As a technology coordinator, I often get phone calls regarding checking out software and hardware for consideration for purchasing.  I make recommendations to teachers for a variety of products.

I recently received a phone call regarding software for monitoring student workstations from a single computer.  It is a major business, and when the sales rep asked me how I monitor students, I said plainly, “I walk around.”  She continued to say how her software would allow me to monitor all students from my desk.  “I prefer walking around.”  If you are teaching in a lab environment, this idea of monitoring students from a single location is ludicrous.

There are obvious givens: 1) Students will wander off the topic from time to time 2) All wandering is not a bad thing 3) If you don’t want students to wander off topic, make clear expectations and if they continue to break the rules, follow through with consequences.

I am disappointed in teachers when they need this extra cost to monitor the behavior of students.  It’s disappointing when teachers refuse to even connect Internet because of a few students who are off track.  We are the best monitors of what are students are doing and relegating it to technological alternatives is unacceptable.  I would never recommend this software for our faculty or lab settings.  I’ll stick to walking around.