Computer-held testing has become an integral part of the education system, providing educators with a convenient and efficient way to assess students’ knowledge and skills. As we discussed in our last blog, 3 Common Device Issues That Disrupt Standardized Testing, schools often encounter disruptive device issues on testing days.
Technology has revolutionized how we live, work, and learn in today’s rapidly evolving world. Education technology has the power to enhance collaboration, improve engagement, and provide personalized learning experiences to students like never before. Unfortunately, financial limitations often hinder schools from fully embracing edtech in the classroom. Microsoft’s “Shape the Future” program is a commendable initiative to empower education by providing access to affordable technology solutions for K-12 communities.
Budget maximization is a necessity for every school district. Most K-12 districts deal with some level of complication around purchasing new technology—whether they don’t have the budget for it or are simply unaware of the technology and financing options available to them. The districts that invest in new technology in a proactive and competitive manner often cover the costs strategically with private or federal financing options.
With an enormous increase in phishing scams, malware attacks, ransomware schemes, and serious data breaches, the past two years have demonstrated that a strong cybersecurity system is essential for K-12 schools just as much as it is for corporations. The lack of adequate protection can be extremely disruptive and costly: from completely shutting down school operations to exposing students’ personal records, to costing millions of taxpayer dollars to pay ransoms.
In any environment, a broken device can be a big disruption to workflow. For K-12 schools where it is less common to have the budget to keep backup laptops or tablets on-hand and ready to go, broken devices can cause wasted time and learning distractions. Proactively managing the lifecycle of classroom devices—from purchase, to maintenance, to disposal—can seem pricey or time consuming up-front but offers significant benefits in the long run. Administrators should invest in a well-defined plan to deploy and manage devices across their schools and districts so that they are not surprised with unexpected delays, expenses, or security breaches down the road.
The 21st century classroom barely resembles the class environments of the past. Screens are mounted on the walls while assigned laptops and tablets are stored in carts in the corner of the room. With so many programs, installations, and assistive software available for these devices, it can become overwhelming for the teachers and instructors who are struggling to keep in […]
As the old adage commonly attributed to Benjamin Franklin goes, “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.” This nugget of wisdom especially rings true in education. This is why after the last bell rings and children file out of the halls in retreat for the summer, educators begin prepping lesson plans and district leaders begin searching for […]
For many of us, textbooks were the pivotal source of information during our time in the classroom at school. It was impossible to even think about discussing the course material each day without them. Although textbooks have not been completely phased out, their importance has greatly diminished in recent years. Textbooks are often digital nowadays and computer programs and software […]
Recent research has repeatedly shown us that a hands-on, multi-sensory learning method is the strongest way to reach students and improve overall engagement. Interactivity in technology is something that is almost expected in today’s world. We have long since moved past the days of marker whiteboards and overhead projectors. No longer are teachers required to spend time preparing flash cards […]
“Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” – commonly attributed to Albert Einstein One of Albert Einstein’s most commonly attributed quotes involves the outlandish analogy of a fish climbing a tree to represent the improper merit of one’s intelligence and […]