The Rules Library lets you save Classroom Manager rules in named lists and reuse them in any of your classes. Instead of recreating the same rules for every class each term, you create a list once and apply it whenever you need it.
Open the Rules Library
You can open the Rules Library from two places:
- On the My Classes page: Select Rules Library on the toolbar. Use this to set up and organize your lists before class.
- In a class: Select Rules, then select the Rules Library tab. Use this to apply a list during a lesson.
How the Rules Library works
Your Rules Library belongs to you. Your lists stay in your library from one term to the next, even when your school resyncs teachers and classes.
Each list holds Block and Allow rules for websites, signatures, and categories. Lists only hold rules for the whole class.
Apply a list to a class
To apply a list to a class:
- On the My Classes page, open the class.
- In the class toolbar, select Rules.
- Select the Rules Library tab.
- Next to the list, select Apply List.
The list's rules start working immediately, even during a lesson. The applied list appears in the class's Active Rules tab.
Changes apply to every class using the list
A list is the same in every class where you use it. When you change a list, the change applies to every class where that list is active:
- When you add a rule to a list, every class using the list gets the rule.
- When you delete a rule from a list, it's removed from every class using the list.
- When you delete a list, it's removed from every class where it's active.
Removing a list from one class doesn't change your library or your other classes. Changes to a list apply right away, so you don't need to sync anything.
Warning
Deleting a list from your Rules Library removes it from every class where it's applied. To stop using a list in one class only, remove it from that class instead.
Suggested categories to block
The Suggested categories to block section helps you start your library quickly. It lists categories that teachers commonly block during class.
To use a suggestion, select Add (plus icon) next to the category. Classroom Manager adds it as a Block rule to a list called Quick Block: Category Rules, and removes it from the suggestions.
Which rule applies when rules overlap
Most of the time, your rules work together. When two rules disagree, Classroom Manager decides which one applies in this order:
- Locked policies: Your school's Locked policies in Linewize Filter always apply. You can't override them with any rule.
- Class-specific rules: Rules you create directly in a class, without adding them to a list, apply before list rules.
- The first list applied: When two active lists disagree, the rule from the list applied first keeps working.
A rule for a specific website or app also applies before a rule for its broader category. For example, if you allow YouTube and block Streaming Media, students can use YouTube, but all other streaming media websites stay blocked.
Rules that aren't applying because of a conflict appear grayed out in the Active Rules tab, with a conflict icon next to them. A conflict resolves when one of the conflicting rules is removed from the class.
Tip
To change access for one class without editing your list, create a class-specific rule. For example, allow YouTube for one lesson while your list keeps it blocked in your other classes.
Rule lists in a shared class
If you share a class with other teachers, you can each apply lists from your own Rules Library. Each active list shows the name of the teacher who owns it.
In a class you share, you can:
- Apply any of your own lists.
- Remove any active list from the class, including a list another teacher applied.
- Create a class-specific rule.
You can't:
- Open another teacher's Rules Library.
- Edit a list that another teacher owns.
If rules within your list conflict with rules in a co-teacher's list, the rules applied first keep working. Talk with your co-teacher to agree on which rule you want, or create a class-specific rule for the class.
Rules Library limits
The Rules Library has these limits:
| Item | Limit |
|---|---|
| Lists in your Rules Library | 30 |
| Rules in each list | 200 |
| Rules in each class, including rules from active lists | 200 |
When you reach a limit, Classroom Manager shows a message and stops the action. Delete a list or remove some rules to make room.
Next steps
- Create and manage rule lists [CONFIRM: link once KNOW-5264 is published]
- Apply a rule list to a class [CONFIRM: link once KNOW-5265 is published]
- Rule priority in Classroom Manager [CONFIRM: link once KNOW-5267 is published]
- Resolve rule conflicts in a class [CONFIRM: link once KNOW-5268 is published]
- Use the Rules Library in a co-taught class [CONFIRM: link once KNOW-5271 is published]