Manage

Power on or off and log in/log out all classroom computers from the teacher’s PC.
To power on a NetSupport School Student, the workstation must have a Wake-on-LAN network adapter and a BIOS that will support it (consult your Network Manager), the Student must also be connected to the Tutor. The Tutor sends a Wake-on-LAN packet to the Student network adapter, which instructs the workstation to power on.

NetSupport School uses the Advanced Power Management (APM) features of the Windows Operating System (where supported), to provide Student power down capabilities. A Tutor can remotely power off a Student workstation using the NetSupport School Power Management function.

If a generic naming convention is used for the classroom PCs, the Tutor can automatically log the Students in, to save time at the start of a lesson.

Blank all students’ screens to gain attention and also lock their mice and keyboards.
When the Tutor instructs using the ‘Show mode’, the connected Students’ mice and keyboards are automatically locked. The Tutor can also lock connected Students’ keyboards and mice at other times (outside of Show mode). The keyboard and mouse can also be configured to lock separately if required and by default, a graphic is displayed on a Student’s screen when the Tutor locks a Student’s keyboard and mouse. The Tutor can also blank a/all Student screens as and when needed.

Automatically re-connect to students’ PCs if they are rebooted.
During an active session, a Student may inadvertently disconnect, for example, when they reboot their machine. Each time a Student disconnects a message will appear advising which Student has disconnected, the Tutor can dismiss this prompt or leave to timeout as it will allow them to carry on working (this message can be disabled if required). To automatically reconnect to Students when they become available, ensure that the Automatically Reconnect to Students option is selected in the Tutor User Interface Settings.

Use layouts of students on teachers’ screens to match the layout of the physical classroom.
Once the Tutor has selected a classroom or group, they can rearrange the individual Student icons in the Control List view to reflect the layout of the classroom. A background image can also be added to further customise the Control view. When using Room mode, the classroom layout will be automatically saved against the Room selected. When the Tutor console is started-up, the Tutor can select the Room and the layout will automatically load.

Use individual teachers profiles to deliver the features needed by each teacher.
NetSupport School allows multiple Tutor Profiles to be set-up for different Tutor users, each with a pre-defined set of options. On starting the Tutor program, if multiple profiles have been created a dialog is displayed that allows the user to select which profile to use. The main benefit of creating a profile is to be able to store ready-made lists of approved/restricted applications, websites and keywords rather than have the user create these at the start of each lesson.

Use a one-click “Request Assistance” option from the teacher’s toolbar if technical support is needed.
NetSupport School allows Tutors to request help from Lab Technicians and Network Managers. A ‘Get Support’ icon will be displayed on the Tutor console toolbar. Clicking the icon allows the Tutor to either chat or send a message directly to the Lab Technician or Network Manager.

Reset students’ system passwords without IT support.
NetSupport School allows the Tutor to manage users (reset and unlock passwords) that are part of Active Directory, allowing them to easily reset Student passwords at the end of a lesson, if required. They can see user accounts that have been locked, unlock the account or assign a new password. If non-domain administrators want to use this facility, they will need the appropriate rights provided to them.

Student Feedback mode.
There are several visible indicators to choose from to gauge feedback from the students.
Once the option has been selected, a dialog box opens to allow the teacher to enter the question and then send it to the class.
The chosen visual, along with the teacher’s question, will then appear on the students’ PCs so they can make their selection.
All the feedback results are then reported back to the Tutor in two formats: a list-style report (showing each student’s individual feedback) enables the teacher to drill down into each student’s mood/understanding – or a chart view helping the teacher to see the general mood/understanding across the class at a quick glance.

Blank all students’ screens to gain attention and also lock their mice and keyboards.
When the Tutor instructs using the ‘Show mode’, the connected Students’ mice and keyboards are automatically locked. The Tutor can also lock connected Students’ keyboards and mice at other times (outside of Show mode). The keyboard and mouse can also be configured to lock separately if required and by default, a graphic is displayed on a Student’s screen when the Tutor locks a Student’s keyboard and mouse. The Tutor can also blank a/all Student screens as and when needed.

User Modes
NetSupport School provides three user modes for the interface of the Tutor Console: Easy, Intermediate and Advanced. Advanced mode provides full access to all NetSupport School’s features and functions. Intermediate mode provides a more focused view and limits access to only frequently used features and functions. Easy mode pares back the available tools, leaving only one click access to basic classroom management features, making it accessible to even the most technology-shy teachers.

The three modes allow teachers to choose between the tools that suit their needs and level of edtech confidence, helping schools to maximise their edtech investment.

Easy mode includes:
• Lock/Unlock
• Blank screens
• Power on pcs
• Message students
• Student Feedback
• Block all internet
• Help requests
• ‘Mute Audio’ at student.
• Lesson Timer.

Intermediate mode includes:
• View students
• File transfer
• Lock/unlock students’ keyboards and mice
• Set the level of web access
• Show
• Power students on/off
• Login students
• Logout students
• Send a message
• Chat

Advanced mode includes: All NetSupport School’s features.
Teachers can easily switch between modes.

Printing controls.
Print Management gives the Tutor total control over printer usage within the classroom. The Tutor can monitor and control all printing activity by connected Students or printers. Students can be prevented from printing, be assigned page limits or require Tutor authorisation to print. The print management feature supports multiple printers within a classroom, prevents the addition, deletion or modification of existing printers and provides printing usage summaries as part of the Student register.

Prevent data being copied to or from USB storage and CDR/DVD devices.
The Device Control feature allows the Tutor to protect against external sources during a Lesson. The Tutor can prevent data from being copied to or from USB devices and CD/DVD drives. In addition, the Tutor can provide read-only access, allowing Students to view files from devices but prevents them from copying files to them.

Request standard and custom information from each student at the start of the class.

By default, NetSupport School will display the machine name of the Student workstation in the Control window. However, there may be times when the Tutor wants the control to display the actual name of the Student and request additional information. The Student Register option enables the Tutor to prompt the Students for their details…the Tutor can click ‘Register’ to send the form to Student machines and monitor progress as the Students respond. Once all the Students have signed in, the Student icon in the Control window will now display the registered name.

Distribute files and folders from the tutor’s PC to multiple student devices.
NetSupport School includes sophisticated File Transfer functionality that enables Tutors to transfer files to and from the Tutor and Student. With NetSupport School’s File Transfer it is also possible to copy files and folders between two Students. 

Transfer files to and from selected or multiple PCs in a single action. 
As well as enabling the Tutor to transfer files to and from individual Students, NetSupport School also allows them to distribute files to multiple Students simultaneously.

Hand out and automatically collect files with each student’s details appended. 
The Send/Collect Work feature enables Tutors to send a document or a number of documents to individual or multiple Student workstations. They can then collect Students’ responses on their workstation.

Real-time feedback tells the teacher which students’ files are ready for collection and which students need reminding.
Once work has been sent to the Students, the Tutor will be able to see the current status from the Send/Collect Work icon drop-down menu. They can toggle between showing Students who have completed their work or those with items remaining.

Toolbar overview
The Student Toolbar provides feedback to the Student on the current lesson, time remaining, current websites and applications that are available, the status of print, audio and keyboard monitoring and quick access to initiate a Chat session and request help. Students can also access their USB memory stick, Student Journal, work items that have been sent and any resources from the toolbar. It can be set to be always visible at the top of the Student screen or to auto-hide.

NetSupport School provides the Tutor with the ability to ‘reward’ Students for good behaviour. During a lesson, a Tutor can give individual Students a reward, in the form of a star, which is reflected on the main toolbar. The number of rewards a Student has can be viewed by mousing over the Student icon in Normal view.

Access their digital journal.
NetSupport School provides a ‘Student Journal’, this is an electronic record of key information that has been covered during the lesson. The Student Journal is in the form of a portable PDF document, allowing Students to refer back to it after the lesson. Not only can the Tutor add notes and resources used during the lesson directly to every Student Journal, the Students are able to add their own notes making this a truly personalised document.

The unique Student Journal offers a welcome summary for any Students who were absent from a lesson as well as a structured summary of activity for the Tutor.

Access their personal resources folder.
Students can now easily access any resources required during a lesson. The Tutor can create a resource list and add links to websites, applications and documents, this list is then displayed in the Student Toolbar providing Students with a quick and easy way to access the required resources.