NetSupport School (NSS) is a classroom management tool which allows you to enable or restrict certain lab actions on BCIT lab computers.
NSS is a licensed product in all General Access labs at the Burnaby campus. If you are interested in this software for private or additional lab spaces beyond where it is currently installed, please contact IT Services regarding costs to department, licensing model, and installation.
Features and use
NSS provides you with the ability to manage applications and behaviour on all the computers in the lab. This software can:
- enable/restrict access to the Internet to certain websites only, or completely block internet access.
- enable/restrict access to certain applications
- restrict software use to only the software you are teaching
- prevent student access to the computers
- lock out the keyboard and mouse
- blank the screen while lecturing
- monitor student workstations during tests and exams
- view individual workstations or scan through all workstations
- distribute files to lab endpoints and collect files from all computers in the lab
There are many more features – the user manual is almost 400 pages long and full of features, but you can master basic features of the application quickly by reading BCIT’s NSS Basic Features Guide.
A full list of features can be found in the product documentation.
To start using NetSupport School
To use NSS:
- Contact IT Services to get the instructor password.
- Launch the NetSupport School Tutor Console from the Start Menu in the computer lab.
NetSupport School is a complex product with a 400-page product manual and may require training time to get oriented and proficient with the product. If it is your first time using it, contact the IT Services Service Desk to arrange a training session with an overview of core features and receive a 10-page introductory guide.
NetSupport School for Macs
BCIT has replaced NetSupport School for Macs with Apple Classroom. This service provides similar functionality, but at a lower cost.
For more information on getting set up with Apple Classroom and how to use it, contact IT Services.
BYOD or non-computer lab use
If you are interested in a similar product that works for BYOD programs and on student personal devices, there is a separate product called “Classroom.Cloud” that is appropriate for this purpose. Contact IT Services for more information.