Chromebook Bundle Handles Web Filtering and Class Controls

  • By Dian Schaffhauser
  • 06/30/16

Educators overseeing Chromebook programs have a new tool to help them manage those devices. Lightspeed Systems has unveiled the Bundle for Chrome. The company also introduced a new cloud filter for schools to ensure CIPA compliance. Both announcements came during the International Society for Technology in Education 2016 Conference, taking place this week in Denver.

The Chrome release provides features to educators for classroom controls and to IT people for device security. A bundled version of the new release pulls together two of Lightspeed's products: Web Filter and Classroom Orchestrator. The first program ensures that students are protected from inappropriate content on websites, in compliance with the federal Children's Internet Protection Act. Besides providing CIPA help, Web Filter also offers management and security functionality, such as the ability to delegate administrator roles, impose online testing policies and perform blocking of malware and peer-to-peer activity. The second product in the bundle, the Classroom Orchestrator, helps teachers maintain control over student devices.

The new cloud filter makes the web filter capabilities available as a service online to help districts to maintain CIPA compliance on school devices on campus and off campus.

Systems that have used software from Lightspeed include the Metropolitan School District of Wayne Township in Indiana, the Kentucky Department of Education and California's Ventura Unified School District.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

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