StAwash

I can see where you are coming from with this. I foresee massive syncing issues with this though in the long run. Starters, script would definitely need to check which one is the right files to copy over. Otherwise we could end up creating sync loops. Literally thought I figured it out by using the @StAwashxyz.onmicrosoft.com as an account identifier, but Google insists on using a Google account to sign in. Therefore (and I will add this as an edit in a moment) all bookmarks, passwords etc. has to be stored to the Google side of the domain. Edge needs to be forced to sign in with the Google account in some manner.

Hi, We have a single domain: @StAwash.xyz; this domain originated in Google (I think) then got ported into Exchange with no changes. As such, when a user signs into Google with their @StAwash account they log into the school via their Google account. When the user signs into Edge with their @StAwash account they log into the school with their Exchange account. I need it so that when they sign into their browser using their @StAwash account the bookmarks and everything will sync nicely. Preferably stored in Exchange and synced, but if it needs syncing both ways then so be it. GCDS/Password sync is already running so if it's an option in there then I win. OR If they are signed into Chrome, this automatically forces them to use the Exchange area to save their bookmarks and passwords. The beauty is that the user will not even know they are signed in, they don't need to use any credentials or anything, as the sign in has to be automatic and hidden to allow some other things to work. They are allowed to see they are signed in, but they won't be able to sign out etc. etc. Is it even remotely possible? I have a feeling it is really simple... Common questions I am bound to be asked: Why are you using two browsers? Edge is standard with Windows, easier to manage because of this, and means I don't have to use Chrome everywhere. However, Chrome is baked into the Win10 image that has been deployed EVERYWHERE. As such, Win11 onwards will be Edge only and Chrome will become a distant memory. Why do you need them synced I feel like it will make my life easier when they swap over to Win11 and lose the ability to use Chrome. But in reality, if it can't be done then so be it. Why not uninstall Chrome from each machine People don't like little changes, and will likely rebel. A big change like going to Win11 convinces them that this is for the greater good. Also can't be bothered with the arguments, pleading, and setting something up in the GPO. Why not use the ...onmicrosoft.com account you get with each Exchange account? Turns out that isn't possible due to Google requiring you to use Google account.

Our ABT licence is up for renewal next year, so I will have a look at this Lightspeed Classroom. Biggest problem is I don't trust the teachers to pick their own noses, let alone sort this list out for themselves. It needs to be done at a (competent) IT level. Piss-up, brewery, and organised come to mind when I think of this place now-a-days. I do like this idea... Try and catch outliers and the like. Trouble is, consequences is being re-arranged so only the bad of the bad go there now, so not much use unless it changes... Thanks for the idea though!

Classroom management tool such as ABTutor? The big problem is not that they play games during IT class, but that they play games when ever they get their hands on a computer. The IT teacher is actually quite good, shuts down games quickly, and doesn't over-rely on ABTutor at all. Maths on the other hand... They let the kids go wild on the computers and wonder why I am angry at getting 3 broken keyboards, 2 missing mice, and the side removed off a computer. Many teachers just seem to think that kids on computers, even if quiet, are working. The biggest problem (which we already have a solution in mind anyway - more down below) is consequences. The school has moved to a digital learning environment for consequences so that students can keep up with their studies that other peers would be learning, over say completing the same tired booklet. Had two safeguarding issues just in the last 2 days alone as some student found a scratch music player hosted online. If this is being used in consequences though, I've no doubt in my mind that it is being used all over the school whenever a student has access to a laptop or anything. And LS give out laptops like candy. The solution for consequences is to lock them computers down to the bones, and only allow them onto approved sites. This is taking much longer to implement due to upper IT management getting moved around and systems being handed over. I really don't want to get into that one! Too much politics for my blood.

Hi there! I need to block Scratch projects (we can all guess why!), and I know how using Smoothwall. The problem is, the teacher wants to be able to use the projects hosted on the site as examples of what could be achieved using Scratch. I was thinking, provide a good handful of projects that students can access, curated by either the internet (here, probably) or by the teacher herself. These projects would be allowed through the filtering, however the majority of games and music playing applications which has made its way onto the site would now be blocked. I want this to be a fairly automated process, but I am aware that will take me a long time to implement (open up Smoothwall API's at some point, if there are any, and really get stuck in!). That's the plan. The question becomes, are there any curated lists of projects on Scratch for me to keep unblocked? Would this be better offloading onto the teacher? And bring all the questions etc. that would come with such a complicated stupid project like this!

Using the tools on the link above, as they include the tools to test (ON LIVE DATA! BE WARNED), I have managed to: create a classroom; delete a classroom; list all classrooms associated with our organisation (up to 200!); add myself as a student and as a teacher into a classroom; and pull user information out of a classroom. So adding myself into each class isn't strictly necessary. Easier, perhaps, but not necessary. So the API to build these tools is most definitely there, I was just curious if anyone else had capitalised on it because Google sure hasn't! Have come across GAM, like 30 seconds after posting, which is my usual way when doing stuff like this... Search search search, can't find anything, post for help and instantly find what I need! GAM might not be comprehensive enough though, still looking through the notes.

Hi, Any automated tools that can manage, access, aggregate data, and basically control and run Google Classroom as an admin? I do not want to hear "Just get the teacher to add you to the classroom", as I'm a tech that has come in mid-implementation on this campus, various teachers have left and joined (so some classes are just inoperable!), and to top it off the previous tech stupidly left the option to allow students to make their own classrooms! I am surely not getting added to student ran classrooms. I have access to the Google API for classrooms: https://developers.google.com/classroom I'm also a programmer (skill is yet to be seen) so I can technically write my own tools. I just don't want to right now. Any help, because I am drowning in student led classrooms here and I need to start getting them into the suspended status asap!

Thanks for that! I hadn't even considered that as a problem, but after exam periods are over I will bring it up with the exam officers. So far I know they have been segregated from the usual exam pool, do not know the reason but it could be due to this.

This has all been a very interesting read. I thought I'd add mine in, as I intend to implement it soon. The previous naming convention was fine for the school, apart from the year gap between technicians meant a lot of machines went walking. So we now have finance using meeting room pcs etc. USE{1:Choose} AREA{10} "-" NUMBER{2} Ex: TMaths5-01 Use is a choice from: "O" = Office - used by teachers away from students "T" = Teach - used by teachers in rooms occupied by students "S" - Student - used by students "X" = Special - used for special circumstances such as Laser printer Area is up to 10 characters long + room number. Number is the concurrent number of that machine in that area. This should group all the Teachers computers together, and make it a more useful distinction from Office computers. I do love the asset tag idea. And if this had been implemented from the start I may have continued it. However, at some point between my predecessor, his predecessor, and myself; the tagging appears to have stopped. So I have a lot of machines with asset tags and a lot more without. Monitors and keyboards too! They really went a little happy with them...

The school doesn't have that many laptops to begin with, so are loathe to the idea that they will lose a few for the exam period. Most the laptops in use by and getting prepped for the exam periods are bought and used using Learning support money, I believe. Do wish I come across the examwritepad 2 weeks earlier!

I don't have direct access to GPO's yet, but can definitely throw out a request and see what he says. Otherwise I was worried it would fall down to scheduled tasks. It just means I'm going to have to set up a PC to do the automation/scheduling.

Luckily(?) not.

Fantastic. Little late to implement this year around I think, but thanks so much!

Hi, I have a limited access to many of the controls behind the scenes to the school, so you'll have to bear with me. It's a slow handover due to the nature of the previous tech and myself. Throw all your suggestions/ways you manage this anyway! Once I have full control I might change the methodologies as I advance through. But on a reply by reply nature I'll let you know how much control I have, and then you guys will work out I literally practically have very little influence. We have exams coming up. Some students are using laptops for the exams, and we intend to block all applications apart from Word. I pushed for Wordpad, considering its deft deaf nature to spelling and grammar, it seems quiet apt. We've been told we HAVE to use Word. Anyway, that bit was/is easy, Applockering everything down per user, affect only exam pupil user. We would also like to disable their actual account(s) on the day/time of the exam. Now I can set up a schedule in ADUC per user, however that is for a week. I don't want to sit at the computer first thing Monday mornings setting these up for the students. My other problem with the above is some exams don't run for the full hour. There are no fine grain controls in the scheduling process in ADUC though. I thought about PowerShell, at x time push in and disable the student(s) real account(s), and at y time push in and re-enable the account(s). This requires me to run a computer at all times, mostly because I don't have access. But this is do-able. Are there any other ways to accomplish the same actions without the need to be running an admin machine all day? As an aside, is there a way to disable Word's spelling/grammar module, I.E. I'm thinking disable an EXE or DLL file from running?