Highlights: Class View Follow
This article helps teachers use Class View in Hāpara Highlights to monitor student browser activity, switch between Current Screens and Browser Tabs, redirect students and review class-wide browsing activity.
Who this is for
Teachers | Admins
Summary
Class View is the main place teachers monitor student browser activity in Hāpara Highlights. It opens in Current Screens by default, and teachers can switch to Browser Tabs when they need a broader view of browser URLs and recent browsing activity.
From Class View, teachers can also identify browser activity, quickly close distracting tabs, view and manage Guided Browsing sessions, and use the Overview Panel to review class-wide browsing activity.
In this article:
- Quick answers
- Open Class View
- Switch between Current Screens and Browser Tabs
- Identify audio, Split View and multiple windows
- Close a student's browser tab
- View and manage Guided Browsing sessions
- Use the Overview Panel
- Students showing as Offline
- Troubleshoot delayed or missing Class View updates
- Additional tips
Quick answers
What is the difference between Current Screens and Browser Tabs?
Current Screens shows a near-real-time screenshot of the browser content a student is currently viewing.
Browser Tabs shows URLs from the student's Chrome browsing activity. Use Current Screens when you need visual context and Browser Tabs when you need a broader view of browser activity or when screenshots are delayed.
What do the audio, Split View and multiple windows icons mean?
Highlights displays indicators when a Chrome browser tab is playing audio, when a student is using Chrome Split View or when a browser tab is open in another Chrome window.
See How to identify audio, Split View and multiple windows in Hāpara Highlights to learn what each indicator means and see examples.
Why is a student showing as Offline?
A student may appear Offline when Highlights cannot detect an active managed Chrome session for the student. This can happen if the device is offline, the student is not using Chrome, they are signed into the wrong account or the Highlights extension is not connected.
See Why are my students showing as Offline in Hāpara Highlights? for complete troubleshooting steps.
Can I close a student's browser tab from Class View?
Yes. Select the lightning-bolt icon on the student's tile to close their current browser tab instantly.
See How to close websites for students for additional options, including closing a tab with a reason or blocking a website.
How do I start a Focus Session or Filter Session?
Use Guided Browsing in Highlights to start a Focus Session or Filter Session.
See How to guide student browsing with Focus Sessions and Filter Sessions for step-by-step setup and management instructions.
What does the Overview Panel show?
The Overview Panel provides a class-wide view of websites and URLs students currently have open or recently visited. Expand a URL to see which students have it open and which students recently closed it.
When does Class View update?
Class View updates in near real time while students are online, using Chrome and connected to Highlights. Updates may be delayed if the student's connection changes, they switch accounts, their device closes or the Highlights extension disconnects.
Open Class View
- Open Hāpara Highlights.
- Select the class you want to monitor.
- Select Class View in the toolbar.
Class View opens in Current Screens by default.
Switch between Current Screens and Browser Tabs
Use the view switch above the student tiles to choose how you want to review student browser activity.
- Open Class View.
- Find the view switch above the student tiles.
- Select Current Screens to see near-real-time screenshots of the browser content students are currently viewing.
- Select Browser Tabs to review browser URLs and recent browsing activity.
Use Current Screens when you need visual context for what a student is viewing.
Use Browser Tabs when you need to confirm URLs, review recent browsing activity or troubleshoot delayed screenshots.
Identify audio, Split View and multiple windows
Highlights displays indicators on student tiles when:
- A Chrome browser tab is playing audio
- A student is using Chrome Split View
- A browser tab is open in another Chrome window
These indicators are available in both Current Screens and Browser Tabs.
To learn what each indicator means, see screenshots and understand the difference between multiple Chrome windows, multiple desktops and physical screens, see How to identify audio, Split View and multiple windows in Hāpara Highlights .
Note: The audio indicator shows that a Chrome browser tab is playing audio. It does not allow teachers to listen to the student's audio through Highlights.
Close a student's browser tab
Teachers can close a student's current Chrome browser tab directly from Class View for quick redirection.
- Locate the student's tile in Class View.
- Select the lightning-bolt icon.
The student's current browser tab closes.
Use this option for quick redirection. If students need to stay on or away from specific websites for longer, use a Focus Session or Filter Session instead.
For instructions on closing tabs with a reason, blocking websites and administrator settings for Close tabs instantly, see How to close websites for students .
View and manage Guided Browsing sessions
The Guided Browsing bar above the student tiles shows when students are in an active Focus Session or Filter Session.
When a Guided Browsing session is active, the bar shows information such as the remaining time and options to review or end the session.
From Class View, teachers can:
- See whether a Guided Browsing session is active
- Review an active Focus Session or Filter Session
- Check how much time remains
- Release students or end a session
- Start a new Guided Browsing session
For instructions on setting up, scheduling and managing Focus Sessions and Filter Sessions, see How to guide student browsing with Focus Sessions and Filter Sessions .
Use the Overview Panel
Use the Overview Panel to review class-wide browsing activity without leaving Class View.
- In Class View, select Overview on the right side of the Guided Browsing bar.
- Review the list of websites and URLs students currently have open or recently visited.
- Select the arrow next to a URL to expand it.
- Review which students currently have the URL open and which students recently closed it.
The Overview Panel is useful when you want to quickly identify class-wide browsing patterns or see whether multiple students are using the same website.
Students showing as Offline
A student may appear Offline when Highlights cannot detect an active managed Chrome session for that student.
Common causes include:
- The student's device is closed, turned off or not connected to the internet
- The student is not using Chrome
- The student is not signed into Chrome with their school account
- The student is signed into Chrome with the wrong account
- The Highlights extension is missing or not connected
For complete troubleshooting steps for teachers and administrators, see Why are my students showing as Offline in Hāpara Highlights? .
Troubleshoot delayed or missing Class View updates
If Current Screens or Browser Tabs does not appear to be updating:
- Confirm that the student is online and using Chrome.
- Confirm that the student is signed into Chrome with the correct school account.
- Switch from Current Screens to Browser Tabs to check whether browser activity is still updating.
- Ask the student to select the Hāpara Highlights extension icon to reconnect if needed.
- Refresh Highlights.
- If Current Screens is delayed but Browser Tabs is updating, continue using Browser Tabs while the connection catches up.
- If neither screenshots nor browser activity update, follow your school or district process for technical support.
If the student appears Offline, see Why are my students showing as Offline in Hāpara Highlights? .
Additional tips
- Use Browser Tabs when you need a quick way to confirm a URL or review recent browsing activity.
- Use Current Screens when you need visual context before redirecting a student.
- Use the lightning-bolt icon for quick redirection.
- Use Focus Sessions or Filter Sessions when students need guided browsing for longer periods.
- Use the Overview Panel when you want to compare browsing activity across the class.
- Use Snaps when you need to save evidence of student activity for follow-up or feedback.
- Keep Highlights open during the class session so browsing activity can continue updating.