Blocking additional websites on MCPS Chromebook

[Anonymous]

Is there a way to block additional websites/links on the MCPS issued laptops? I noticed my kids playing games on it, when they’re supposed to be doing homework and want to block those sites. But I tried and I couldn’t do it without admin rights to the laptop.

Any suggestions? I heard kids share the links to websites of games that aren’t yet blocked by MCPS, so I recognize the school district is playing a game of whack-a-mole to stay ahead of the kids, but I would like to reduce the potential for distraction on these school computers.

Thanks in advance.

[Anonymous]

The kids will always find a way around any block list you or MCPS create. Go on your network router and block them if you want or more simply just create a white list on the router.

[Anonymous]

The problem is also that some kids are also going to those sites during the class day when they’re bored and the teachers don’t always notice or don’t want to interrupt the class to discipline the kid.

I wish there wasn’t so much laptop use during the school day.

[Anonymous]

It’s also a problem that anyone within the mcps system has access to email with someone else through mcps Google accounts. Including students and staff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there a way to block additional websites/links on the MCPS issued laptops? I noticed my kids playing games on it, when they’re supposed to be doing homework and want to block those sites. But I tried and I couldn’t do it without admin rights to the laptop.

Any suggestions? I heard kids share the links to websites of games that aren’t yet blocked by MCPS, so I recognize the school district is playing a game of whack-a-mole to stay ahead of the kids, but I would like to reduce the potential for distraction on these school computers.

Thanks in advance.

Why can’t you take the Chromebook away after hw has been completed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The problem is also that some kids are also going to those sites during the class day when they’re bored and the teachers don’t always notice or don’t want to interrupt the class to discipline the kid.

I wish there wasn’t so much laptop use during the school day.

Which sites?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there a way to block additional websites/links on the MCPS issued laptops? I noticed my kids playing games on it, when they’re supposed to be doing homework and want to block those sites. But I tried and I couldn’t do it without admin rights to the laptop.

Any suggestions? I heard kids share the links to websites of games that aren’t yet blocked by MCPS, so I recognize the school district is playing a game of whack-a-mole to stay ahead of the kids, but I would like to reduce the potential for distraction on these school computers.

Thanks in advance.

Why can’t you take the Chromebook away after hw has been completed?

Homework isn’t getting completed efficiently because they are going on random websites. Also I’ve heard that a lot of kids are playing games during school when the teacher doesn’t notice. I want to make sure mine isn’t tempted to be one of them.

[Anonymous]

At the MS I worked at last year, the kids discovered they could create a google doc with all the games inside of it and avoid firewalls and block lists. They also could use it as a live chat room

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At the MS I worked at last year, the kids discovered they could create a google doc with all the games inside of it and avoid firewalls and block lists. They also could use it as a live chat room

My kid mentioned something along those lines. Basically it’s a shared document where people post links to game sites that aren’t yet blocked by MCPS and update it.

any solutions for how to shut this down during the school day?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The kids will always find a way around any block list you or MCPS create. Go on your network router and block them if you want or more simply just create a white list on the router.

We had a white list initially but as we approached MS/HS, we found ourselves constantly being faced with websites that teachers wanted the students to link to as part of their homework, to do research, to add additional reading, to look at examples of work etc. So that didn’t work well.

So we have a black list but it’s hard to keep kids away from constantly evolving problematic sites.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At the MS I worked at last year, the kids discovered they could create a google doc with all the games inside of it and avoid firewalls and block lists. They also could use it as a live chat room

My kid mentioned something along those lines. Basically it’s a shared document where people post links to game sites that aren’t yet blocked by MCPS and update it.

any solutions for how to shut this down during the school day?

The only actual solution I can think of is to add a second adult in each classroom whose job is essentially internet monitor by using Lightspeed to see all 25-30 screens. Of course that's not really a viable option.

[Anonymous]

My kid plays the educational games that we will linked directly from Canvas. It’s not just unallowed games…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The problem is also that some kids are also going to those sites during the class day when they’re bored and the teachers don’t always notice or don’t want to interrupt the class to discipline the kid.

I wish there wasn’t so much laptop use during the school day.

Buy copier toner and paper for schools so teachers have the options to not use Chromebooks.

Sad, isn't it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there a way to block additional websites/links on the MCPS issued laptops? I noticed my kids playing games on it, when they’re supposed to be doing homework and want to block those sites. But I tried and I couldn’t do it without admin rights to the laptop.

Any suggestions? I heard kids share the links to websites of games that aren’t yet blocked by MCPS, so I recognize the school district is playing a game of whack-a-mole to stay ahead of the kids, but I would like to reduce the potential for distraction on these school computers.

Thanks in advance.

Get an 504 for ADHD so you can use your own computer to do MCPS’s job for them.