1.5.4. LanSchool

Advertised as a cheap solution to computer lab moderation, LanSchool does seem to meet that goal fairly well. However, it is still missing several potentially useful features. In the end, the capabilities seem limited best to an elementary to middle school computer lab environment, where students require more babying and have less freedom in their acadamic pursuits.

The Good:

• Can broadcast instructor's screen onto the students' screen
• Instructor can blank the students' screen and lock keyboard/mouse
• Instructor can disable student web browsing and/or instant messaging
• Instructor can take control of a student's computer
• Instructor can re-broadcast any student's screen to the class
• Instructor can monitor student computer usage
• Can power on/off all machines from server
• Has autoclient upgrade feature
• Has guest accounts

The Bad:

• Instructor can only monitor a limited number of student screens as thumbnails
• Has limited drawing ability
  • Has no drawing tools (squares, circles, lines)
  • Has no shape recognition for drawn items
  • Incapable of saving drawing
  • Cannot erase
  • No transparency layers can be overlaid on whiteboard
• Text messaging limited to instructor only; students cannot chat
• Limited file distribution and collection features from student machines
  • Cannot alter file source or destination path on student machines
  • Has somewhat confusing status messages
• Has no easy way to call roll -- requires visual inspection of students who have logged in.

The Missing:

• Cannot import powerpoint, flash, or video files
• Has no proprietary lecture format
• Has no lecture preparation capability
• Has no support for Linux or MacOS
• Students cannot ask electronic questions
• Applications cannot be shared between instructor and student
• Has no whiteboard
• Has no highlighting tool
• Has no shape templates or shape recognition software
• Offers no note taking tools
• Has no navigation control
• Has no layers
• Has no audio or video media sharing feature
• No session recording possible
• Cannot expand and collapse slide topics

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