New Chromebook Controls Are Now Available for Howell Families
Howell Public Schools families now have more tools to manage their child’s school-issued Chromebook when it comes home from school.
The district recently announced that families can use the GoGuardian Parent app to view their child’s Chromebook browsing activity and manage internet access during non-school hours.
This is a helpful resource for families navigating screen time, homework, bedtime, and appropriate technology use at home.
What can parents do with GoGuardian Parent?
According to Howell Public Schools’ parent guide, families can use the app to view browsing activity on their child’s school-issued Chromebook. Beginning at 4:00 p.m., parents can also use several additional controls.
Parents can:
Block specific websites, including an entire domain or certain subdomains.
Pause internet access for preset periods of time.
Resume internet access early when needed.
Create recurring schedules that automatically pause internet access on selected days and times.
Review browsing activity, including visited domains.
For example, a family could create a recurring schedule that limits internet access at bedtime or temporarily pause access when it's time to put the Chromebook away.
It is important to note that these controls apply to the student's district-managed Chromebook. GoGuardian Parent isn't a general parental-control system for all of the devices or internet access in a household.
Howell also has overnight Chromebook limits for younger students
There's another feature parents may want to know about.
Outside of the GoGuardian Parent app, Howell Public Schools automatically transitions district-issued Chromebooks to offline mode from 11:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m. for students in K-8th grade.
During that time, internet access on the student's school-issued Chromebook is disabled.
How do I get the app?
Howell Public Schools has created a detailed, step-by-step guide for families that walks through downloading the app, verifying your account, reviewing student activity, blocking websites, pausing internet access, and setting recurring schedules.
Parents authenticate using the email address they have on file in PowerSchool. If the app can't verify an email address, the district recommends contacting your child's school to confirm the address on file.
Giving families more tools
Technology is now a significant part of how students learn, but school-issued devices don't stop being part of family life when the school day ends.
I appreciate seeing families given additional tools to make decisions about how those devices are used at home. Parents know their children best, and tools like these can give families more flexibility to establish the technology boundaries that work for them.
Learn more
The GoGuardian Parent announcement is included in the latest MacGregor's Message, along with other news and updates from Howell Public Schools.
You can also learn more about the Parent app directly from GoGuardian: Learn about GoGuardian Parent
