Please note that these instructions are intended for individuals experienced in administering an organization within Google Workspace.
For the lockdown of student Chromebooks, we offer two different security clients: the Trelson Assessment Kiosk app and the Trelson Focus extension. Both are specially designed for ChromeOS and offer a controlled environment to complete assignments and tests. Here below you will find the steps to prepare the device.
There is an option to install either one of the security clients or both (which is highly recommended). For a detailed overview of the differences between the Kiosk app and the Focus extension and their respective uses, please go to the article about security clients in Trelson Assessment.
Before you start the preparations
Before you begin preparing your students' Chromebooks, it's important that the following requirements are met:
- Managed Chromebooks: Student devices must be managed and registered with Chrome Education Upgrade licenses. For detailed information, see Google's device management help article.
- Installing the application: Follow the steps in the article about how to install the app from the Google Workspace Marketplace to install the Trelson Assessment application in the Google Workspace domain.
- Ensure correct access in Google Workspace: Make sure you have the correct admin access in your Google Workspace domain. If you cannot see the options/settings described below, it might mean that you do not have the required administrative access.
Install the Trelson Assessment Kiosk app
Follow these steps to install the Trelson Assessment Kiosk app on the student devices:
- The Admin Console: Open the Admin Console using the Chrome browser and go to admin.google.com.
- Sign in: Use an administrator account with permission to manage kiosk apps for your Google Workspace for Education domain.
- Select Organizational Unit: Go to Devices > Chrome > Apps and Extensions > Kiosks and select the Organizational Unit where the students' Chromebooks are registered. Please note that student accounts have no bearing on this setting. Tip! The policy that is set is inherited down the organizational structure. It is fine to choose a top organization.
- Add the Kiosk app: Click the yellow plus sign and select "Add app or extension for Chrome with ID". Copy and paste the Trelson Assessment Kiosk App ID: 'ohloljpcehjlmnijelgcmenkmogmdnlh'. Click 'Select' to install.
- Enable Settings: After installation, enable ‘Allow On-Screen Keyboard’ and ‘Enable Plug-ins’ to complete the installation. The Kiosk app will now automatically install on students' managed Chromebooks.
Install the “Trelson Assessment Focus” extension
Through the Trelson Assessment Focus extension, we are able to regulate extensive parts of ChromeOS, however, some adjustments to the settings in your Google Workspace for Education domain are required to ensure maximum security. When using Trelson Assessment Focus, students still access their local file system on their Chromebooks without any restrictions. Therefore, be sure to oversee which Android apps are allowed for students.
You need to be an administrator in the Google Workspace domain to be able to install the extension.
Note that this extension is only compatible with ChromeOS.
To install the Trelson Assessment Focus extension on students' devices, follow these steps:
- Admin console: Open the admin console by using the Chrome browser and going to admin.google.com.
- Sign in: Use an administrator account for your Google Workspace for Education domain.
- Adjust settings: Go to Devices > Chrome > Settings > Users & Browsers and select the Organizational Unit where students' accounts are located.
- Configure policies: Adjust the settings according to the table provided to enable the Trelson Assessment Focus extension. This includes requiring the student to enable the extension in incognito mode, if you choose to allow incognito mode for managed devices.
| Policy: | Under the heading: | To be set as: |
| Multiple sign-in access | User experience | Block multiple sign-in access |
| Developers tools | User experience | Never allow use of built-in developer tools |
| Incognito mode | Security |
Option 1: Do not allow incognito mode. This does not require any further settings within Trelson Assessment. Option 2: Allow incognito mode. If you choose to allow Incognito mode, you need to follow the instructions under the heading "If incognito mode is allowed". |
| Androidappar | Additional settings |
Unlike standard web apps in Chrome, Focus extension cannot prevent students from using Android apps. If there are apps that students can use to cheat, they need to be turned off. To restrict Android apps, go to Devices > Chrome > Apps and extensions > Users and browsers > Additional app settings. |
- Student installation: To install the Trelson Assessment Focus extension on student devices, go to Devices > Chrome > Apps & Extensions. Navigate to the tab on the right named Users & Browsers. Select the Organizational Unit where the students' accounts are located. Press on the yellow "+"-button > Select "Chrome web store" and search app by ID: 'bcfphnbeddegigffmilnjfddmjcpacol'. Follow any additional instructions to add the extension.
- Complete installation: Select 'Force Install' and 'Allow all permissions'. Click on 'Save'.
If incognito mode is allowed
Allowing incognito mode on student Chromebooks is fine, but if so, the administrator needs to make specific settings for the Focus extension to work properly.
Follow these steps to make the necessary adjustments in the Trelson Assessment:
- Log in: Go to assessment.trelson.com and log in as ‘Teacher’.
- Select organization: Click on the organization name in the upper right corner and select the current organization.
- Navigate to Settings: Go to the 'Organization' menu option in the left side menu.
- Activate Focus in incognito mode: Check the box 'Require the student to activate the extension in incognito mode'. This setting must be enabled for all organizations where incognito mode is allowed for managed devices.
If the instructions above are not followed, the student will be able to start a Focus session through a standard web browser. After this, the student can open an incognito tab to surf the internet without any restrictions. By following these instructions, the student will be forced to allow the Focus extension to run even in incognito mode before they can even begin the task. This reduces the risk of cheating and digital distractions.
What does the student need to do if incognito mode is allowed?
When students start their first exam, they are met with a dialog box that shows "HELP" instead of the option to open the exam. Clicking on "HELP" opens a dialog box with a link for students to click on. By following this link, students are directed to the Trelson Assessment Focus extension settings, where they need to enable the Focus extension even for incognito mode. After this setting is made, Trelson Assessment Focus will also be active during incognito mode.
Visual support for installing the kiosk app:
Visual support for installing the Focus extension: