Select Student View Modes: Active Tab View vs. Desktop View

Overview

LanSchool Air provides two ways for teachers to view student screens:

Active Tab View — Displays the student's active browser tab.
Desktop View — Displays the student's entire screen, including open applications and windows.

These view modes work differently depending on the student's device.

Chromebooks: Teachers can switch between Active Tab View and Desktop View.
Windows and Mac: Students always use Desktop View.

For more information on student thumbnail states, see Viewing Student Screens.

Use Active Tab View

Active Tab View is the default view for Chromebook students.

LanSchool Air displays a live image of the student's active browser tab in the teacher's console.

If the student does not have a browser tab open, LanSchool Air displays a placeholder image.

Active Tab View does not require the student to grant screen-sharing permission.

Active Tab View is useful when:

You only need to monitor the student's active browser tab.
You do not need to see other applications or windows.
You want to monitor students without requiring a screen-sharing prompt.

Use Desktop View

Desktop View allows teachers to see the student's entire Chromebook screen, including:

Open browser windows and tabs
Other applications
The Chromebook desktop
Content outside the active browser tab

Desktop View requires the student to grant screen-sharing permission.

Set Desktop View for Students

Start the class.
Select Change Class View on the Class Toolbar.
Choose one of the following options:

Set All to Desktop View - Changes all students in the class to Desktop View.
Set Selected to Desktop View - Changes only the selected students to Desktop View.

Students receive a screen-sharing permission prompt.
The student must select the screen they want to share and then select Share.

Until the student grants permission, the teacher sees a placeholder image instead of the student's screen.

Note: Students must grant screen-sharing permission each time Desktop View is selected.

Switch back to Active Tab View

After using Desktop View, teachers can change the class or selected students back to Active Tab View using Change Class View.

Chromebook screen-sharing prompts

When Desktop View is selected, Chromebook students are prompted to share their screen.

The student must:

Select the screen to share.
Select Share.

The Share button remains unavailable until the student selects a screen.

For Chromebooks connected to multiple monitors, the student must select which monitor to share. LanSchool Air can display only one shared screen at a time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make Desktop View the default for my organization?

No. Desktop View cannot be configured as the organization-wide default student view.

Active Tab View is the default view for Chromebook students. Teachers can select Set All to Desktop View when they want to switch the students in an active class to Desktop View.

Can an administrator make Desktop View the default for all teachers?

No. There is currently no organization-wide setting that makes Desktop View the default for Chromebook students.

Why do Chromebook students show Active Tab View instead of their entire screen?

Active Tab View is the default view for Chromebook students. To see the student's entire screen, the teacher must select Change Class View > Set All to Desktop View or select specific students and choose Set Selected to Desktop View.

How do I see a Chromebook student's entire screen?

Select Change Class View, then select Set All to Desktop View or Set Selected to Desktop View.

The student will be prompted to grant permission to share their screen.

Do students have to approve Desktop View?

Yes. Chromebook students must grant screen-sharing permission before their full screen can be displayed in Desktop View.

Why do I see a placeholder instead of the student's screen?

The student may not have granted screen-sharing permission yet. When Desktop View is selected, the student must select the screen they want to share and then select Share.

Can I use Desktop View for only one student?

Yes. Select the student, choose Change Class View, and select Set Selected to Desktop View.

Does Desktop View work on Windows and Mac?

Windows and Mac students always use Desktop View. The Active Tab View vs. Desktop View selection applies to Chromebook students.

Can a Chromebook student share multiple monitors?

No. Chromebook students with multiple monitors can share only one monitor at a time.