MCPS chromebook, help with parental controls

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the sites are really inappropriate, you must lodge a formal complaint with MCPS. They are responsible for blocking porn and similar.

If the things they access are technically allowed by MCPS, just not during instructional time, then you're on your own, OP. I have a 16 and 11 year old who do nothing but surf the web on their school Chromebooks, and all I told them was that I would wreak vengeance on them if they had any grade below an A. If they can get straight As and multitask, they'll have learned an important lesson in life

They have straight As.

Correction, my 11 year old uses her own tablet. I'm not sure her middle school Chromebook can access all the web. My high schooler can access more stuff on his chromebook. But the point is the same. You'd be better off teaching responsibility and long-term goals, rather than micromanaging their daily life.

[Anonymous]

UNBLOCK EVERYTHING PLEASE I BEG OF YOU!!!!!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You either do it through your router or get your own computer.

Sure, but if you buy them their own computer, it can't be a chromebook. The problem with a personal chromebook for kids is that you can't apply any parental controls / Family Link settings to their school account (and they have to set up a separate school account to access Zoom/coursework). So once their time runs out or they run into a blocked site on their personal account, they switch to the school account and -- tada! -- unlimited screentime and only some blocking of inappropriate content.

I'm telling my 6th grader that the school can see everything he does on his school account, since that used to be the case. He's not caught on yet but it's only a matter of time.

Also watch for shared Google Slides where kids share messages, memes, videos, etc.

No chrome books, agree. We have parental controls on all the computers kids use. Its nice as they have to ask for time every time.

This. We got laptops. Set parental controls through Verizon Fios. Password needed to turn them on and off. Laptops are in the dining room.

Not foolproof, but it’s a start.

This. Use devices in places where you can see. Dining room, Kitchen table, etc. Instill grade, behavior and expectations. You start getting low grades because you’re playing Minecraft instead of paying attention, guess what else you won’t be doing at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You either do it through your router or get your own computer.

Sure, but if you buy them their own computer, it can't be a chromebook. The problem with a personal chromebook for kids is that you can't apply any parental controls / Family Link settings to their school account (and they have to set up a separate school account to access Zoom/coursework). So once their time runs out or they run into a blocked site on their personal account, they switch to the school account and -- tada! -- unlimited screentime and only some blocking of inappropriate content.

I'm telling my 6th grader that the school can see everything he does on his school account, since that used to be the case. He's not caught on yet but it's only a matter of time.

Also watch for shared Google Slides where kids share messages, memes, videos, etc.

No chrome books, agree. We have parental controls on all the computers kids use. Its nice as they have to ask for time every time.

This. We got laptops. Set parental controls through Verizon Fios. Password needed to turn them on and off. Laptops are in the dining room.

Not foolproof, but it’s a start.

We did this also. Agree that it’s not foolproof because my DS also was looking at stuff he wasn’t supposed to.

The MCPS Chromebooks are terrible. Get your kid a laptop that you can put controls on.

[Anonymous]

Simple yake the machinery away therm other than 7-9 pm homework time. Reading, art, and music practice all other times.

Your children can't follow your "no" rules?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You either do it through your router or get your own computer.

Sure, but if you buy them their own computer, it can't be a chromebook. The problem with a personal chromebook for kids is that you can't apply any parental controls / Family Link settings to their school account (and they have to set up a separate school account to access Zoom/coursework). So once their time runs out or they run into a blocked site on their personal account, they switch to the school account and -- tada! -- unlimited screentime and only some blocking of inappropriate content.

I'm telling my 6th grader that the school can see everything he does on his school account, since that used to be the case. He's not caught on yet but it's only a matter of time.

Also watch for shared Google Slides where kids share messages, memes, videos, etc.

No chrome books, agree. We have parental controls on all the computers kids use. Its nice as they have to ask for time every time.

This. We got laptops. Set parental controls through Verizon Fios. Password needed to turn them on and off. Laptops are in the dining room.

Not foolproof, but it’s a start.

We did this also. Agree that it’s not foolproof because my DS also was looking at stuff he wasn’t supposed to.

The MCPS Chromebooks are terrible. Get your kid a laptop that you can put controls on.

We have our own and MCPS. You need to put blocks at the router.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You either do it through your router or get your own computer.

Sure, but if you buy them their own computer, it can't be a chromebook. The problem with a personal chromebook for kids is that you can't apply any parental controls / Family Link settings to their school account (and they have to set up a separate school account to access Zoom/coursework). So once their time runs out or they run into a blocked site on their personal account, they switch to the school account and -- tada! -- unlimited screentime and only some blocking of inappropriate content.

I'm telling my 6th grader that the school can see everything he does on his school account, since that used to be the case. He's not caught on yet but it's only a matter of time.

Also watch for shared Google Slides where kids share messages, memes, videos, etc.

No chrome books, agree. We have parental controls on all the computers kids use. Its nice as they have to ask for time every time.

This. We got laptops. Set parental controls through Verizon Fios. Password needed to turn them on and off. Laptops are in the dining room.

Not foolproof, but it’s a start.

We did this also. Agree that it’s not foolproof because my DS also was looking at stuff he wasn’t supposed to.

The MCPS Chromebooks are terrible. Get your kid a laptop that you can put controls on.

We have our own and MCPS. You need to put blocks at the router.

Why would they have a router in your home? If it’s your home, control your own

[Anonymous]

The problem is that through the student’s mcps accounts, kids basically have unlimited Google access. Very little is actually blocked. I also think it’s disturbing that they can email or share documents, slides, whatever, with anyone who has an mcps account.

[Anonymous]

I'm logged into their MCPS accounts on my phone. I can see the slide decks they create with their friends and the emails they get. If the phone stops fetching because they've had a password change they have to.log it back in. Doesn't give me all the stupid game hacks they have at school, but they're still proud enough of them that they show me (haha!).

[Anonymous]

Supervised child accounts on Chromebook can add a school account inside the supervised non-school session. My kids do this. It's in the menu on the top right where the user profile pic is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The problem is that through the student’s mcps accounts, kids basically have unlimited Google access. Very little is actually blocked. I also think it’s disturbing that they can email or share documents, slides, whatever, with anyone who has an mcps account.

You can add your kid's account to your devices, so you can monitor their usage of Google apps and respond appropriately.

But I do agree that it would be better if there were activity audit reports available for parents.