Hāpara Highlights: transparency with students Follow

We at Hāpara believe in visibility to support teachers' teaching and students' learning. Therefore, when starting with Hāpara Highlights for the first time or with a new group of students, it's essential to be transparent with students about the goal of Highlights and what to expect when using the tool.

Below are talking points to guide your conversations with students.

This guide is written from the student's viewpoint, including questions that teachers should address before using Highlights.

Conversations to have with students

What is Hāpara Highlights?

Hāpara Highlights is a learning tool that gives teachers visibility into your online browsing activity.

Why is my teacher using Hāpara Highlights?

In order to help you learn, teachers need to understand your learning progress. That includes the activities you’re working on and any challenges you’re having. Highlights helps teachers understand each part of your progress when learning online.

How does Highlights help me learn?

Highlights offers many features for teachers to help you as you learn. For example, teachers can send you websites for research. Or they can focus your browsing to certain websites for an activity that requires your full attention. Teachers can also send you positive messages about how you’re working online. Or they can send you messages to help you stay on your learning path. 

Most importantly, Highlights helps teachers make sure you’re safe online and, even better, guide you on how to stay safe in digital environments.

What will this look like on my device?

Messages appear as a pop-up in your internet browser. Messages are only sent from teacher to student, so once a message is read, you can close it. When a teacher shares a website with you, the website will automatically open in the same browser window. Occasionally, teachers may use a focus session to share resources with you. In this case, only the websites shared by the teacher will appear on your device for the time period set. At the end of the time, your device will return to the original state before the Focus Session.

What can my teacher see when using Highlights?

Teachers can see websites open in your device's browser while you are logged into your school student account. In addition, teachers can take 'snaps' of your online work to email you feedback about your learning progress. 

What times are Highlights used?

Hāpara is a tool strictly for learning purposes. Therefore, student privacy is of the utmost importance. Hāpara’s policy on Highlights use is no more than 10 hours daily, Monday-Friday. However, your school or district sets the times that your student account activity is monitored. Therefore, your school may have different times set up for Highlights use.

How will I know when my teacher is using Highlights?

When your teacher is able to view your browsing activity, your Highlights extension icon will change color. 

 Hāpara is committed to student privacy. Learn more at studentprivacypledge.org