Teaching · Related Services

Most tracking problems
are setup problems.

Before blaming the student or the software, check the geometry: distance, height, angle and light. Log each setup session with the distance, dwell time and selection method, work the eight checks, and record every calibration. The checklist tells you what to change before the next session.

Add a setupWhat you get
$5one-time · every device you sign in on
Buy · $5

Included with Caveat Classroom and Whole-school licenses. Or get it in the Related Services toolkit, $99 for 96 items.

Setups

The worked example is made up: a student in a wheelchair 78 cm from a tracker rated to 70 cm, with window glare and two partial calibrations, and a good session the week before in a classroom chair. Records save on this device only.

Loading the setup form. If nothing appears, turn on JavaScript.

What you get

Teaching · Related Services$5 · included with Classroom and Whole-school licenses

What you finish with
A record per setup session with student code, date, device, seating, distance and the maker’s range, dwell time, selection method, session length and tolerance; eight setup checks; calibrations with time, points, result and note; flags for distance out of range, a partial or failed latest calibration, a session past the planned tolerance and no backup method.
Who it is for
Assistive technology specialists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, special education teachers and paraprofessionals who set up eye-gaze access.
Format
Browser checklist with a saved record per session. Prints a setup record to tape near the device, every session as a table or a blank form; downloads a spreadsheet (.csv); exports and imports a file.
Access
$5 one-time, yours on every device you sign in on; the tool opens once you are signed in with it. Included with Caveat Classroom and Whole-school licenses. Also in the Related Services toolkit ($99) and the Teaching Suite pass ($199), and 1 more bundle. Everything you type stays in this browser; nothing is sent to Caveat.
Where it lives
The Related Services space in Caveat Teaching.
Support
Questions about access, an order or a correction: team@caveatacademic.com.

How to use it

  1. Look up the tracker’s distance range in its manual or setup screen.
  2. Seat the student as they will usually sit, then measure eyes to screen.
  3. Work the setup checks: center, square, light, mount, both eyes found.
  4. Calibrate and log the result; if partial, fix the setup before trying again.
  5. Watch for fatigue and stop at the planned break.

Add a setup

Distance, height, angle and light

Getting the geometry rightdistance: inside the maker’s rangeeyes level with theupper part of the screenLightNo window behind the screen; glare breaks tracking.SquareScreen faces the eyes straight on.RecheckAfter every transfer, the distance and angle change.Getting the geometry rightdistance: inside the maker’s rangeLightNo window behind the screen; glarebreaks tracking.SquareScreen faces the eyes straight on.RecheckAfter every transfer, the distance andangle change.
Exact distances differ by tracker. Use the range in your device’s manual and its status view.

Calibrate the setup, not just the student

Eye trackers use infrared light and cameras to find both eyes. Distance outside the device’s range, a screen tilted away, glare from a window, smudged glasses or a mount that shifted during a transfer all cause partial calibrations. Fixing those first usually works better than repeating the calibration.

Fatigue is real

Using the eyes to select is tiring, especially early on. Short sessions with planned breaks, a dwell time long enough to avoid accidental selections, and a backup way to communicate keep the student in control. Adjust dwell gradually and note each change here so the team can see what worked.

Sources

  1. Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 34 CFR 300.5 and 300.6: assistive technology devices and services, and 34 CFR 300.324(a)(2)(v): considering assistive technology in every IEP.
  2. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Augmentative and Alternative Communication practice portal: access methods including eye gaze (asha.org).
  3. Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA). Seating and positioning for access to technology (resna.org).
  4. U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs. Guidance on assistive technology devices and services for children with disabilities under IDEA (2024).

The worked example is made up. Follow the device maker’s instructions for distance and setup and the student’s plan for use. Nothing you type is sent to Caveat. Support: team@caveatacademic.com.