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Using DyKnow to Monitor Classes

In order to monitor students with DyKnow you will need to create a class and then enroll the students. Once you have a class with students, you can start monitor when needed.

Creating a DyKnow Class

  1. Click on Create Class in the blue My DyKnow bar.
  2. Set the start and end dates for class. You probably want the end date to be the end of the school year.
  3. In the Class Folder Display Information box, enter a Class Name. Use your last name, class name, and then block number.
    1. Example: Heidorn - Tech Apps I - Block 2
  4. You can enter a description if you like but it is not necessary.
  1. Click OK.
  2. Confirm the class information in correct and click OK again to create the class.

Enroll Students into a DyKnow Class

There are two ways to enroll students in a DyKnow class. You can manually enroll the students yourself, or you can have them self-enroll. The advantage of manual enrollment is that you can be sure all of your students are enrolled. However, either method works.

Once students are enrolled in your class, you are ready to begin using DyKnow Monitor with that class.

Student Self-Enrollment

  1. Instruct students to open DyKnow and enroll in your class. Have them:
    1. Open DyKnow and sign in.
    2. On the main page, click Offered Classes.
    3. Click the Sign Up link for your class.
  2. Check the class roster in DyKnow to ensure that everyone is enrolled.

Manually Enroll Students

  1. Export a roster of your students from PowerSchool and open it in Excel.
  2. Log in to the DyKnow Admin Console.
  3. Click Add User to Class in the left pane.
  4. Click the class you want to add students to.
  5. Click Bulk Insert near the top.
  6. Copy the list of Student ID Numbers from your PowerSchool roster and paste them into to UserIDs box.
  7. Click Confirm Eligibility.
  8. At the preview screen, if everything looks good click Add Users.
  9. You’ll see a report of the users that were added to the class.

Use DyKnow Monitor

To start DyKnow monitor:

  1. Sign-in to the DyKnow desktop application.
  2. Click the Start Monitor button in the toolbar.
  3. In the User Workstations field, select the class you want to monitor then click Monitor.
  4. Monitoring will start and the user workstations will gradually appear in the listing.

You can use monitor to view students’ screens as well as apply different blocking plans.

URL Filtering

URL filtering allows you to specify a set of websites students are allowed to access and block all others. Be aware that Microsoft Edge often has trouble with URL filtering. See the section on blocking MS Edge to block it specifically and allow other applications.

Creating URL Filtering Plans

  1. In the Monitor tab, click the dropdown arrow under Filter URLs.
  2. Click Set up Plans.
  3. Click New.
  4. Type a name for the plan.
  5. In the Add URL field, type the domain of a site you want to allow. It’s usually best to omit www. Here’s an example plan to allow lasallehs.net and all subdomains of it (such as moodle.lasallehs.net and powerschool.lasallehs.net).
    1. *.lasallehs.net
    2. lasallehs.net
  6. When you have the URLs you want to allow, click Save.
  7. With the plan selected, click OK and it will be applied to the workstations you’re monitoring.

Starting URL Filtering

  1. In the Monitor tab, click the dropdown arrow under Filter URLs.
  2. Click the plan to apply.

Stopping URL Filtering

  1. In the Monitor tab, click the Filter URLs button.

Application Blocking

Application blocking allows you to specify what programs students may use. Applications that aren’t allowed will be hidden or closed.

Creating Application Blocking Plans

  1. In the Monitor tab, click the dropdown under Block Applications.
  2. Click Set up Plans.
  3. Click New.
  4. Type a name for the plan.
  5. For the plan type, you can choose whether to Block All applications except the ones you list, or you can Allow All applications except the ones you list. Usually you want a block all plan.
  6. Find and select applications from the menu and click Add to put them on the list.
    1. For some apps that do not appear in the list (Edge, Calculator, Alarms) you will want to enter the name into the search box and click search to find them.
  7. Once you have your list of allowed/blocked applications, click Save.
  8. With the plan selected, click OK and it will be applied to the workstations you’re monitoring.

Starting Application Blocking

  1. In the Monitor tab, click the dropdown arrow under Block Applications.
  2. Click the plan to apply.

Stopping Application Blocking

  1. In the Monitor tab, click the Block Applications button.

Common Circumvention Methods

When using DyKnow Monitor, you should be aware of its weaknesses and prevent students from abusing them. Keep an eye on the Connection History log in the interface. Question students when they disconnect. Below are solutions to some common problems you may encounter.

  • Hotspots – Students carrying their cell phones may enable wireless hotspots and use them. When on a hotspot, students avoid our web filtering policies and can avoid DyKnow monitoring as well. Ensure student phones are powered off in class. Send referrals for students using hotspots.
  • Disabled Wireless – Students may disconnect or turn off their wireless connection to stop DyKnow monitor on their machine. One tactic is for them to load games at home, then play them at school. Look at the student’s wireless icon, if disconnected or disabled, instruct them to reconnect. Watch out for browser tabs loaded in the background which may have games.
  • Software Problems – Sometimes the DyKnow Monitor service fails. If you don’t think the student is using a hotspot or has disconnected from the network, have them reboot their computer. If that does not resolve the problem after a few minutes, send them to the Help Desk.

Blocking MS Edge

DyKnow is not able to filter URLs in Microsoft Edge. To workaround this, block MS Edge with an application blocking plan:

  1. In DyKnow Monitor, click the dropdown under Block Applications, then click Set up Plans.
  2. Click the New button to create a new plan.
  3. Enter a Plan Name, such as Block MS Edge.
  4. Set the Plan Type to Allow All.
  5. In the Search Cloud for Applications box, type Edge and click Search.
  6. Select Microsoft Edge and click the Add button.
  7. Click Save. Click OK to apply the blocking plan.
teachers/dyknow.1516977623.txt.gz · Last modified: 2018/01/26 09:40 by abrashear