The rule: device → Apple Classroom. Website → Linewize (Macs only). Students browse in Chrome only. On iPads, Apple Classroom does everything in class, and the district decides ahead of time which sites students can reach.
Apple Classroom requires a teacher Apple device; use your BSD MacBook. Teachers using Windows can use Linewize with student MacBooks, but cannot use Apple Classroom. For student iPads, the district lists Apple Classroom with a teacher MacBook.
Which tool?
| I want to… | Mac (grades 3-12) | iPad (K-2, SPED) |
|---|---|---|
| Put everyone in Chrome (or any app) | Apple Classroom · Open | Apple Classroom · Open |
| Keep students in Chrome | Apple Classroom app locking is not available on MacBooks | Apple Classroom · lock in app |
| Send everyone to a webpage | Linewize · Open Tab | District Chrome bookmarks or a Google Classroom link |
| Darken screens or mute | Apple Classroom · Lock / Mute | Apple Classroom · Lock / Mute |
| Keep students on approved sites | Linewize · Focus | Set in advance by district |
| Allow or block a site for my class | Linewize · rule | Submit a Help Desk ticket in advance |
| Pause the internet | Linewize · Pause Internet | Not available |
| See screens | Apple Classroom or Linewize, subject to screen-view permissions | Apple Classroom · View Screen |
| Review the period | Linewize report (sites) + Class Summary (apps) | Class Summary (apps) |
Use Focus and Pause Internet when those controls are available in your class. If a control is missing or fails, submit a Help Desk ticket.
A class period on Macs, both tools
- Before class: make sure the lesson's sites are in the district Chrome bookmarks, and list them in a Linewize Focus.
- Start: open your class in both apps on your BSD MacBook. In Apple Classroom, use your assigned class and check that everyone shows online. In Linewize, start the class and check every student's screen. If a class or student is missing, submit a Help Desk ticket.
- Launch: in Apple Classroom, Open Chrome. In Linewize, use Open Tab to send the first page, then start your Focus so students stay on the approved sites.
- Teach: use Apple Classroom Lock for "eyes up" moments. Use Linewize screen view to spot off-task browsing. Use Focus or Pause Internet when available; neither closes existing Mac tabs or immediately removes cached content.
- Close: end the Focus in Linewize. End the class in Apple Classroom and glance at the Class Summary.
On iPads: Apple Classroom only
Linewize filters iPads in the background, but has no classroom controls there. Plan links ahead and steer with Apple Classroom:
- Open the app, then lock students in it - the best single move for young students.
- For web work, Open Chrome and lock students in it. Send them to the page through the district Chrome bookmarks or a link in Google Classroom; the district filter decides which sites they can reach.
- Need a site that's blocked? Submit a Help Desk ticket before the lesson - there is no in-class unblock on iPads.
- Each K-2 student has an assigned iPad. Only where Shared iPad is configured, sign students out from Apple Classroom at the end of class.
Mac gotchas and quick fixes
| If… | Do this |
|---|---|
| A Linewize tile shows no screen | Start the class and check connectivity. If prompted, the student must click Allow for screen sharing. If they chose Don't Allow or the screen still does not appear, submit a Help Desk ticket |
| You block a site but the tab stays open | Existing Mac tabs stay open. New requests are blocked, but cached content may remain until refreshed or its cache runs out. Use Apple Classroom Lock for an immediate attention pause, then Unlock |
| You want to close a tab or lock to one page | Not available through these Mac controls. Use Linewize Focus to keep students on the lesson's sites |
| A student shows offline in Apple Classroom | Check Bluetooth on, district Wi-Fi (no hotspot), signed in, then restart |
Still stuck? Submit a Help Desk ticket with school, room, class period, device type, asset tag, student name (never a password), what you tried, and a screenshot.
Learn more: Apple Quick Guides · Apple Classroom User Guide · Linewize Help Center