In edMesh, admin users such as district administrators, school administrators, and teachers can utilise the Web Filter Report feature to manage and control student web access. The report provides functionalities to blocklist or allow list URLs, categories, and wildcards, directly from within the web filter report itself. This capability is designed to help schools maintain a safe and focused online environment for students.
District and School Web Filter Report
Both District and School Administrators have access to the web filter report, allowing them to take action on any entries logged in the report. When an administrator takes action on a URL or keyword, the action is saved to the specific profile that the device was using when the URL was accessed or browsed. This information can be viewed in the "Profile" column of the report.
These actions are logged in the audit log, allowing administrators to keep track of all changes made.
Available Actions from the Web Filter Report
Administrators and teachers can perform the following actions from the web reports:
- Add Full URL to Allow List/Blocklist: Control access to specific websites by adding them to an allow list or blocklist.
- Add Wildcard Domain to Allow List/Blocklist: Use wildcard domains to control access to a group of websites that share a common domain.
- Add Category to Allow List/Blocklist: Manage access based on categories of websites flagged in the report.
- Remove All Blocked Words from This Profile: Clear all blocked words associated with a particular profile.
- Remove All Blocked Words from This Profile and School List: Clear blocked words from both the specific profile and the school-wide list.
- Add Search Term to Blocked Keywords: Prevent students from searching specific keywords by adding them to a blocked list.
School Administrator Instructions
As a School Administrator, you can manage web filter settings by following these steps. For guidance on setting up the report, please refer to the Web Filter Report Setup Guide.
Access the Web Filter Report
- Log into your edMesh Admin Dashboard.
- Click on “Reports” in the left-hand panel.
- Select “Web Filter Reports” from the menu.
Block or Allow a URL
- To block or allow a specific URL or website on a school profile or class profile, click the Shield Icon next to the URL on the right side.
Choose Your Action
- After clicking the shield icon, a list of actions will appear:
- Add full URL to allow list/blocklist
- Add wildcard domain to allow list/blocklist
- Add category (per category flagged) to allow list/blocklist
- Remove all blocked words from this profile
- Remove all blocked words from this profile and school list
- Add search term to blocked keywords
#Note: These options may vary depending on the status of the URL
District Administrator Instructions
The process for District Administrators is similar to that of School Administrators, with the addition of options to display information by school. For guidance on setting up the report, please refer to the Web Filter Report Setup Guide.
Classroom Web Filter Report for Teachers
Teachers can use the Web Filter Report to view browsing history for each student in their classes. The report provides a list of websites visited by students during class time when using the edMesh Web Browser (note that Chromebooks use the Chrome browser for this functionality).
When a URL is actioned by a teacher, it is saved to the relevant class profile. This can be viewed in the "Profile" column of the report.
#Note: To view the history of a particular class, make sure to select that class in the filter option.
Teacher Actions in Web Reports
The following actions are available for teachers:
- Add full URL to allow list/blocklist
- Add wildcard domain to allow list/blocklist
- Add category (per category flagged) to allow list/blocklist
- Remove all blocked words from this profile
- Remove all blocked words from this profile and school list
- Add search term to blocked keywords
Steps for Teachers to Use Web Filter Report
Access the Web Filter Report
- Log into your edMesh Teacher Dashboard.
- In the left-hand side panel, select “Web Filter Reports.”
Review the Report
- Once you access the Web Filter Report, you will see a detailed report of websites/URLs accessed by students in your classes using the edMesh Browser.
Choose Your Action
- Click on the shield icon to open a drop-down menu with a list of available actions.
Block or Allow a URL
- To block or allow a specific URL or website for a class, click the Shield Icon next to the desired URL.
#Note: These options may vary depending on the status of the URL
Existing Blocklists
If a Category, URL, or Wildcard domain is already added to a blocklist, the report will indicate this. Teachers can allow list these items by following the same steps and selecting the appropriate option from the shield icon menu.
By utilizing the Web Filter Report, administrators and teachers can effectively manage web access for students, ensuring a safe and focused educational environment.
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