HiveClass and HiveSchool
Q: What is HiveSchool?
A: Aerohive’s connected learning application for teachers and students.
Q: Technically, what is HiveSchool?
A: HiveSchool is a Chrome extension, and runs in the Chrome browser.
Q: What are the key features of HiveSchool?
A: Key features are:
- A visual class dashboard that lets the teacher see which students are present and which students are missing.
- Teachers get a live view of student screens. The can also control student browsers, e.g. by closing tabs remotely. Control features are available on Chromebooks.
- Teachers can present content to the class, or can assign a student to present. This enables a collaborative learning experience.
- Teachers can select and assign teaching resources for students to work through.
Q: What are they key benefits of HiveSchool?
A: Key Benefits:
- HiveSchool makes class more interactive and engaging – teachers or students can present to the class, and a variety of teaching resources are supported.
- It gives teachers visibility into what students are doing - teachers see student screens live
- It lets teachers keep students on task – they can control the Chrome browser, e.g. by closing tabs or by tying students to one URL.
- Teachers have an easy, visual representation of the class with the dashboard.
Q: How much will HiveSchool cost?
A: HiveSchool sourcecode is available free of charge. Aerohive has a deep commitment to education and we want schools to leverage modern classroom technology.
Q: What are the pre-requisites for running HiveSchool?
A: Hiveschool requires the school use Google Apps Domain, because it leverages the existing Apps Domain credentials for students and teachers. Most schools that use the Google Education Ecosystem will have Apps Domain. Also, a full Chrome browser has to be installed on the student and teacher computers.
Q: What is the best way to distribute and install HiveSchool on student computers?
A: We recommend the Chromebook Management Console (a Google product).
Q: HiveSchool is a Chrome Extension - are there any specific requirements for the Wi-Fi network?
A: HiveSchool runs in a Chrome browser. As such, it has no ties to the underlying Wi-Fi network. It can be deployed with any modern, commercial-grade Wi-Fi network, independent of the vendor/brand.
Q: What platforms will HiveSchool support?
A: The Application supports Chromebooks (recommended for students), and MacBooks or Windows computers especially for the teachers. The control features for student computers are available on Chromebooks.
Q: What about mobile devices?
A: Mobile devices like iPads and Android tablets are currently not supported.
Q: How does HiveSchool compare to classroom management applications like Hapara or LanSchool?
A: In a nutshell, HiveSchool is a lean connected learning application, as opposed to a full-fledged classroom management app. HiveSchool focuses on working with students in class – presenting content, keeping students on task and assigning teaching resources. We see these as they key features used in connected learning in the digital classroom.
As a result, HiveSchool has a short learning curve for teachers and students, and is easy-to adopt. In addition, HiveSchool is free. As a result, it is a great choice for schools that want are looking for a core feature set, that want to quickly get started with connected learning apps, or just try them out.
Q: How does HiveSchool compare to the “iOS in Education” solution?
A: Hiveschool itself is similar to Apple’s new Classroom application, in that it allows assignment of teaching resources, viewing student screens and locking students to selected resources. HiveSchool has a few additional control features (remote closing of bowser tabs and closing all open tabs on login). Other differences:
- The Education solution seems to mostly work with apps, while HiveSchool works with online resources (Internet or school network).
- iOS in Education works on iPads, while HIveSchool works on Chromebooks of any brand, plus Macbooks and Windows computers.
Other components of the iOS in Education solution include:
- Apple School Manager. In the Google Education Ecosystem, the Chromebook Management Console for is used for MDM of Chromebooks.
- Managed Apple IDs. HiveSchool leverages the existing teacher and student credentials from Google Apps Domain.
- Shared iPads for students. Student computers running HiveSchool can (and always could) be easily shared – as one student logs out, another logs in with their Apps Domain credentials. Once logged in, students have all HiveSchool and other Apps Domain content available.
Q: Do other Wi-Fi vendors have classroom applications or similar products?
A: Meraki is promoting their System Manager for use in classrooms, together with SAML integration (for authentication) and single app mode. It requires schools to purchase the required Meraki products (obviously) and states support only for iOS which restricts it to use with Apple mobile devices.