GoGuardian is a comprehensive educational technology platform designed to support schools in managing devices, enhancing student safety, and improving instructional outcomes. Here’s an overview of what the product does and its key features:
Purpose and Overview
GoGuardian is tailored to help schools create a safe, engaging, and effective digital learning environment. The platform encompasses several products, including GoGuardian Admin, GoGuardian Teacher, and GoGuardian Beacon, each serving distinct but complementary purposes.Key Features and Functionality
GoGuardian Admin
- Advanced Filtering: Allows administrators to set up multiple layers of filters to ensure students are protected from inappropriate content both within and outside the school network. This includes integration with firewalls, Google Admin policies, and additional filters that can be set by parents.
- Policy Management: Provides robust policy templates and enhanced policy management tools to help IT administrators efficiently manage and apply filtering rules across the school’s devices.
- Dashboard and Reporting: Features a redesigned admin dashboard for improved user experience, along with updated report generation and download capabilities. This includes time-series charts for student engagement analytics and detailed student reports that can be emailed.
GoGuardian Teacher
- Classroom Control: Enables teachers to monitor and manage student online activity in real-time. This includes a “Screens view” to see what students are doing on their devices, “Off-Task alerts” to detect and redirect off-task behavior, and the ability to remotely open or close tabs to maintain focus.
- Drag and Drop Organization: Allows teachers to organize students within a live session according to the seating chart or task requirements, facilitating differentiated instruction and support.
- Screen Sharing and Locking: Teachers can share their screen with students and lock their devices to the presentation, ensuring the class follows the lesson synchronously.
- Chat and Announcements: Facilitates private chats with students for guidance or redirection, and allows for announcements to keep the class engaged and informed.
GoGuardian Beacon
- Student Safety: This platform is dedicated to student safety, monitoring online activity across school-issued devices, search engines, web apps, and Gmail to detect concerning behavior. It alerts responders in real-time, enabling early intervention to prevent physical harm.
- Customizable Alerts: Allows schools to customize alert notifications, including the frequency and volume of alerts, and to set up separate escalation lists for different types of alerts and for different times of the day.
Additional Features
- Integration and Compatibility: GoGuardian integrates seamlessly with Google Classroom, Clever, Classlink, and other educational tools. It also supports various operating systems, including iOS, macOS, and Windows.
- Differentiated Instruction: Teachers can apply “Scenes” to student groups or individual students, supporting differentiated instruction and personalized learning experiences.
- Interactive Messaging: Enhances student participation through features like chat, which allows shy students to engage more comfortably, and Student Check-In polls to gauge students’ emotional states.
Overall Benefits
GoGuardian helps schools by:- Ensuring student safety online through proactive monitoring and early intervention.
- Enhancing classroom management and focus through real-time monitoring and control tools.
- Supporting effective teaching strategies and differentiated instruction.
- Providing robust administrative tools for policy management and reporting.