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Scenes let teachers apply custom web-filtering rules to students during a class session. A Scene can restrict students to a specific set of websites, block particular sites, automatically open pages on student devices, and limit the number of tabs students can have open. GoGuardian Teacher Scenes list page

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Scene Types

Scenes come in 2 types:
GoGuardian Admin filtering policies always take precedence over Scene rules. A teacher cannot use a Scene to allow a site that is blocked by GoGuardian Admin policy.

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Add Sites to a Scene

When building a Scene, enter a URL or keyword in the search field. GoGuardian Teacher returns the entered site and related suggestions. Click Add next to any site you want to include. You can add a full website, a website path, or an individual webpage:
When building an Allow List Scene for Google tools, some sites redirect to subdomains (for example, Google Classroom redirects through accounts.google.com). Add the subdomain to the allow list, or use a wildcard entry such as *google* to allow all Google domains at once.
GoGuardian Teacher Scenes main page Scene customization interface where the Scene can be named, have a description added, and colorized

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Auto-Open Tabs

Scenes can automatically open specific websites on student devices when the Scene is applied. For Default Scenes, tabs open as soon as the class session starts.
  • For Allow Lists: first add the site to the allowed list, then check the Auto-Open checkbox that appears next to the site.
  • For Block Lists: use the Auto-Open Tabs section available when editing the Scene.
Tabs only open if the student has a Chrome window open. If students do not receive the tabs immediately, ask them to open Chrome and the tabs will open.

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Tab Limits

Set a maximum number of open tabs for students using the Tab limit for students drop-down menu. When a Scene with a tab limit is applied, any tabs a student has open over the limit are closed automatically. The limit is only active while the Scene is applied. Tab Limits

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Quick Lists

Quick Lists are pre-built groups of URLs that can be added to a Scene at once, without entering each site individually. Quick List page in a GoGuardian Teacher Scene

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Advanced Filtering

Advanced Filtering adds exceptions to Allow List or Block List rules. Use it when you want to allow an entire domain but block one or two specific sites within it. For example: adding *google.com* to an Allow List Scene allows all Google services. Using Advanced Filtering, you can then add sites.google.com as an exception to block it specifically while keeping all other Google services accessible. Scene web filtering rule customization page Advanced filtering icon Scene editing interface highlighting the Advanced Filtering option Advanced Filtering Scene editing interface highlighting the 'Add' button 'Exceptions' list in a Scene Scene list highlighting an Advanced filtering rule entry

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YouTube Filtering

YouTube.com and specific YouTube video URLs can be added to Allow List or Block List Scenes:
  • Allow List: adding YouTube.com allows the main YouTube site. Adding a specific video URL (without YouTube.com) allows only that video.
  • Block List: adding YouTube.com blocks the main YouTube site. Adding a specific video URL blocks only that video.
GoGuardian Admin and Google Admin Console YouTube filtering always take precedence over Scene rules. Coordinate with your IT department to make sure videos needed for class are allowed at the Admin level.

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Check if a Website Is Blocked

GoGuardian Teacher includes a website-checking tool on the main dashboard. Click Check if a Website is Blocked to test whether a specific URL would be blocked for any student in your class, and whether the block comes from a Scene or from a GoGuardian Admin policy. Scene-based blocks can be updated directly from the tool. Admin-based blocks require your IT administrator to make the change. Check if a Website Is Blocked Blocked website checking tool in GoGuardian Teacher

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Share Scenes

Teachers can share Scenes with other teachers. The teacher who receives the shared Scene can apply it during sessions, but only the original owner can edit the Scene’s rules. Allowed Websites List Scene Blocked Websites List Scene page

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Resources

Create and Apply a Scene

Step-by-step instructions for creating and applying a Scene.

Components of a Scene

Reference for every Scene setting and what it controls.

Use Wildcards in Scenes

Use wildcard patterns to allow or block groups of URLs by keyword.

Scene Conflicts

Resolve conflicts when multiple teachers have overlapping sessions.
Last modified on July 9, 2026