NetSupport Launches Classroom Management Suite for Mac OS X and Linux

Monitoring student application use on NetSupport Assist for Linux.
Monitoring student application use on NetSupport Assist for Linux.

Ed tech developer NetSupport has released a new classroom management tool for Mac OS X and Linux, NetSupport Assist.

NetSupport products, which also include NetSupport Manager, NetSupport School, and NetSupport Notify, allow educators and administrators to monitor, support, and control individual computers in classroom and remote environments.

Compatible with the popular Windows-based classroom management suite NetSupport School, NetSupport Assist includes core classroom management functionality optimized for Mac and Linux laptops, desktops, and netbooks connected via wired or wireless networks.

With NetSupport Assist, teachers can see a thumbnail view of all computers in the classroom in real time, with visual indicators to show when student computers are running applications or accessing the Web. Teachers can then click on a thumbnail to access details and block specific actions, when appropriate.

Other features include:

  • The ability to monitor individual student screens;
  • Two-way chat with individual students;
  • A low-bandwidth mode for use on slower networks;
  • Presentation tools that allow the teacher to share his or her screen with students;
  • Instant assessment through polling features similar to those used in student response systems;
  • Screen blanking;
  • The ability to lock student keyboards and mice (individuals or the entire class);
  • Ability to capture screen grabs of students' systems;
  • Alerting; and
  • Remote administration, including logging out.

NetSupport Assist is available now. A free 30-day evaluation version can also be downloaded as of this week. Further information can be found here.

About the Author

David Nagel is the former editorial director of 1105 Media's Education Group and editor-in-chief of THE Journal, STEAM Universe, and Spaces4Learning. A 30-year publishing veteran, Nagel has led or contributed to dozens of technology, art, marketing, media, and business publications.

He can be reached at [email protected]. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidrnagel/ .


Featured

  • stylized illustration of two children engaged in engineering activities, one using a tablet and the other assembling mechanical parts like gears and pulleys, set against a colorful background with abstract shapes

    Applications Open for DiscoverE STEM Grant Opportunities

    Discover Engineering is accepting applications for Engineers Week and Girl Day 2025, two grant opportunities dedicated to inspiring the next generation of innovators through experiential learning in the field of engineering.

  • blue, green, and yellow swirling lines of light form a dense, interconnected network

    New Amazon Nova Models Ramp Up Generative AI Performance

    Amazon Web Services (AWS) has unveiled Amazon Nova, a cutting-edge suite of foundation models (FMs) for generative AI.

  • A young person sitting on a couch in a bright living room during the daytime, holding a tablet, with sunlight streaming through large windows and pastel-toned furniture.

    Balancing Screen Time and Student Wellness

    Student mental health is in crisis, and excessive screen time is a significant factor. Here are four ways to help students find and maintain a healthy balance with technology.

  • stylized illustration of a global AI treaty signing, featuring diverse human figures seated around a round table

    First Global Treaty to Regulate AI Signed

    The United States, United Kingdom, European Union, and several other countries have signed "The Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence, Human Rights, Democracy, and the Rule of Law," the world's first legally binding treaty aimed at regulating the use of artificial intelligence (AI).