am out of touch with its current situation

 

I'm sure others will be along with experiences

[HereIGoAgain2601]

We are currently using Impero but looking to move to Senso when contract expires

[Norphy]

As I recall, the big ones are:

 

AB Tutor

Lanschool

Impero

NetSupport School

Senso

 

There's also Veyon, as previously mentioned. I have direct experience with NetSupport, AB Tutor and Lanschool and I've trialed Impero and Senso. In my opinion, NetSupport is the best of the ones that I've tried. AB Tutor was also good but a little more limited. I didn't like Lanschool so much, I found it somewhat esoteric to configure.

 

When I trialled Impero, I found that the product was quite good but the salespeople put me off massively. They were relentless and had to be told repeatedly to leave me the hell alone. In the end I complained to the company rep who was on here at the time. After that experience I swore never to use them.

[Aprice]

Impero for all the ones we support, So far the best I've used out of AB Tutor, Lanschool & Netsupport, that said I still think it's a bit buggy.

[Wave9_Lee]

I'd be happy to arrange a Lightspeed demo to add to the list if it helps. Lightspeed Classroom Management has similar functionality to all of the solutions mentioned, works in multi-OS environments, has additional integrations with Microsoft and Zoom. It also allows teachers to easily allow and block specific URL’s during lessons, easily create groups and see AI insights on any unusual browsing activity.

[LanSchoolAdam]

DSAGEY,

 

Thank you. Yes LanSchool has a robust feature set, and options for cloud or on-premise environments. We also just launched an AI web filtering product called Lenovo NetFilter that bundles with LanSchool. Happy to set up a demo and free 30-day trial (https://lanschool.com/get-started/) or chat ([email protected]).

[mrforgetful]

We've used AB Tutor since 2007. Stayed on V6 until last year as it still did everything we needed, but it was starting to show it's age, particularly with mulitple monitors. So we upgraded to v9. Finding it laggy and buggy, shouldn't have bothered.

 

Used Senso over lockdowns as you can have groups show users, not devices, which is really useful on laptop trolleys where students can get things from other locations mixed up. At the end of the day though, it's Cloud, and lag was inherent to viewing screens.

 

Looked at Impero and NetSupport years ago but were massively more expensive than AB Tutor, albeit with many more features. But we just didn't need those features for the cost.

 

Veyon, whilst free, was very basic. A small step up from TightVNC!

[georgeescott]

So we upgraded to v9. Finding it laggy and buggy, shouldn't have bothered.

 

We’ve also had similar experiences with AB Tutor v9. Often have to restart the service on the server or close/re-open the admin console or it doesn’t work properly.

Would avoid it if you want it on macOS too. The current client version sometimes crashes Macs or makes the screens flicker on Big Sur+. Had to remove it in our Mac classrooms.

Edited September 15, 2022 by georgeescott

[GrumbleDook]

We have a few options for you at NetSupport.

 

Depending on what your needs are, we have on-premise through NetSupport School and NetSupport DNA ... and for SaaS/cloud we have classroom.cloud. Both on-prem and cloud solutions are in continued development (and yes, there are key differences in the reasons why you would want on-prem or want cloud) and also multi-platform.

 

Happy to chat / sort demos.

[mrforgetful]

We’ve also had similar experiences with AB Tutor v9. Often have to restart the service on the server or close/re-open the admin console or it doesn’t work properly.

Would avoid it if you want it on macOS too. The current client version sometimes crashes Macs or makes the screens flicker on Big Sur+. Had to remove it in our Mac classrooms.

 

I feel I need to come back and post again.

 

I spoke to their technical support and they had the system running smooth for me again.

 

Our situation was caused by having logging enabled on every client, leading to hundreds of thousands of entries.

 

I've removed the log feature, cleared the database and it's working great now.

 

Historically, back on v6 we needed logs but now we have alternative safeguarding software, the AB logs are superfluous.

[mikeprice]

Ah yes - AB logs

 

I used to love them

I could see a kid on games instead of working and go and challenge them - they would predictably deny they were on games ever ever ever - not me Sir no no no

 

SO I would mention that everything is logged so we could go over to my computer and check

and if he was telling the truth then CLEARLY I would have to apologise in front of the whole class

but if it turns out that he was on games then he would get the next level of warning up the ladder

Plus he would have deliberately lied - so he would get an extra trip up a rung on the ladder

which would either include a free 10 minute detention

or - potentially - a trip to the quiet room

 

 

They normally admitted it all

 

and that normally stopped the problem in the whole class

for a week or so until the numpties forgot and we started it all again!

 

 

Maybe the fact that I so clearly enjoyed the procedure helped???