On Thursday, April 3, Jones College Prep introduced GoGuardian onto all school-issued Chromebooks. 

This is a software that allows teachers to view students’ screens and take control of them. Teachers and administrators hope this tool can ensure academic integrity, while students view it as an unnecessary addition to their learning experience. 

The rise of artificial intelligence has become a serious issue regarding high school students, with teachers struggling to minimize academic dishonesty. Along with AI, students become off task when distracted by video games or non-academic applications on their chromebooks. GoGuardian helps reduce distraction and provide a sense of structure for teachers. 

“I told one of the students that I was planning to use it but not be intrusive using it,” said Spanish teacher Senor Jimenez. “Sometimes I don’t even want to see the Chromebooks.”

The goal to use GoGuardian as a non-invasive tool was shared by many teachers. 

“It can be helpful to know how to support [a student] in that moment, as opposed to just spying on [them] as a teacher,” said English teacher Ms. Williams. 

Despite additional support from teachers, many students have found it difficult to stay focused, which is the opposite of the intended effect of the program. 

“The thing that teachers can take over your screen, that was pretty annoying,” said Karina Brizuela ‘27. “Especially today in class when my teachers did it, I felt like they were pausing me from doing my work when I was finally concentrating.”

But while students find this feature overbearing, teachers view it as a means to direct students towards their work. 

“It can be helpful to catch students in the moment and to steer them differently, or even to have access to everyone’s screens at the same time,” said Ms. Williams. 

Beyond the controlling aspects, students find the general program excessive.

“I just didn’t like the idea of teachers seeing everything you were doing,” said Emma Feca, ‘25. 

The constant monitoring interferes with other academic activities. 

“It’s frustrating having someone just watch over what I’m doing,” said Brizuela. “Especially once I complete the work and want to complete other work for another class.”

Teachers, to some degree, agree with students about the controlling essence of the software, but find it to be positive in other areas. 

“I think it’s both an invasion of privacy and a helpful tool,” said Ms. Williams. “But I also think that sometimes the student’s privacy needs to be invaded for them to be helped, especially when it comes to their learning.” 

This development likely emerges in response to the risk of cheating. 

“I think the administration chose to include GoGuardian this year because there were a lot of reports of cheating across every department and grade level for quarter three assessments,” said Ms. Williams. 

Teachers plan on using the tool effectively in order to academically benefit the students. 

“You can individualize what you want the students to see,” said Senor Jimenez. “I can push something onto you or something to someone else that needs more or less support.”

However, many find that assistance from teachers through the computer does not make communication any easier. 

“I don’t see it as helpful because if I need help with something I’ll verbally ask the teacher,” said Feca. 

Overall, students continue to express annoyance and concern with the use of GoGuardian.

“I feel like it definitely is very restrictive,” said Brizuela. “I still don’t agree with the teachers implementing it.”