Recently teachers have been able to monitor students’ Chromebooks using an installable extension called Hapara. Teachers can view a student’s screen on their computer. Students are now tasked with only using their school Chromebooks to complete important online assessments. Many students who spend money on private devices are angered by not being able to access private devices in the school.
Hapara allows teachers to do numerous things on their computers. Accessing students’ Google drives, sending announcements and opening and closing tabs are all with Hapara. Teachers commonly use this technology to limit cheating by viewing students’ screens.
When asked about the effects of the ability of Hapara to keep students from cheating sophomore Josiah Bliss said, “I don’t think it really affects it at all.”
An abundance of students have found loopholes to bypass screen monitoring. These loopholes brought a new policy requiring students only to use their school-issued Chromebooks.
This change in screen monitoring has been met with controversy. Students believe that this software poses a threat to their online privacy. Junior Antonio Kurstritz describes this monitoring as “A violation of my personal rights” expressing a misuse of trust in the school.
“They can see what you’re doing whenever they want,” Bliss said.
However, teachers think differently because of school policies and rules. Stillwater policies state that the use of technology is a privilege, not a right.
“It’s a school-issued Chromebook, it’s the school’s wifi and so kids hopefully will understand that if kids are on the right stuff and doing the right things there’s nothing to worry about,” math teacher Peter Hamilton said.
This technology has been strictly enforced in Stillwater and schools nationwide to prevent new AI and other websites from interfering with assessment scores. “We have seen a severe fluctuation in grades,” Hamilton said. This causes a debate about whether this technology should have continued use in schools despite students addressing their concerns.
When asked about whether Hapara should expand to other schools Bliss said, “I don’t think so, because I don’t like it so other people at other schools probably wont either.”
With the use of AI, many teachers have seen grade inflation and elevated grades. This Hapara technology can help better protect the school.
“It’s not just on testing or cheating, it’s so we know we have a secure environment,” Hamilton said.
Hapara has offered a wide range of new ways for teachers to diminish cheating and to help keep the school safe. Although students can call for an online security threat school safety is of the utmost importance.