How to Track Student Laptops
Keeping in view the rise of student issues involving bullying and cybercrime, many educators are in favor of tracking student laptops. Some other educators involved in virtual teaching may also want to monitor student laptops to track their learning and progress. But how does one go about tracking student laptops?
Schools and educators can easily track student laptops through the use of computer monitoring software. This will give back important information about the student’s activities and learning progress.
Read below to find out more about how to track student laptops.
How to Track Student Laptops
Educators and schools can easily track their students‘ laptops by installing computer monitoring software on their devices. This is much more effective than actually keeping an eye on students in traditional classroom settings since students can easily switch tabs when teachers walk by.
In fact, a whopping 80% of educators and 77% of high school students said that they had some kind of monitoring software installed on devices to track students‘ online activities and access their files.
If a school wants to implement a monitoring system for its students, it can do so by contracting with a third-party technology service like Wolfeye, which tailors its monitoring tools to the institution’s specific requirements.
Multiple private companies offer monitoring services for schools to choose from, and their systems may use varying indicators and protocols to examine students‘ digital behaviors. The indicators used and other settings in the monitoring system may be modified by the school administration to protect student privacy.
Wolfeye provides a simple and fast method for network administrators and educators to gain access to any client PC on the network. Teachers can now monitor student work in real time on their own screens.
These features will also be helpful to others not directly involved in the teaching process; for example, these software can help librarians know in a split second who is working on an assignment, who is browsing irrelevant websites, who is likely playing a game, and who has an unapproved program running on their computer.
Wolfeye is also a great tool for educators involved in distance learning programs. With the help of this software, educators can track whether the students are fully engaged in learning and whether they are making progress.
This can be helpful for both the educator and student as they work together to make sure to resolve any issues as they arise.
Why Should I Monitor Student Laptops?
If you’re wondering whether student monitoring is right for you and your classroom, consider these reasons why you should monitor your students’ laptops:
Avoid Distractions
One of the primary objectives of effective classroom management is the prevention of disruptions and distractions. These days, many classrooms simply wouldn’t function without the inclusion of computers.
Even though computers have many positive effects, they also present some risks, such as students accessing inappropriate content online, playing games, or attempting to download and install programs.
Luckily, computer monitoring software presents an easy solution to this problem. Educators can keep an eye on their student’s activities and address any disruptions or distractions as they arise.
Take Charge of the Classroom
When a class of students is gathered together in front of computers, it is not uncommon for the instructor to experience feelings of helplessness. After all, if you can’t see your students‘ screens, it’s hard to tell what they’re up to in class.
This is where the role of computer monitoring software comes in; it can allow teachers to monitor their students‘ activities in real time.
In addition, the instructor has the ability to control when students are permitted to use the computers and when it is time for students to pay attention to the instructor or engage in some other form of physical learning.
Gaining and maintaining control is essential for effective classroom management.
Customized Solutions
We are all aware that students range greatly in terms of intelligence, aptitude, interests, and preferred methods of instruction. These variations necessitate a tailored approach to each person.
Here, the student monitoring software is useful because it allows the instructor to keep tabs on each student’s development with relative ease.
Teachers have the flexibility to adapt their instruction to the needs of their students, whether that means giving more work to those who have already completed their assignments or spending more time with those who are struggling.
Things to Consider Before Tracking Student Laptops
As more institutions implement student monitoring, there are a couple of things you should consider before you go ahead with this.
Security vs. Personal Space
Tracking student laptops can be important for making sure that students are safe from bullying and risky or harmful behaviors. However, student privacy advocates and media outlets have other concerns with regard to children’s privacy.
Privacy advocates are particularly concerned that the use of these tools could negatively affect students by stigmatizing mental health issues and discouraging free expression of speech.
When tracking student laptops, it’s important for educators and administrators to strike a balance between protecting students from harm and invading their privacy.
Student Harm
When students are aware that they are being watched, they are more careful about what they search for online and are less likely to reveal their honest thoughts in public forums. This can be discouraging for people who need help the most, like students with mental health issues.
Knowing that every action they take and every word they write is being monitored reduces students‘ self-confidence, which in turn reduces their chances of becoming confident adults. In the long run, the student’s ability to take the initiative and use analytical reasoning are both hindered when they are under constant surveillance.
In addition to this, it impedes the growth of skills and attitudes that are necessary for the exercise of their rights. Make sure you monitor only the most relevant digital activities to allow students the freedom they need to feel confident and safe.
Conclusion
These days, it’s really easy to monitor students’ laptops and internet usage with the help of effective monitoring software like Wolfeye. And while these tools can be useful, they also come with the need to use them responsibly, making sure that students have the privacy they deserve.
