Navigating Student Tiles in Highlights Follow
In this article:
Customizing your view of Student Tiles
Best practices for closing browser tabs
How to save documentation using the Student Tiles
Student Tiles in Browser Tabs vs. Current Screens
Student Tiles are the heart of what makes Hāpara Highlights a tool that teachers love. Student Tiles give you a direct window into what your students are doing in Google Chrome during an online lesson. They allow you to see progress on an assignment, check for understanding and redirect off-task behavior. They also give you the ability to provide valuable, in-the-moment feedback on assignments at an individual level, making consistent formative feedback easier.
Where to find Student Tiles
Student Tiles appear in the Browser Tabs and Current Screens tabs of Highlights. These are the Highlights tabs that give you visibility into what students are viewing at that moment while they browse online using Google Chrome.
Here’s what Student Tiles in Browser Tabs and Current Screens offer.
Browser Tabs
- List of websites — This list displays the websites the student most recently opened. You can click on any of the website names to view the sites yourself. The website in bold is the one the student is currently viewing
- X next to a listed website — This feature allows you to close the website or tab the student has open. Or you can select to block it for a period of time. This is helpful if a student needs to be redirected back to their learning path. When you close a tab, you’ll also select a reason for closing it. The reason will then appear on the student’s screen.
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Announce feature — This feature allows you to instantly send formative feedback to a student. The announcement will pop up on the student’s screen. You can also include an emoji.
- More features — The drop-down menu includes additional features such as viewing the student’s screen, setting up a guided browsing session or emailing the student.
Current Screens
- Screenshot — This shows a screenshot of the tab the student currently has open.
- Website name — This displays the name of the site the student currently is viewing. You can also click on the website name to open the site yourself.
- X at the bottom of the Student Tile — This feature allows you to close the website or tab the student has open. Or you can select to block it for a period of time. This is helpful if a student needs to be redirected back to their learning path. When you close a tab, you’ll also select a reason for closing it. The reason will then appear on the student’s screen.
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- More features — The drop-down menu includes additional features such as viewing the student’s screen, setting up a guided browsing session or emailing the student.
Student Tile drop-down menu
In both tabs, a Student Tile has a drop-down menu with actions you can take.
|
Feature |
What it does |
How it’s useful |
|
View screen |
This feature opens a larger view of what a student is currently looking at on their browser. |
This provides individual documentation on the student’s progress. You can take a Snap to show parents or give feedback directly to the student. |
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Share links |
This allows you to share links that open directly onto a student’s device. |
This is helpful when you want to quickly show the student an example. |
|
Start focus session |
This allows you to set up a guided browsing session, focusing the student only on the website(s) you share in the session. |
This is useful when you want the student to focus on one website or just a handful of sites. This allows you to differentiate your lesson and personalize the student’s browsing experience by focusing on something specific. |
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Start filter session |
This allows you to set up a guided browsing session that prevents the student from viewing the website(s) you share in the session. |
This is great for restricting access to problem sites for just one student. Not every student progresses toward positive online behavior at the same rate! You can use this option to start the session quickly when you see the problem happening. You can also follow up by sending the student a message about digital citizenship. |
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Freeze tabs |
When you use this feature, students can only use the current tabs they have open. |
This is helpful when you want students to focus on a task. |
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Pause screen |
When you use this feature, students can’t browse online while their screen is paused. |
This is helpful when you need students' full attention so you can give an announcement or explanation. |
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This allows you to email the student directly. |
Many teachers use email to give more detailed feedback, perhaps toward the end of the session so the student can reflect on their performance. |
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Edit groups |
This feature allows you to make changes to your student groups. |
This is helpful when you want to quickly take a specific student out of or add them to a group for differentiation, extra support, etc. |
Customizing your view of Student Tiles
There is a white toolbar on the top-right-hand side of Highlights. This includes four icons that allow you to customize your view of the Student Tiles on your screen.
|
Feature |
What it does |
How it’s useful |
|
Groups |
This feature allows you to view one or more groups of students in Highlights. You can also edit groups from here. |
This is helpful when you want to view specific student groups and check on their online learning progress. |
|
Sort |
This feature allows you to reshuffle the order of the Student Tiles to bring the tiles you want to the top of the screen. There are options for sorting by first or last name or by students who were online or offline first. |
This is helpful to bring the Student Tiles you want to see to the top of the screen when you’re documenting or grading participation. It also makes it faster when you are trying to locate a particular Student Tile. |
|
Size |
This feature gives you the option of making the Student Tiles compact so you can see more of them on your screen at once. |
This allows you to customize what you see in a way that is manageable for you. |
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Refresh |
This feature allows you to refresh the content of the Student Tiles to make sure you’re seeing the most up-to-date information. |
This is helpful when you want to see if anything has changed or updated. |
Best practices for closing or blocking browser tabs
In the Student Tiles in Browser Tabs, you can click the X to close or block a student’s browser tab. There are best practices you should follow, though, before immediately closing or blocking a student’s tab. Distracted students may need help or scaffolding, so it’s best to check in with them first.
1. Check the list of websites the student has open.
2. If you find a website that’s questionable, click on the website to view it yourself.
3. The website will open in a new tab on your device.
4. If you see that the student is off-task or seems to misunderstand the assignment, send a quick message.
5. Type a friendly note or offer assistance to help the student get back on track.
6. If the student remains off-task, click the X to close the student’s tab or block it for a period of time.
7. Select a reason for closing the student’s tab. This communication will help the student understand how to make better choices online going forward.
8. The reason will appear on the student’s device in place of the website you closed.
How to save documentation using the Student Tiles
With Student Tiles, you can also save documentation of a student’s online learning progress. This feature is called a Snap. It can be helpful to have on file for a parent conference, an IEP meeting or to share with a student for reflection.
A Snap includes a screenshot of what the student was viewing, the website link and a timeline of their browsing. The saved Snap is available for seven days in Highlights.
Take a Snap in Current Screens
To take a Snap in Current Screens, follow these steps:
1. Click on the screenshot in the Student Tile.
2. A larger version of the screenshot will open, along with helpful information.
3. Click Take a snap at the bottom.
4. To view the Snap, click on the Snaps tab at the top of your screen.
5. Then click on a Snap to view it.
6. Finally, click Email me a copy in the top right-hand corner to send yourself a copy of the Snap.
Take a Snap from Browser Tabs
To take a Snap from Browser Tabs, follow these steps:
1. In the Student Tile, click the three dots to open the drop-down menu.
2. Click View screen. A screenshot of the student’s browsing activity will open.
3. Click Take a snap at the bottom.
4. To view the Snap, visit the Snaps tab.
5. Then click on the Snap to view it.
6. Finally, click Email me a copy, if you want to send yourself a copy.
Student Tiles in Browser Tabs vs. Current Screens
|
Browser Tabs Student Tiles |
Current Screens Student Tiles |
Both |
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A list of websites students have opened and closed since you began the Highlights session — the website in bold is the one the student is currently viewing |
Screenshot of the tab the student currently has open on their screen |
The student’s name |
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The groups the student belongs to — these are displayed in the color coded bar at the top |
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Live link that you can click to view the website a student has open |
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X that you can use to close or block a student’s tab |
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Announce icon |
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Drop-down menu with more options |