Classwize Training

Classwize is a classroom management tool for teachers to use while students are in their classrooms and on their student accounts and District-managed devices.  The purpose for using this platform is to provide teachers with the basic tools computer lab instructors have had for years. Now that AUSD has 1:1 Chromebooks for students, every classroom has become a computer lab.  Here are some of the basics that lab teachers have utilized over the years:

• The ability to turn screens off and on to focus students' attention

• The ability to share a teacher's screen for demonstration purposes

• The ability to broadcast a message to the whole class

• The ability to instant message individuals

• The ability to observe whether students are on-task during class

Classwize can do the basics and much more.

Teachers had been requesting that AUSD purchase a Chromebook management program so that they would have the ability to support students on devices and redirect those who are off-task. These requests came before the pandemic and escalated as AUSD moved into 1:1 Chromebooks. In 2021, Technology Services began vetting several different platforms, looking for basic features, but also features that would support positive, creative and curated learning environments. The District purchased NetRef in 2022, a product that had already been absorbed by Linewize, AUSD's internet filtering platform.  Linewize morphed NetRef into their existing platform, Classwize, to blend the best features of both programs. In addition to basic features, these are the selling points that make Classwize less a "Gotcha" and more of a teaching tool:

• Teachers can allow students to certain locations so that they can curate the sites they want students to explore or interact with during a class period while blocking all other sites.

• Teachers can also block sites, keeping the Internet more open but blocking certain sites that are distracting students.  

• Teachers can manage curated site lists for classes or individuals. 

• Teachers can see thumbnails of computer activity to view class participation and pull up a student's activity history to engage students in self-regulation conversations.

Using Classwize's advanced features, teachers have the option to push out links for the day/period and maintain a permanent block list so that they can teach with a bit more assurance and confidence that students have fewer distractions and are on-task. 

How you use Classwize depends on your grade level and restrictions that may already be in place because of COPPA and CIPA statutes.

• TK-12Teachers: Best practices include creating safe surfing with fewer distractions by curating blocked and allowed sites; using those same lists to curate lessons with specific sites; engaging students in conversations about self-regulation; and avoiding using Classwize in a punitive manner, or as a "Gotcha" tool.  The goal is to use Classwize for positive reinforcement, redirection when needed, discreet communication, e-test monitoring, broader classroom management in a 1:1 environment, and as a handy on/off switch when you need students' attention.

• TK-8 Teachers and YouTube: Teachers are not allowed to put students in a situation where they have direct YouTube access unless that YouTube is embedded in an ad-free player or a program that does not have back doors to the larger YouTube platform.  Violations of CIPA can result in a loss of funding.  Classwize, because it is aligned with Linewize, can be set up to allow teachers to provide direct access to YouTube for students.  AUSD has not set this up yet, but will be testing the combination of Linewize and Classwize. See more about this potential feature in the training video.

• 9-12 Teachers and YouTube: YouTube is the great distractor.  If your lesson does not require students to watch or search for YouTubes, you could consider blocking it or any other common distractor so that students get out of the habit.

• Privacy Concerns: Network traffic is not private from the Superintendent to a kindergartener, and though that doesn't mean that there are eyes on all parties at all times, it does mean that we all leave digital footprints and that devices may be accessed with or without a party's permission to fix and maintain or to determine inappropriate use. 

Linewize is the network filter used to block inappropriate network traffic when possible. Linewize also flags traffic regarding self-harm or harm to others, which is then addressed by Student Services as soon as alerted. Classwize is the classroom management tool owned by Linewize. It will only be available to teachers during the school day.  We do not want or expect teachers to use Classwize in any other manner than as a curation and management tool during a class period or school day depending on the grade level.  Students are not to use personal devices for class.