Linewize Connect for Whanau
As technology develops at a rapid rate, so too do the tools at our disposal to ensure your children are kept as safe as possible from online scams, bullying, and adult content amongst other threats or distractions.
Mount Hutt College uses the Linewize/Classwize system to ensure the cyber safety of your whanau whilst at school and keep them focussed on their schoolwork. This is in a state of constant development and upgrade, most of the time going unnoticed by the students. More information on Linewize can be found here: https://www.linewize.com/
We are currently in the process of completing a major upgrade to our systems. For the students, this means that they need to install a small software package onto their laptops - Chromebooks will have this deployed automatically. At the present time, this process is for Windows laptops only - MacOS devices will be included shortly.
A ‘walled garden’ approach will be instituted from the beginning of Term 2, at which time any Windows devices without the software installed - or has been removed - will not be able to access the Internet from MHC networks - they will be directed to a page to download and re-install the software. Apple devices will not be affected at all, unless the software has been made available for them - we still have some trialling to complete.
The software package has two functions. Firstly, to allow the students out of the walled garden and onto the internet and secondly, to allow ‘in-class’ monitoring of device use. Teachers will be able to activate Classwize and see the student devices desktop, screen and what applications are open. They will then be able to take corrective measures to re-focus the students on their schoolwork.
It is very important for you to understand that once installed, this software only works while the students are logged into our School BYOD network and no others. This means the School has no access to, nor wants any access to, student devices when they are not at school.
We will keep you updated if there are any changes to the proposed timeline.
G W Agnew