Are you looking for tools to create an effective online classroom? The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted learning around the world, resulting in many schools turning to distance learning.

This left many teachers grappling with software in the online learning environment that was possibly slightly foreign to them. A circumstance we at Mobile Guardian empathised with immensely, and actively looked for ways we could be of help!

We have an article that offers valuable guidance for school administrators and principals seeking to enhance online learning strategies and improve mobile device management for teachers. Discover practical solutions to optimise remote education and empower educators with effective tools and technology.

However, in this article we will focus on the teacher's needs and the issues they confront in online learning environments. We will cover some of the various tools and platforms that may be utilised to empower and enhance online learning.

The combination of the functionality outlined below with Mobile Guardian’s Solutions, puts teachers in a great position to take control of their classes and engage with their students in a direct and coordinated manner.

If you’re adapting to or are looking for further tips for your online learning journey, then this article is for you!

What we’ll cover:

       
1. Tools for Online Classrooms
       
2. Google Classroom & Mobile Guardian
       
3. Managing an Online Learning Environment
       
4. Finding Comfort in Distance Learning

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Let’s dive in!

1. Tools for Online Classrooms

Finding the ideal software to facilitate an online classroom is important.

However, sometimes, it may seem like there isn’t enough time to dive deeply into the available tech options that may suit your learning environment. This could result in rushed decision making which may leave you with a solution that hinders rather than helps your students.

A robust online classroom relies on a suite of effective tools.

Google Workspace for Education provides a comprehensive platform with tools like Google Docs, Google Slides, Google Meet, and Google Drive, enabling seamless collaboration and communication

With Mobile Guardian, educators can really enhance the native functionality of Google for Education. Mobile Guardian’s classroom management tools prioritise the teacher, enabling them to engage with their students, enjoy oversight of devices during class and share their screen during class.

For a deeper dive, please refer to our article on the Benefits of integrating Google Workspace for Education with your Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution.

2. Google Classroom & Mobile Guardian

An Overview of Google Classroom

One of the standout tools of Google for Education is Google Classroom, an online classroom environment that allows teachers to effectively deliver lessons to their students.

With Google Classroom teachers are able to create their classes and lessons, and easily distribute them to their students in an online classroom environment.

Be it making announcements, providing assignments, sharing links, there is a vast amount of classroom dynamics that Google Classroom brings to an online classroom.

The main strengths of Google Classroom are as follows:

       
• Unified platform within the Google for Education environment to assemble classes
• Present class content  created in Google Docs, Google Slides, Google Sheets, Janboard, etc. in a single location
• Distribute class content for particular classes in an easy and controlled manner
• Guide the conversation that students may be engaging in, in relation to the content available
• Reuse previous class content for similar or different classes
• Create and benefit from structured online learning environments

What makes Google Classroom and Mobile Guardian a good match is how easy the synchronisation of class data between the two platforms is in order to start using our Classroom Management tools.

To understand some of the Google tools available from the perspective of an educator, read through our article on Google for Education for Educators.

Additionally, our blog on the Benefits of Integrating Google Workspace for Education with your MDM covers the positives and required considerations that should be taken into account when reviewing Google Workspace for Education for your online learning environment.

The combined benefits of Google Classroom and Mobile Guardian

“Okay, I see how Google Classroom may be of use, why would I need another tool on top of this?”

A good question!

Google Classroom is a powerful tool, however Mobile Guardian’s classroom management tools offer even further functionality for guiding students online.

Teachers gain insight into student activity online in real-time during class, extensive functionality for guiding learning in order to remove distraction and ensure students are learning as expected.

When it comes to online learning, we’re sure that most teachers have concerns about attention and student accountability during class. Mobile Guardian’s classroom management tools offer a way for teachers to provide guidance to keep students focused on the task at hand.

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Using Mobile Guardian, teachers are able to:

• Have a live view of students’ activities on their device
• Review students’ online activities after class
• Directly message students (one-way, one-on-one communication)
• Share screens with the class (either the teachers screen or a student’s screen)
• Integrate and sync Classes directly from Google Classroom
• Push content directly to students’ devices
• Close and control online content viewed on a students device

Additionally, Mobile Guardian provides schools with functionality that allows the creation of focused online learning environments at home in addition to at school. Through our Parental Controls functionality, parents and guardians are able to restrict undesirable websites and other online distractions such as social media and Youtube when students are learning at home, or when simply browsing the internet.

Think of Google Classroom as the online classroom environment, providing the means to create and make the class content available, and Mobile Guardian being the teacher, standing in the students lounge or bedroom ensuring attentive and engaged learning during homework hours.

If you would like to see how this solution may apply to your unique tech challenges, sign up for a demo and we’ll gladly take you through how Mobile Guardian may suit your online learning environment.

3. Managing an Online Learning Environment

Maintaining a safe and productive online learning environment is paramount and Mobile Guardian’s Safer solution offers educators with web filtering functionality to achieve just that.

Safer empowers educators to:

• Create a balanced browsing experience with appropriate restrictions
• Ensure student safety while fostering independent learning
• Align online activities with school policies.

For best practices on creating safe online learning environments for your students, refer to our blog on Safe, Cloud-based Learning.

We understand that finding the right balance in web filtering can be challenging.

There's a risk of creating an overly restrictive environment that stifles student learning, or conversely, allowing unrestricted access that exposes students to harmful content.

We’re of the opinion that a happy middle ground provides the best results.

A balance between allowing students agency over their ability to browse safe content, yet without access to any particularly harmful or toxic content.

Mobile Guardian allows for school administrators to create an online browsing environment that is inline with their ePolicy and ensure that students are cared for while browsing the internet.

Mobile Guardian’s Web-filtering tools:

       
• Are cloud-based, allowing for powerful web filtering on and off school premises  
• Comprehensive and selective web filtering
• Allows teachers to restrict and/or allow websites during class: e.g. If Youtube is blocked, a single Youtube url may be white listed for access during that class.
• Record all changes and adjustments of settings for clear accountability
• Create restrictions that apply at the class, grade, school, or district level

IT administrators and teachers are able to ensure that students may safely browse content that is suitable and not in contravention with school ePolicy procedures.

4. Finding Comfort in Distance Learning

The key learning point from this article is that finding a solution that works for you and your school is crucial. From administrators to teachers to students, creating a functional and enjoyable online classroom is crucial to effective learning.

If you think Mobile Guardian could be of assistance in enhancing your online classroom environment, request a demo of Mobile Guardian’s Solutions to find out which solution may suitably fit your classroom.

Onwards,

Robyn Hobson

The Mobile Guardian Team