Limiting Student Applications

Limiting Student Applications

Overview

Instructors can control the applications that are allowed to run on the student computers. App limiting can stop all applications from running except for those specified in an "allow list" or can allow all applications except those specified in a "block list". This helps instructors to keep students on task during class.

To close applications without using app limiting see Closing Student Applications. 

Application limiting is not supported on Chromebooks, it is only supported on Windows and MacOS devices.

Configuring App Limiting 

Before enabling app limiting for a class, configure the app limiting settings. App limiting lists are created for each class. 
  1. Enter the class for which you want to set App Limiting. 
  2. Select the Settings icon on the toolbar.



    The Classroom Settings page will display.

  3. From the side menu, click App Limiting.
  4. Decide which policy to set for the class.



Allow Only

To only allow specific apps:
  1. Select the Allow Only box and select Edit.



  2. Select Add Applications to Allow.



  3. Type the application executable to allow in the Application box.
  4. Select Add Another to add more than one app to the Allow Only list.
  5. Once you have added all of the apps to allow, select Add to List at the bottom of the page.



  6. Once an app is added to your list you can toggle the app to be not allowed or allowed.
  7. Select Finish Editing at the bottom of the page.


Block Only

To only block specific apps:
  1. Select the Block Only box and select Edit.



  2. Select Add Applications to Block.



  3. Type the application executable to block in the Application box.
  4. Select Add Another to add more than one app to the Block Only list.
  5. Once you have added all of the apps to block, select Add to List at the bottom of the page.



  6. Once an app is added to your list you can toggle the app to be blocked or unblocked.
  7. Select Finish Editing at the bottom of the page.




Copy App Limiting Settings

App limiting settings are specific to each class. You can either create unique lists for each class or copy the settings from another class.

To copy app limiting settings from another class:
  1. Click on the drop-down menu under Replace current app limiting with settings from:



  2. Select the class you want to copy app limiting settings from.



  3. Select Apply Change.



  4. Select which list to use; Allow Only or Block Only.



  5. Select Done.
Pro Tip: You can share your allow / block list with other teachers by adding them as a co-teacher to your class. For more information about co-teaching see Using Co-Teaching.

Enabling App Limiting in Class

Select the Limit student applications icon  and from the drop-down menu, select either:
  1. Limit Applications for All (to apply the selected app limiting setting to all students)
  2. Limit Applications for Selected (to apply the selected app limiting setting to selected students)



  3. The limit student applications icon indicates that app limiting is turned on:



    1. If Allow Only is selected, and students are on any app not on the allowed list, the application will close. 
    2. If Block Only is selected, and students are on a blocked app, the application will close.
  4. To disabled app limiting, select the Limit student applications icon again and select either Unlimit Applications for All or Unlimit Applications for Selected.
  5. To quickly make changes to app limiting lists, select Configure.



Turning on app limiting might cause students to lose unsaved changes.

Some applications, like Microsoft Word, may prompt the student to save their work before closing. If the student does not save their work within a certain amount of time, the application will force close without saving.