Can the teacher see what a pupil does on the school computer?
Short answer
Yes, during the lesson the teacher can see what is open, if the school uses a classroom tool. What the teacher sees, when it happens and what is kept depend on the tool and the school, and the pupil should be able to find out.
Security and privacyHow it works in Viafocus. A straight answer, line by line.
The teacher sees
The tab in front
Its address and title.
The screen, while the teacher looks
Still images, only while the teacher has the pupil in view. They are never saved.
All open tabs, when the teacher enlarges one pupil
To help that pupil.
The teacher does not see
Browsing history
We never keep which websites or apps a pupil has used.
What the pupil types
Nothing typed is read or sent.
Passwords, camera, microphone
Passwords are never read or sent. The extension has no permission for the camera or the microphone.
When it happens. And how the pupil knows.
- The pupil sees it
- Always visibleA green dot on the icon in Chrome, and a message and an icon on Windows.
- School hours
- Follow the school calendarThe teacher's access follows school hours. The school can turn on sleep mode outside them.
- At home
- Only the latest pageA switched-on, connected school computer sends which page is open. It is deleted when the computer disconnects.
What does GDPR say? The school is responsible, the supplier assists.
The school's education provider is the data controller and must tell pupils and guardians what is processed and why. The supplier is the data processor and signs a data processing agreement with the school. To know exactly what applies at your school, ask the school and ask to see the agreement.
Common questions.
- Can the teacher see if a pupil is using ChatGPT or another AI chat?
- In Viafocus, yes, if the chat is open during the lesson. The teacher sees the address and title of the tab in front, and the screen while the teacher is looking.
- Does the teacher see what the pupil types?
- Not as text. What the pupil types is not sent to Viafocus and is not stored, on Chromebook or Windows. While the teacher looks at the pupil's screen, what is on it shows, as if the teacher stood behind the pupil.