Hāpara Classroom Management: Backed by research, trusted by educators.

• Effective classroom management and student engagement are critical for successful learning outcomes, especially in technology-rich environments where distractions are prevalent.
•  Educators need tools and strategies to monitor students’ online activity, provide timely feedback, and guide learning in the digital world.
• Without support to do this, students may struggle to stay focused, use tech appropriately, and achieve their full potential.  
• This problem is particularly relevant in K-12. Students are still developing their digital literacy and self-regulation skills. 
• Hapara aims to address this problem by providing a comprehensive classroom management suite. 
• Helps educators monitor student activity, provide feedback, and differentiate instruction.
• Hāpara aims to empower teachers while improving student engagement, digital citizenship and learning outcomes.

• Hāpara software license with access to Hāpara Suite of tools. 
• Teacher professional development and training (asynchronous and synchronous)
• Implementation and technical support
• Collaboration space for teachers (Hāpara Community)

• Ethically monitor student online activity 
• Provide timely feedback to students
• Assign and manage student work
• Reducing cognitive load
• Differentiate instruction 
• Facilitate collaboration

• Increased visibility into student learning and activity
• More timely, targeted feedback to students
• Higher student engagement during online tasks
• Reduced off-task behavior during digital lessons
• More organized learning experiences for students

• Students demonstrate improved executive function and self-regulation
• Students will have access to the necessary devices and internet
• Teachers will be effectively trained and supported in using Hāpara
• Teachers can differentiate instruction more effectively
• The school will provide ongoing support and resources for Hāpara implementation
• Students feel more supported in digital learning environments
• Increased student achievement in core subjects
• Greater equity in digital access and learning opportunities
• Improved student-teacher relationships and classroom climate
• Growth in student digital citizenship and responsibility

This article examines the ethical challenges of using technology in education. It discusses how digital tools have rapidly transformed learning and teaching, making it essential to consider the ethical implications. The paper points out that technology allows for personalized learning, where educators can adapt materials to suit individual student needs and help them grasp complex concepts more effectively. It also addresses the “digital divide,” highlighting the importance of ensuring all students have fair access to digital learning and understand responsible online behavior. Lastly, the article covers issues related to intellectual property, focusing on who owns digital content. Hāpara tools, such as Chat and Announce directly reflect these ethical and pedagogical considerations by enabling timely, individualized communication that supports equitable and personalized learning while promoting responsible digital engagement.

This study by Faber, Feskens, and Visscher looks closely at how digital tools that help teachers track student progress affect how well students perform in school. These tools, called Digital Monitoring Tools (DMTs), assist teachers in planning their lessons by giving them information based on student test results. The researchers examined 14 strong studies and found that using DMTs generally has a noticeable positive effect on student achievement. This was true for students in elementary school, and for subjects like reading and math. The study also explored different ways these tools are designed and how teachers are trained to use them. They looked at how often feedback was given, what kind of information it included (such as specific topics or advice), and who the training was for. The research suggests that giving feedback to students, whether it’s scores, updates on their progress, or details about what they’ve mastered, is a crucial part of these tools. Hāpara supports these practices through features like Chat and Announce for delivering timely feedback, and Drive access tools that enable teachers to monitor student work and provide individualized support based on progress and needs. 

This article investigates how digital study materials affect student learning, especially when instructors use various technological tools. The study found that most students believe digital content has increased their interest in reading. The author suggests that digital learning resources can offer more flexibility and accessibility compared to traditional schooling. Hāpara’s ability to foster collaboration in documents and group features support this by allowing students to collaborate on projects and receive instruction tailored to their needs, enhancing both engagement and student agency. The article emphasizes that incorporating multimedia into teaching strategies makes classes more interesting and helps students feel more in control of their education. Overall, the research indicates that digital study materials are beneficial for student learning, improving reading, writing, and speaking skills. The author concludes by recommending that digital learning resources be included in classroom instruction to improve the learning process.

This systematic review by Johnson, Walton, Strickler, and Elliott explores effective practices for K-12 online teaching and learning in the United States, especially in light of the shift to remote instruction during the 2020 pandemic. The authors identify key factors for successful online education, including prepared teachers, reliable technology access, and an understanding of students’ developmental needs. Hāpara’s tools, such as Share files, Share links, and Google Drive integration, support these practices by helping educators organize, distribute, and manage digital content efficiently, which are all key components of digital instruction. They also outline seven important instructional elements, such as well-designed courses, connected learning experiences, and accessibility for all students. A significant finding emphasizes the importance of real-time assessment and frequent, meaningful feedback to students. This feedback, which can come from teachers or peers, helps students understand their progress, correct misunderstandings, and improve their learning outcomes in the online environment. The study ultimately offers guidance for educators and policymakers to enhance the quality of virtual schooling.

This action research paper explores how the “Gradual Release of Responsibility” framework affects student metacognition, especially during group work. The study aimed to understand if this framework helps students think about their own thinking, considering factors like engagement, productivity, and how students interact. The findings suggest that this framework does impact individual students’ metacognition. The author proposes that implementing a gradual release of responsibility can improve student productivity and positive interactions during collaborative learning. Hāpara’s collaborative tools and group features align with this model by enabling students to work together on shared tasks while also receiving differentiated instruction based on their needs, which enhances both engagement and student agency. The study also notes that clear instructions and well-planned collaborative work times are essential for a positive learning environment and student engagement.

Hāpara is a suite of digital tools that enhances teaching and learning in digital environments. It provides educators with the means to manage online classrooms, deliver instructions, support student progress, and promote effective digital citizenship. Hāpara’s key components include Teacher Dashboard and Highlights, which work together to create a comprehensive online learning environment that keeps students safe and engaged.

Hāpara provides tools that support effective online instruction, ethical digital citizenship, and personalized learning experiences. It provides educators with the tools they need to effectively engage with students, track their progress, and support their learning. Hāpara supports the delivery of timely feedback, management of student work, collaboration, and differentiation. These features align with established research on effective online pedagogy, ethical technology use, and personalized learning strategies.

Educators from Danville Community School Corporation reported that Hāpara offers consistent, real-time visibility into students’ online activities, enabling teachers to guide browsing, open websites on student devices, and engage in one-on-one conversations using Hāpara’s Chat feature. This level of interaction helps keep students focused and engaged in their learning tasks.

Educators from other districts also attest to Hāpara’s positive impact on maintaining engagement and facilitating smooth classroom transitions. Lisa Prado from Pasadena Unified School District uses the Pause Screens feature in Hāpara Highlights to help when the class is distracted. “I’ll use it as ‘I need your attention,’ and I’ll give directions. Because if they’re on any kind of game or something a little bit more entertaining, they just won’t listen. I will also use it when I need the transition to be faster.”

This approach is efficient in supporting learners who may struggle with focus and self-regulation. Erica Peters emphasizes, “It’s not meant to be, ‘I got you.’ It’s meant to help focus you. It’s meant to make sure that we can get places faster. It’s not just meant for me to lock you down. I really think that a lot of our students, especially my school that’s 25% Special Ed, haven’t developed self-control yet, so that is helpful in helping them with it.”

Together, these tools and educator strategies demonstrate how Hāpara actively supports student learning by fostering engagement, improving digital behavior management and enabling personalized support for diverse learners. Whether through real-time interaction, guided browsing, or targeted interventions, Hāpara empowers teachers to create responsive digital classrooms where all students can thrive.

Ethical considerations are paramount in the digital age of education, particularly regarding the monitoring of students’ online activity. It is crucial for education to “guide students in developing critical thinking skills, evaluating online information, and navigating ethical challenges of the digital world” (Kumar, 2024). The Hāpara Highlights feature, Guide Browsing, supports ethical monitoring by allowing teachers to schedule and manage browsing sessions, ensuring students remain focused on learning tasks while giving them some student agency. “Instilling a sense of responsibility for technology use is crucial for fostering a positive and ethical online learning environment” (Kumar, 2024). This approach aligns with the principles of digital citizenship, where educators empower students to make informed decisions about their online presence and interactions. By providing a structured yet flexible environment, Hāpara enables teachers to strike a balance between oversight and student autonomy, promoting a safe and productive digital learning experience.

This balance between oversight and autonomy is made possible when educators are equipped to use the tools effectively. Mike DeLeon from ValleyView Community District empowers all educators in his district to manage their digital classrooms with Hāpara. “Because they’ve been properly trained, teachers are using Hāpara consistently and effectively. They get to carry out their lessons the way they need them to be, and they’re gaining back instructional time because they don’t have to meet with kids about digital behavior or redirect them the old-fashioned way.” This indicates that ethical monitoring is not only about observing student activity but also about supporting efficient and respectful classroom management that reinforces positive digital behavior.

In practice, Hāpara Highlights allows teachers to discreetly monitor students without disrupting learning. Ana DeMarco, a math teacher at John Muir High School with Pasadena Unified, illustrates this in her classroom. Her students work independently online for twenty minutes each day, and while she assists individual learners, she uses Highlights to ensure the rest of the class remains engaged. “Having Hāpara helps me know if the other students are working as well,” she says. This unobtrusive method supports ethical monitoring by allowing teachers to maintain situational awareness and student accountability without intruding on their autonomy.

Together, these practices show how Hāpara helps foster a culture of trust, responsibility, and digital citizenship, where students are guided, not surveilled, in their online behavior.

Effective assignment and management of student work are critical for fostering student independence and ensuring a productive online learning environment. Teachers with significant experience in virtual settings have been observed to “employ aspects of course design including clearly organizing and structuring course content, establishing clear deadlines for self-pacing, and providing multiple opportunities for students to engage with course content” (Johnson et al., 2023). This structured approach is essential in online settings where students might otherwise struggle with organization and time management. Utilizing online learning tools and applications has become a key strategy in harnessing the potential of technology in classroom management, as “these tools and applications provide access to various learning resources that students can access anything, anywhere” (Lasaiba, 2024, p.85). Hāpara tools, such as Share files, Share links and the Google Drive features, enable educators to effectively organize and distribute digital work, set clear deadlines, and facilitate self-paced learning. By providing a well-structured framework, these tools empower students to manage their workload, understand expectations, and engage more deeply with learning materials, ultimately promoting greater autonomy and success in their academic endeavors.

Building on this foundation, Valley View Community School District effectively uses Hāpara to assign and manage student work. Teachers are trained to use Hāpara as a structured platform for organizing, assigning and tracking student work. Highlights supports classroom management by keeping students on task during digital learning, reducing distractions and guiding positive online behavior without being punitive. The tool is even enabled for at-home use during snow days, ensuring continuity of learning in all environments.

To ensure consistency and success in implementation, Valley View provides teachers with in-person or asynchronous training. This structured onboarding process enables scalable adoption across the district, allowing educators to regain valuable instructional time and focus more directly on teaching. Students, especially high achievers, benefit from the focused, distraction-free digital learning environment that Hāpara provides.

Veronica Hatch, a fifth-grade educator at Isaac Singleton Elementary School in Joliet District 86, reinforces the importance of meaningful technology integration, stating, “Technology has to enhance learning. It either has to increase the rate of how I can accomplish something, or it has to be something that is benefiting the student in how they’re gaining knowledge and skills.”

Through intentional design, real-time classroom visibility, and structured platforms for assigning and managing work, Hāpara empowers both teachers and students with the tools they need to succeed in digital learning spaces.

Reducing cognitive load is a crucial aspect of effective online course design, aiming to make learning more efficient and less overwhelming for students. The literature highlights that online courses should be designed “with a focus on reducing cognitive load and engaging learners in user experiences that optimize learning by creating environments that are navigable, visually streamlined, and clearly organized “(Johnson et al., 2023). Hāpara tools can significantly contribute to this goal by providing a structured and intuitive digital learning environment. Features that offer visually streamlined interfaces, organized content, and clear navigation can minimize extraneous processing and help students focus on essential learning tasks. By ensuring that the digital workspace is tidy and easy to navigate, Hāpara supports teachers in creating an optimal learning experience that reduces unnecessary mental effort, allowing students to dedicate their cognitive resources to understanding and mastering new concepts.

In addition to creating visually streamlined environments, Hāpara supports streamlined differentiation and personalized instruction, which further helps reduce the cognitive overload caused by undifferentiated teaching and limited feedback. By allowing teachers to view students’ progress in real time, the platform enables timely intervention when learners are stuck—preventing frustration and avoiding unnecessary mental strain. The ability to organize students into groups allows educators to deliver tailored instruction, ensuring that each learner receives content relevant to their specific needs without the cognitive burden of navigating generalized or irrelevant materials.

For example, Jonathon Zabel uses the “Share links” feature in Hāpara to push appropriate resources directly to individuals or specific groups, minimizing the need for students to search for materials, a common source of distraction and cognitive fatigue. This functionality is especially valuable for students with IEP accommodations, as it allows educators to monitor engagement and task completion closely. Jonathon also uses Hāpara’s grouping feature as a data management tool, tracking which students still need support and focusing his attention on those requiring more intensive monitoring.

The “Share links” feature in Hāpara Highlights enables educators to open a link directly onto learners’ Chromebooks, creating a seamless learning experience. Erica Peters from Pasadena Unified shares, “In the past, you’d have to go to Canvas to add an assignment link and have the kids click through Canvas, versus now I can quickly send it out to you.” Similarly, Ana Demarco notes the ease of helping students with accessible tools: “Sometimes my students were having trouble finding a calculator, so I like that I can save the link for the calculator and I can share it with them, and they will have easy access to the calculator.”

By simplifying access to resources and facilitating real-time instructional adjustments, Hāpara meaningfully reduces students’ cognitive load. It supports a learning environment where mental energy is directed toward comprehension and skill development—not navigation or confusion—making it an essential tool for effective digital instruction.

Differentiating instruction is essential to cater to the diverse learning needs with any classroom, ensuring that all students receive appropriate and targeted support. “Adaptive learning technologies leverage data analytics to tailor educational content to individual students’ abilities and preferences. Machine-learning algorithms analyze student performance and adapt instructional strategies to address specific learning needs. This personalized approach enhances the effectiveness of teaching, ensuring that each student receives the targeted support” (Kumar, 2024). Hāpara’s ability to create and manage student groups directly supports differentiated instruction by allowing teachers to segment learners based on their individual needs, preferences, or project requirements. This functionality enables educators to deliver customized content, assign differentiated tasks, and provide targeted interventions to specific groups of students. By facilitating flexible grouping and personalized content delivery, Hāpara empowers teachers to effectively differentiate instruction, making learning more relevant and impactful for every student.

Additional support for differentiated instruction comes from Hāpara’s real-time visibility into student activity. Bobbie Jo from Appleton Area School District noted that one of her favorite parts of Hāpara Highlights is the ability to see learners’ progress in real time. She explained, “Sometimes a student isn’t typing an answer to a short question, and I’ll check to see if they’re stuck,” she said.

This is especially valuable for students requiring additional support. “It’s great for students who have 504/IEP accommodations because we can track if they’re staying on task,” she added.

The ability to organize students into groups in Highlights makes it even easier to tailor instruction to their unique needs. When combined with the capacity to monitor progress and provide individualized redirection or encouragement, these tools offer a powerful framework for delivering differentiated instruction that is timely, responsive and inclusive.

Facilitating collaboration in digital learning environments is crucial for fostering a sense of community and enhancing student engagement. Collaborative digital platforms inherently “blur the lines between the individual and collective ownership of content,” necessitating a careful balance between “fostering collaboration and respecting individual contribution”(Kumar, 2024).  Hāpara’s collaborative features, such as shared documents and group work functionalities, are designed to navigate this balance effectively. These tools provide opportunities for students to engage in collaborative projects and share ideas, which can significantly impact student engagement, as “digital study materials have a significant impact on student engagement” (Faizal, 2023). The intent of collaborative work environments is to interdependently work towards that common goal while gaining a newly found knowledge and application to take away from the process (Skillings, 2021).By promoting active peer-to-peer learning and enabling seamless interaction within a digital space, Hāpara supports teachers in cultivating a dynamic and interconnected learning community while ensuring that individual contributions are recognized and valued.

When educators use features like Guide browsing or Share links to open websites on learners’ devices, it creates a synchronized starting point for collaborative activities, such as Google Slides assignments or collaborative research projects. When students have shared access to resources that enable group work, all students can participate in the same digital task, allowing for peer interaction.

Joliet District 86 uses Hāpara for digital management. Maida Cornelio-Sauseda, a teacher from that district, shared, “If I need them to fill out a Google Form, I can send it to them, and there’s no issue of ‘I don’t know where it is. I didn’t type this correctly.’ It’s just ‘bam.’ It takes them there.”