In order to access GoGuardian, you will need to sign in using your @waysideyouth.org email account.

Step #1
Click Here to open the GoGuardian Teacher portal. Alternatively, you may navigate to teacher.goguardian.com using a browser of your choice.

Step #2
Once you have reached the login page, you will need to sign in. If you are having trouble remembering your password, no worries, just press 'Forgot your password?' to reset it via email.

Step #3
GoGuardian should redirect you to the 'Classrooms' page upon signing in. Great - now we can get started!

Although we have already put classrooms into place for all cohorts as well as the overall academy, it's always useful to know how to create classrooms of your own. The process is fairly straightforward:

Step #1
First, ensure that you are on the 'Classrooms' page of GoGuardian. Generally this is the first page you will be directed to after signing in.

Step #2
On the 'Classrooms' page, you will notice two options for creating a classroom: 'Import Google Classroom' and 'Add Classroom'.

If you have a pre-existing Google Classroom that you would like to be able to monitor via GoGuardian, the 'Import Google Classroom' option will be a quick and easy setup.

If you would prefer to create your classroom manually or do not have permission to import a Google Classroom (a common issue), select the 'Add Classroom' option.

Step #3
When importing a Google Classroom, you will simply select the class you'd like to import from the list. GoGuardian should take care of the rest!

When adding a classroom manually, you will need to fill out the required information on the 'Add Classroom' menu that appears. Notice that, in technicality, only the 'Classroom Name' is required - you need not provide any further information, though it can be beneficial for categorizing classes.

Step #4
Once you are finished with your import or addition options, simply press 'Add Classroom'. GoGuardian should redirect you within the new classroom. If you added your class manually, it will also prompt you with three options to add students to the classroom. While all three options are equally viable, I would recommend adding students by their emails for simplicity sake.

That's that! You've now created your very own GoGuardian classroom. For assistance with configuration, feel free to refer to the 'Classroom Configuration' section below.

When it comes to GoGuardian, much of the filtering aspect of the platform is done at the administrator level. For instance, websites deemed wholely inappropriate will be blocked across the board without exception. However, as a teacher, you have the ability to build upon this filering using scenes! In the steps below, we will cover how to create and configure a scene so that you may use it in your classrooms.

Step #1
First, navigate to the 'Scenes' page on GoGuardian. You can find this page on the left sidebar once signed in to GoGuardian Teacher.

Step #2
On the 'Scenes' page, you will notice that there are two options: 'Allowed Websites List' and 'Blocked Websites List'.

If you would like to set up a scene where students may only access websites you've specifically allowed, press 'Create List' under 'Allowed Websites List'.

Alternatively, if you'd like a scene that blocks the websites you've specified (in addition to those blocked by the admin), press 'Create List' under 'Blocked Websites List'.

Step #3
Regardless of which type of list you opted for in the previous step, you will be prompted to give your scene a name, description, and color. While only the name and color are technically required, a description can be a good way to clarify your scene's use case. Once you've finished with these options, press the blue 'Next' button on the upper-right of the page.

Step #4
You should now be redirected to a page where you will be able to create your list of websites to be allowed or blocked, respectively. On the left side of the page, there is a search bar that can be used to easily look up websites that you'd like to add to your list. You may also use this search bar to add links directly as needed. As you add websites to your list, they should appear on the right side of the page where you will have options to auto-open websites and see whether or not the website is blocked at the administrator level. Websites blocked by the admin cannot be overridden.

You may also notice the 'More options' section. Here, you can retrieve 'Quick Lists' as templates for your scene or filter websites more specifically using 'Advanced Filtering'.

Step #5
Once you are satisfied with your list, press the blue 'Save' button on the upper-right of the page. At this point, GoGuardian will redirect you back to the 'Scenes' page and you should see your new scene listed under its respective column.

Great! Now you can make use of your new scene in your classrooms.

Assuming that you have a classroom set up with a live session running, you may now easily monitor student activity and ensure that they remain on task. Here are some tips and tricks to get the most out of GoGuardian's monitoring features:

#1 - Don't rely solely on GoGuardian!
While GoGuardian is an incredibly extensive software, it's by no means perfect, and can sometimes feel a bit detached from reality. Rather than relying entirely on GoGuardian, make sure that you're still physically watching over student activity in your classroom. The consequences for computer misuse feel a lot more real when they come from you, the teacher, rather than a message box on their screen.

#2 - Screens are one thing, tabs are another.
When viewing a live session on GoGuardian, you will have a view of each active student's screen laid out in a gallery style. This is great - but it's not the full picture. Often times, students will try to be sneaky, opening multiple tabs so that they can quickly switch back to what they are supposed to be doing when you come looking. Consequently, GoGuardian has implemented a feature that allows you to see and manage each tab any given student has open. You can see the icons for these tabs on the full classroom view, but when you click on a student's screen, they will be shown in a list that is much more extensive and allows you to close off-task tabs.

#3 - Warn students with GoGuardian chat.
Sometimes, discretion can be a good thing. GoGuardian provides a chat feature that allows you to send messages to students without distracting others in your class. While this should not be used as a replacement for verbal warnings, it can certainly make life easier!

#4 - Close it, freeze it, lock it down!
When remotely viewing a student's screen and activity, you have several options should they be misusing their device. First, you have the ability to open and close tabs, allowing you to redirect students to what they're supposed to be doing should they stray off task. If you are having difficulties with a student, you also have the ability to freeze their browsing, essentially preventing them from navigating anywhere but the tabs you have specified for them. Lastly, there is the lock feature. If you need to stop a student's computer usage entirely for any reason, you can lock their screen to prevent them from using their device. This may be useful in a crisis situation or if you'd like to redirect them, but again, should not be used as a replacement for verbal warnings or taking the device away.

#5 - Keep an eye on the timeline.
Throughout the course of any live session, GoGuardian maintains a timeline of each student's activity. If you navigate to the 'Timelines' tab at the top of your live session, you can watch student web activity in real time, including any attempts to hide off-task websites by tabbing in and out of them. This can be a very useful tool in group settings and particularly if you find that there is a site commonly distracting students you may need blocked in the future.

In order to make use of GoGuardian's monitoring and additional filtering features, you will need to start a session for the classroom you would like to manage. You can do this in one of two ways: by starting the session immediately with a specified time frame (default: 45 minutes) or by scheduling live sessions on the 'Calendar' page of GoGuardian. Below, you will find step-by-step instructions for both methods.

Starting an Immediate Session

Step #1
Navigate to the 'Classrooms' page of GoGuardian and select the classroom you would like to start a session for. While it is technically possible to start a session quickly using the dropdown menu at the bottom of each classroom, you will not be able to set a scene when using this option, so I would advise (at least for the first time) actually opening the classroom.

Step #2
You should now be redirected to the classroom's configuration pages. On the left side of your screen, you will notice an additional side bar and you should be on the 'Sessions' page for your classroom.

On this 'Sessions' page, any sessions - past and ongoing - will be listed with some amount of detail describing them. You can revisit this page at any time to review student web history and GoGuardian chats for your sessions.

Step #3
On the right side of the 'Sessions' page, you should see a form to 'Start a New Session'. Here, you may select how long you'd like the session to be and, if applicable, what scene you would like to apply to the session. You may also exclude students from a session if necessary, though this is likely not something that will be used frequently. Once you have made your selections, press the green 'Start Session' button to apply your settings and begin the live session.

That's it! Now that your session is started, you can monitor your students' screens to ensure that they remain on task.

Scheduling a Session

Step #1
For scheduled sessions, you will first need to navigate to the 'Calendar' page of GoGuardian. Here, you will be able to see all scheduled sessions and create your own using a calendar week view.

Step #2
In the upper-right of the page, press the blue 'Schedule a Session' button. A pop-up menu should appear, prompting you to select the classroom whose session you'd like to schedule. Once you have selected your classroom, this pop-up menu will be populated with options for time, date, and repetitions. Additionally, if you would like to set up multiple schedules, there is an 'Add Another Schedule' option beneath this set of fields that allows you to do just that!

Step #3
Once you feel satisfied with your session schedule(s), I would recommend pressing 'Preview Schedule' in the lower-left of the pop-up menu. Upon doing so, you will be presented with a calendar view containing any of the sessions you've scheduled. Once you have confirmed that your scheduling is correct, press the blue 'Save and Close' button to finalize your session(s).

Great! Now, you have scheduled your classroom sessions. If, at any point, you would like to cancel or make adjustments to these sessions, simply return to the 'Calendar' page and use the pencil and trash can icons on your session to make your changes.

If, at any point, you need to make adjustments to the students in your classroom, follow the steps below:

Step #1
Navigate to the 'Classrooms' page on GoGuardian. Then, select the classroom whose students you would like to manage.

Step #2
After selecting your classroom, you should be redirected to the configuration pages for it and notice an additional side bar on the left side of your screen. Most likely, GoGuardian will first send you to the 'Sessions' page, but you will need to navigate to the 'Students' page instead.

Step #3
Once you've reached the 'Students' page for your classroom, you should be able to easily add and remove students!

To remove a student, simply press the blue 'Remove' link to the right of their name.

To add students, press the green 'Add Students' button in the upper-right of the page. You should be prompted with the same three options to add students as if you were making your classroom for the first time. I would recommend adding students by email, though all options do work!

That's it! You can also see any pending enrollments on this page, but this should be (and likely is) empty.

Sometimes, it can be beneficial to add other teachers to your classrooms, whether it be a substitute, a teaching aide, or just another teacher in the school who would benefit from access. Here's how it works:

Step #1
Navigate to the 'Classrooms' page on GoGuardian. Then, select the classroom whose students you would like to manage.

Step #2
After selecting your classroom, you should be redirected to the configuration pages for it and notice an additional side bar on the left side of your screen. Most likely, GoGuardian will first send you to the 'Sessions' page, but you will need to navigate to the 'Teachers' page instead.

Step #3
Once you've reached the 'Teachers' page for your classroom, you should be able to easily add and remove teachers!

To remove a teacher, simply press the blue 'Remove' link to the right of their name.

To add teachers, press the green 'Add Teacher' button in the upper-right of the page. You should be prompted to add the teacher by name or email, though I would recommend using email to ensure you get the right person. Additionally, you will need to select the 'Classroom Role' for the teacher you are adding. In most cases, 'Teacher' permissions will be sufficient, but if you would like to provide them less or more privileges, you may! Regardless, once you've made your selections, press the green 'Add Teacher' button to finish.

You're done! Now, when the teacher you have added opens their GoGuardian portal, they should be able to see your classroom on their 'Classrooms' page.

If, at any point, you would like to revisit your classroom's settings, sessions scheduled, or reports, follow the steps below:

Step #1
Navigate to the 'Classrooms' page on GoGuardian. Then, select the classroom whose students you would like to manage.

Step #2
After selecting your classroom, you should be redirected to the configuration pages for it and notice an additional side bar on the left side of your screen. Most likely, GoGuardian will first send you to the 'Sessions' page, but you will need to navigate to the 'Settings' page instead.

Step #3
Once you have reached your classroom's 'Settings' page, you should notice three buttons at the top of the screen labeled 'Info', 'Scheduling', and 'Reporting'.

By default, you will land on the 'Info' section. In this section, you may alter any of your classroom's basic details (i.e. Name, Subject, etc.). Be sure that when you change these details, you press the green 'Update Classroom' button once finished to apply them.

If you would like to view, edit, or delete any scheduled sessions for your classroom, you may do so under the 'Scheduling' section. After applying your changes, be sure to press the blue 'Save' button at the bottom of the screen to apply them.

As for the 'Reporting' section, this simply allows you to toggle emailed session reports. Essentially, GoGuardian will send you an email summary of student activity during a live session.