Educational Technology News

Device reclamation doesn’t have to be an onerous process for school IT teams--here’s how to make it a bit less complicated

Experts say an automated device management system can save time and energy for district IT staff that are spread thin.

Marquitta Mitchell of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in North Carolina chronicles the pitfalls and triumphs of the district's 1:1 initiative. 

"When tablets first arrived in classrooms, students and teachers alike found themselves drawn to the visual intensity of the screen. The apps available for download inspired the imagination, sending a siren’s call to be included in classroom instruction. We’ve come a long way from the first eye-candy apps that attracted our attention."

Whether it’s reluctant teachers or wealth inequality between schools, districts can face major challenges in getting a device to every student.

"Are there ways to encourage students to be more careful with technology?"

A report from Project Tomorrow shows mobile devices support student equity, empowerment, and understanding.

Apple Education’s Jon Landis told a conference audience that educators must evolve to keep pace with the unprecedented changes seen in tech today.

"Over the past few years, advancements in technology have greatly improved the classroom experience for both students and teachers alike. Tools like Chromebooks, SMART Boards, and even virtual reality headsets have allowed teachers to bring instruction to life and make learning more engaging. But these tools are only as good as the classroom environment in which they exist."

Success requires robust planning, but luckily there are now plenty of great examples of best practices and what not to do.

Today’s traditional college students come from the generation of digital natives, meaning they are generally incredibly fast learners when it comes to new technologies. However, that also means they have discerning technological tastes, especially when it comes to user experiences. You can outfit your student body with all of the tech tools in the world, but if they feel the user experience is unintuitive or inefficient, even the always-plugged-in generation may choose to stick to pen and paper. (Or, perhaps more likely, use a patchwork of personal devices with familiar interfaces.)

Though schools are becoming more connected than ever, the homework gap continues to be a persistent problem.

"At last count, there were over 80,000 educational apps available to teachers. While many of these may be a dream come true for educators, the dizzying array of choices is also a nightmare. Teachers just don’t have time to filter through thousands of apps to find the one that works best for the needs of their students. To make this process less agonizing, here are the hallmarks of a classroom-ready educational app."

Research released today by the Reboot Foundation sheds new light on the effect of devices on learning.

Fraser Speirs says Apple's classroom app is being left to 'die a slow death'

School districts across the country, including some in California, have gone into debt in a desperate push to get education technology into classrooms.

"For anyone involved in education, the importance of engagement is clear. And the need for both student engagement and buy-in cannot be overstated when it comes to device rollout."

The district aims to give K-8 students laptops to use at school. And while a pilot program exists at 25 schools, it would cost $16 million to expand it to 46 more.

Kevin Ghost of Pennsylvania's Connellsville Area School District explains how a rural, 4,300-student district created a consistent experience for all teachers and students in a 21st century learning environment.

While technology, such as 1:1 laptop programs, can help students become proficient in core competencies, nothing beats problem-solving, critical thinking and creativity.

"Teaching with apps is not new. We have compiled lists of apps and tech resources that can be used in the classroom and for education outside the classroom. However, we haven’t necessarily offered any tips for successfully using apps for teaching. Finding, downloading, and having students use apps for learning is one thing. Teaching with apps effectively and making use of the data they track is another task entirely."

Using social media and school events to help parents understand the tech their children are using contributes to device program success.

"Technology adoption in high school and middle schools is fairly standard — most upper grades require students to file work online, necessitating their use of computers, tablets and at the least, smartphones. At the elementary school level, tablets are preferred — with 53% of students in grades K-2 using these devices, as compared to 15% of the same grades using laptops, according to Deloitte’s 2016 Digital Education Survey."