• GoGuardian

    • GoGuardian is a Chromebook management tool for PISD teachers to use with the Chromebooks in their classrooms.
    • For a quick overview of this awesome tool, go to https://www.goguardian.com/teacher.html and click on "Watch the Demo".
    • Create a culture of positive norms with this tool.
      • Try not to look at it as just a punitive tool.
      • Redirect students from distractions.
      • Provide concrete guidance.
      • Provide positive reinforcement.
      • Encourage positive digital citizenship.

  • Good news! Plano ISD families now have access to GoGuardian Parent, a mobile app that gives parents/guardians the ability to manage and monitor student activity on school-issued Chromebooks during out-of-school hours (after 4:30). GoGuardian Parent is a companion to the classroom management and internet filtering tools that our district uses during the school day.

    What is included in this app:

    • A Top 5 summary of student browsing (apps, extensions and websites visited)
    • A 30-day view of websites, videos, apps, and extensions
    • The ability to block websites on school-issued devices during out-of-school hours
    • The ability to pause internet access on school-issued devices during out-of-school hours, either on-demand or at a scheduled time

    To access the app, please follow the instructions below:

    GG parent mobile app

    1. Download the app

    • iPhone: Visit App Store, search for GoGuardian Parent , and tap the download button.
    • Android: Visit Google Play Store, search for GoGuardian Parent , and tap the download button.

    2. After the app is successfully downloaded and installed, open it up and enter the email address registered with the Plano ISD Parent Portal. ( Note: If you forget your registered email address, please reach out to our Help Desk: helpdesk@pisd.edu or 469-752-8767 )

    3. Login/Check Email: Check your email on your phone for a link to log in to the app. Tap the "Verify your email", and it will take you straight to the app. ( Note: If you don't have access to your email through the device you used to log in, tap on "Login with verification code", and copy and paste the verification code from the email into the app .)

  • Webdesk

    1. Teachers will sign intoWebdeskand open the "PISD GoGuardian (Library)" app.

    pisd goguardian app

    2. Select theLogin with Googleoption.

    Alternatively, you can log in directly toteacher.goguardian.com.

    When students sign into their Chromebook, GoGuardian can monitor them. No student sign-in required.

    Paraprofessionals/Substitutes

    Go to the Help page on the left for information regarding the access request form.

  • Option 1 - Auto roster

    Use the rostering option in GoGuardian that pulls your student data from TEAMS (Pinnacle). This is a good option if you don't have several tabs per class period in Pinnacle. Even if you merge tabs, GoGuardian is ultimately pulling data from TEAMS.

    Option 2 - Google Classroom (Recommended)

    Click the Import with Google Classroom button. Then schedule your class times. If your students are not in Google Classroom yet or new students join, you can still add the class here and then click "Sync Students from Google" after the students have been added in Google Classroom.

    Option 3 - Manual

    Create a Classroom Manually (Good option for special populations or if you're not a classroom teacher)

    1) Create a Classroom - click the green "Add Classroom" button on the top right of the screen.

    • Fill out the classroom information (name, subject, etc.) and click Add Classroom to save it.
    • You can choose to schedule your class time or skip it for now.
    • It is not necessary to add a "Scene" yet (you can do this later).

    2) Click "Add Students" - after you have created your classroom, the easiest way to add your students is to give them an enroll code to join.

    goguardian enroll

  • Adding Teachers/Helpers

    To add a teacher/specialist/helper, go to the class Settings, click Teachers, then click "Add Teacher" button and enter their email address.

    Non-Instructional Staff

    Non-instructional staff (Administrators, Counselors, etc.) may need to follow student activity. To do this, the teacher(s) can add them as a "Helper" to that class.

    Please Note:

    If you rostered your classes using Classlink, then you are not able to add co-teachers/helpers to your GG class. If you would like to use that feature, set up your classes using Google Classroom instead of Classlink.Instructions.

    Permissions

    Image from: https://help.goguardian.com/hc/en-us/articles/115005712763-Add-Classroom-Owners-Teachers-and-Helpers

    gg permissions

    Helpers can: view active sessions, end sessions, send commands, toggle teacher chat, apply/change scenes

    Teachers can:add/remove students, start sessions, view active sessions, end sessions, send commands, toggle teacher chat, apply/change scenes

    Owners Can: edit classroom info, archive classroom, add/remove teachers, add/remove students, start sessions, view active sessions, end sessions, send commands, toggle teacher chat, apply/change scenes

  • Scheduling Sessions

    Important:  Scheduling your class time is very important for secondary teachers and elementary teachers who departmentalize. Be sure NOT to schedule your class session for all day. Set each class session for its appropriate time. For example, you will schedule your first period session for 9-9:50 a.m. That way, you're not encroaching on the next class period teacher's session. SeeScheduling Class Times page on the left for a closer look.

  • Open Tab

    Cut down on transition time by using GoGuardian's "Open Tab" feature.

    To open a tab on your students' Chromebooks, select the student(s), click Open Tab, copy and paste the URL, click "Open Tab", and the website will automatically load onto your students' Chromebooks.

  • Scenes

    What is a scene? (links to GG support page)

    "Scenes are designed to give teachers added control over students' web activity during classroom sessions." The link above explains what each feature of the scene does. Please read that first.

    How to create a scene (links to GG support page)

    The link above explains the quick and easy way to create a scene.

    Advanced Filtering Tips (links to GG support page)

    Blocking/allowing websites

    Create Multiple Scenes Within a Class  (block distracting sites (YouTube) for specific students)

    Blocking/allowing websites based on student needs.

    Check out GoGuardian Blog on NEW feature: Student Grouping in Scenes. More information here.

    Important to note about scenes (the PISD way!)

    1. Allow Webdesk: https://launchpad.classlink.com

    2. Check the Student URL. Some websites are not the same for teachers as they are for students. For example, if you allow the Dreambox website, you will enter the URL that students use, which is play.dreambox.com.

  • If you need to remove this distraction for your students, here's what you can do.

    Scene

    Create a scene or add these websites to an existing scene's blocked sites. (See the "Scenes" section on this page for detailed instructions).

    • hangouts.google.com
    • https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/google-hangouts/nckgahadagoaajjgafhacjanaoiihapd?hl=en (This is the URL to add the extension. If students have it already, you'll need to ask them to remove it.)

    Important to Note

    GoGuardian cannot monitor activity on an app on a Chromebook. You can block sites, you can block access to the URL to add extensions, but you can't block access to an app. That will be a matter of asking students not to use the tool.

  • Off-task Alerts

    GoGuardian has automatic alerts for off-task behavior for the following subjects: English, History, Math, & Science.

    Learn how it works - NEW: Off-task Alerts

  • GoGuardian will only monitor student activity on Chromebooks during these times.

    Monday-Friday: 7am-4:30pm

    See "Scheduling Sessions" for when to schedule your class times.

  • Archive VS Delete

    💾 Archiving your GoGuardian classes removes them from the Active tab. You can still access snapshots, previous sessions, student reports, etc. but students won't be tied to the schedule and scenes. You can restore them at any time.

    ❌ Deleting your GoGuardian classes will permanently remove them and you will no longer have access to snapshots, previous sessions, student reports, etc.

    Instructions:https://help.goguardian.com/hc/en-us/articles/115004056646-Archive-Restore-Remove-Delete-a-Classroom

  • Training

    Download the 2019 GoGuardian Training Guide here

    Online Training - GoGuardian has a great online training program that you can sign into and follow self-paced, brief how-to videos on your own. https://training.goguardian.com/ Click "Getting Started with GoGuardian Teacher" and then "Enroll in Course for Free" button. Create an account and you can then begin the training.

    Face-to-Face Training

    • Schedule a training with theDigital Learning Teamto come to your campus or train virtually! We can work with your principal to schedule a day for us to work with your team during planning periods, before/after school, or whenever is convenient for you. We are also happy to work with you one-on-one. 

  • New this school year: GoGuardian Parent!

    Good news! Plano ISD families now have access to GoGuardian Parent, a mobile app that gives parents/guardians the ability to manage and monitor student activity on school-issued Chromebooks during out-of-school hours. GoGuardian Parent is a companion to the classroom management and internet filtering tools that our district uses during the school day. See details in the accordion menu below.

    GG parent mobile app

GoGuardian Video Tutorial

Created by Amanda Blumenberg