Classroom management for BYOD?

[Garacesh]

Yes I'm aware this is asking for a technological solution to a squishy problem, but TPTB are asking soo..

 

Essentially because we're BYOD we have very limited control of user devices. We put a certificate on them that allows us to inspect their web traffic, which we don't get any push-back over*, but there's been a lot of complaints about people using their mobile data to bypass web filtering or simply goof off in lesson, and obviously if the traffic doesn't touch our network, there's nothing we can do, but there have been questions raised about can we do anything?

* not in an official capacity, at least. Students protest plenty by using their mobile data or VPNs but y'know..

 

The more traditional classroom management software, like Senso, NetSupport, Impero etc, is obviously a no-go as they're not our devices. Huge privacy and safeguarding concern there, and I expect there would be a huge amount of kickback on that one.

Similarly we can't lock down WiFi settings for much the same reasons.

 

Which leaves me with relatively few options, as far as I can see it.

 

So I know it's a tall order, but we're looking for a device-agnostic solution where users can sign in/out of lessons, preferably in a browser (even more preferably with their MS365 account?), where the teacher of that lesson can see the screens of anybody in it, but then the kids can sign out after the lesson/after school hours. The member of staff could then penalise any kids not doing their work, or not signing into the lesson, as appropriate.

 

Does anything like that exist?

[Face-Man]

Not sure you will be able to see the screens of a "personal device" as most manufacture are massive on privacy.

 

You may have seen this already but this site a has some interesting ideas about managing BOYD in schools

 

https://www.core.co.uk/blog/building-an-effective-device-management-strategy-in-education

Edited November 30, 2022 by Face-Man

[TechMonkey]

I can't remember which one, but I had a quick look at Senso and Impero and one had the ability to set on times and days, which stopped the device being discoverable and one had the option for the pupil to open the app or connect. So the teacher would have to get the pupils to join but at least the personal devices wouldn't be permanently connected.

 

I think it was Impero that did the on times, as one issue I had was how to remove their devices from the system if they leave.

 

So, you can have classroom management but there will be an element of collaboration needed. I'm more of the view that staff need to adjust their tools to include managing pupils using devices. One good tip a teacher here uses is the hands up action. They yell it and pupils have to put up their hands, shows pupils that are playing games but also stops all activity and focusses the pupils to the teacher. Not sure 6th Formers will be as receptive to that, but it is an option. Also some teachers get the pupils to use the devices in a flatter profile so the screens aren't a barrier. I always relate it to a pupil having a magazine in a class, how do they deal with it how do they notice the pupil is reading that rather than the textbook. Not perfect but close enough.

[mavhc]

If everything's in a browser, then a browser extension that only runs when they log into the browser with school account?

[chaplic]

Ignoring the right answer and focussing on a tech solution as requested..

 

Azure Virtual Desktop/ Citrix solution? Only allow your network connection to route to it (so wouldnt need the inspection cert on the device sa it cannot do anything other the connect to remote desktop).

 

Doesn't stop tethering with phones etc, but if the AVD session was only available from that network it would at least encourage the kids to learn what a ROUTE ADD statement is

[Garacesh]

So, you can have classroom management but there will be an element of collaboration needed. I'm more of the view that staff need to adjust their tools to include managing pupils using devices. One good tip a teacher here uses is the hands up action. They yell it and pupils have to put up their hands, shows pupils that are playing games but also stops all activity and focusses the pupils to the teacher. Not sure 6th Formers will be as receptive to that, but it is an option. Also some teachers get the pupils to use the devices in a flatter profile so the screens aren't a barrier. I always relate it to a pupil having a magazine in a class, how do they deal with it how do they notice the pupil is reading that rather than the textbook. Not perfect but close enough.

 

It's, as always, one of those weird somewhere-in-the-grey issues.

On one hand, part of me would love to say "Nope, we can't manage device that aren't ours. Sorry. Physical classroom management is your answer".. On the other, we all know a teacher can't be over everybody's shoulder all of the time, and with features like multi-desktop on Windows, it's incredibly easy to hide at a moment's notice and go back to your work, without any indication you were doing anything untoward because they're all on the second desktop.

Flat profile doesn't really work because the vast majority of our BYOD devices are either Windows laptops or MacBooks. There's the odd Chromebook or iPad floating around too, though.

 

My gripe with typical classroom management software, ignoring the privacy concerns, is that they're often assuming a device lives in a room (or at least are part of a set, so you just kludge it and say 'This laptop is in the MFL Laptop Trolley room'), at least in my experience using NetSupport and Senso previously. When the devices are moving around from lesson to lesson, there needs to be an element of checking in/out of lessons/locations.

 

Ultimately this all falls back down to classroom management, if the kid is caught doing something they're not supposed to, or is refusing to 'check in' to the lesson, then the teacher still has to pick up on that and punish them appropriately, but I can see the appeal of putting all of that information in one place that's easily analysed, rather than having to patrol around desks where you can be seen coming.

[slugshead]

My vote here lies with an RDS solution.