Your Device Protection Checklist for Winter Break: Your cheat sheet for safeguarding school tech during the holidays

As the winter holidays approach, students and staff look forward to the upcoming break. School IT administrators face the additional task of safeguarding their school’s ed tech investment before signing off for some well-deserved downtime. Here are a few steps schools can consider taking to protect their devices over the winter break.

For devices going home– be kind and remind

If students are allowed to take their school-provided devices home over the winter break, it’s an ideal time to reiterate the school’s expectations around device use for both students and their families. For instance, one expectation might be that students should put their Chromebook in a protective case whenever it’s not being used to protect it from getting damaged, for instance, in a hastily dropped backpack.

Consider including your school’s Acceptable Use Policy when emailing students and caregivers ahead of the winter break. Remind families that content filters employed by the school aren’t likely to work while the devices are home. If devices are only to be used for schoolwork, reiterate that students shouldn’t use their devices for gaming or streaming purposes.

Temper your temperatures

If you live in a climate that experiences extreme temperatures, it’s also worth reminding students and families that their devices should be kept inside a climate controlled environment. Devices shouldn’t be left in a parent’s car (even if it’s parked in a garage), as extreme temperatures can damage electronics.

Get charged up

As staff and students get ready to return to school in the new year, they might need a reminder to charge up their devices.

For devices staying at school

For devices that will stay at school over the break, winter break offers an opportunity to check on your school’s device inventory, install software updates and security patches, and send damaged devices out for repair.

Back It Up

Students and staff whose devices will stay at the school should be sure to backup important documents before leaving for the break.

Storing and Charging

After devices have been backed up and updates have been applied, they should be stored securely according to your school’s procedures. If your school’s policy is to unplug devices before an extended break, make sure you have a plan to charge the devices before school starts up again.

Take stock of your school’s device coverage

Whether or not you’re collecting and updating devices over the break, it can also be a good time to check in on your school’s device coverage. Is it adequately covering your school’s repair and replacement needs? If not, it might be worth setting up a JonesCare Needs Assessment. By looking at your district’s needs, budget and device lifecycle, we’ll work with you to design a protection plan that’s just right for your school’s unique needs, and ensures that when devices do need to be repaired or replaced, there’s minimal disruption to learning.

Now that you’ve taken care of your school’s technology, we hope you can take time over the winter break to rest and recharge before returning in January. 

How to Teach Students to Care for Their Devices: Strategies for encouraging respect and responsibility for your school’s technology

As more public schools than ever now provide devices like laptops or tablets for their students to use during the school year, which increases digital equity and prepares students for higher education and the workforce. As a result, educators increasingly find themselves responsible for teaching their students how to care for their devices. Here are some ways teachers and administrators can encourage students to properly care for their school-owned devices.   

Clear Communication 

When it comes to your school’s policies for repairing and replacing damaged devices, communication is key. Start the year off by letting both students and their caregivers know about the expectations and policies around their devices. Be clear about the financial responsibility for repairing or replacing common items– for instance, how much families can expect to pay if a device suffers damage from spilled liquid or to replace a lost charger? Offer frequent reminders about device care and expectations to students and parents as you approach interruptions like school breaks– revisit rules like whether students are allowed to bring their devices home over break. 

Device Care as Curriculum 

Including transition time for students to put away their devices is a key part of showing them how to care for their technology. Build in time in your classroom’s schedule for students to place their devices in a charging cart or case. Depending on the age of your students, the amount of time needed will vary– young elementary students will probably need more time than tech-seasoned high schoolers.  

Consider Assigning Long-Term Devices 

One solution that may increase students’ ownership in caring for their devices is to assign them the same device for several years– for instance, from 6-8th grade or 9-12th grade. Knowing they’ll need to rely on the device for multiple years may prompt them to take better care of it than if they were only borrowing them for a single school year.  

Understand Device Protection 

Even with the best of care, it’s inevitable that devices will need to be repaired or replaced. Educators should familiarize themselves with their school’s program for repairing and replacing devices. For instance, if a Chromebook needs to be repaired, how long is that repair expected to take? Does the school have loaner devices for students (or teachers) whose devices are being repaired? Being familiar with the procedure and timeframe for repairs and replacements can help teachers know what to expect when a device is damaged or lost.  

Model Standards for Device Care 

By keeping a tidy workspace, storing your device in its proper case when you’re not using it and keeping drinks and snacks away from your devices, you’re modeling high standards of care for your students.  

Despite the best efforts of teachers, students and their caregivers, it’s inevitable that some of your school’s devices will sustain damage, be lost or simply reach the end of their lifecycle during the school year. JonesCare offers several options for schools to protect their devices, and provides a transparent repair process to ensure minimal interruption to learning. Reach out to learn more about your choices for protecting your school’s technology investment.  

Embracing Technology to Set the Tone for the School Year: Communication and digital tools help teachers establish routines, understand student learning styles and simplify administrative tasks

For educators and administrators, the beginning of a new school year brings a sense of anticipation, possibility and planning. But once the novelty begins to fade, educators might be wondering how to keep up the momentum over the months ahead. Here are a few ideas about how teachers can employ technology to help things run smoothly throughout the school year.

Set clear expectations

Students of any age using school devices need to understand the school’s expectations around technology. Answer questions like how students are allowed to use their school-provided devices, what students should steer clear of, and what the consequences of breaking the agreement are.

Along with specific rules around technology use, the beginning of the school year is a good time to integrate some information on digital citizenship.

Continue to emphasize routines

The school day is largely built on routine, and particularly for teachers of younger students, that routine should include guidance on how to take care of any edtech tools the students have access to. Where should the students store their headphones? If students are allowed to take their Chromebook home each day, can packing it up be an explicit part of the classroom’s end-of- the-day routine? 

Use Learning Management System to follow student progress

Using a Learning Management System (LMS) like Google Classroom has a number of benefits. Teachers can use it to post important information like assignments, due dates and reminders in a centralized location. It also enables teachers to follow student progress, and quickly intervene if a student is struggling or behind.

Explore personalized learning

It’s never too early to start figuring out how to best support students. Consider creating a brief survey that asks students about their interests, goals and challenges to get an early snapshot of what individual students might need to thrive.

Take advantage of timesaving tools

If your school offers Gemini for Google Workspace, take some time to explore how this AI tool can save you time and effort in the classroom. Gemini can assist with tasks like creating and summarizing emails, generating visuals that make presentations more engaging, and taking notes during virtual meetings with students and caregivers.

Understand your school’s device repair protocol

It’s inevitable that some of your school’s devices will need to be repaired or replaced during the school year. The beginning of the school year is a great time to make sure you have a clear understanding of your school’s edtech repair program. How long does it generally take for a damaged device to be repaired or replaced? Are there extra devices for students and staff to access while their device is being worked on? If not, are there other ways they can continue to do schoolwork in the interim? Device repair programs like JonesCare play an essential role in keeping the year running smoothly, and having a clear understanding of how your school handles repairs can help teachers minimize interruptions to student learning.

Taking the time to communicate with students and their families about technology use, expectations and repair protocol, having systems in place to monitor student progress and personalize learning, and using technology to simplify your workload can help set the tone for a great school year.

Best Educational Apps for the 2024-2025 School Year: Must-have apps for the back to school season

Educational apps can help teachers hone and optimize their skills, streamline administrative tasks, and engage and communicate with students and families. As we head into a new school year, here’s a roundup of educational apps we love, from classic favorites to emerging stars.  

Microsoft Teams 

A diverse communication app that focuses on collaboration, Microsoft Teams is free for K-12 educators and students. The Microsoft Teams app includes Reflect, a social and emotional learning tool. Newer additions to Microsoft Teams include AI features that assist educators in generating module content. 

Google Classroom 

Chances are, you’re already a Google Classroom pro. If not, what are you waiting for? Google Classroom boosts an array of features that help personalize learning, streamline administrative tasks, encourage academic integrity and  gather analytical data that helps you improve learning.  

Class Dojo 

A teacher favorite, Class Dojo enables easy communication between teachers, students and families. Educators can keep families in the loop by adding photo or video updates, and the calendar feature helps students build awareness of planning and due dates. Class Dojo also offers social-emotional learning opportunities, incentivized through a point system to support student growth. 

Pear Deck 

Pear Deck is technically an add-on that integrates with Microsoft PowerPoint and Google Slides and Classroom apps. Pear Deck allows teachers to design engaging, interactive presentations. With Pear Deck, educators receive instant feedback on how well their students understand a lesson, and offer them responses in real-time. The company also offers additional add-ons, including Pear Assessment (formerly known as Edulastic), which helps teachers deliver and monitor student assessments.  

Mindsets 

Most teachers have heard the timeless question, "Why do I need to learn this?" countless times. Microsoft for Education’s Mindsets delivers an answer– in the form of a Challenge. Designed for middle and high school students, offers Challenges that walk students through a relatable real-world scenario in which they use math or science skills to solve it. 

ParentSquare 

The popular Remind app, which enables teachers to send and receive messages, reminders and updates to students and families, was recently acquired by ParentSquare, a mass messaging platform for K-12 schools,students and caregivers. One of the highlights of this app is its two-way translation software, which enables educators and ELL students and families to communicate in their native language.  

SeeSaw 

Designed for elementary school educators, SeeSaw is a comprehensive app that includes curriculum, messaging, auto-graded assessments and progress monitoring while offering students engaging tools like its digital portfolio, which encourages students to take pride in their work.  

Kahoot! 

The award-winning app Kahoot! gamifies learning and makes studying easy and fun. Users can turn studying into a social event by engaging in friendly competition, creating flashcards instantly and preparing for upcoming tests, even while on the go.  

These are just a few of the top educational apps. Moving forward, we’re excited to see what new apps emerge that help streamline educator and admin workload, personalize learning for students with different needs, and optimize communication between teachers, students and families. 

Prepping Your School’s Device Management for Summer Break: Inventorying, assessing and planning for the break– and beyond

While the summer break might mean long, leisurely days at home or camp for students, it means something quite different for a school’s IT Team. Depending on the school and its policies, the break presents a window of time to collect, inventory, clean and update devices, as well as assess and plan for the next school year. 

Below, we outline some of the common action items IT teams prepare to tackle as the summer break approaches. 

Decide whether devices will be returned to school or go home with students

The question of whether districts should allow devices to stay with students over summer break is a controversial one. Proponents argue that allowing students to keep devices offers an opportunity for learning to continue over the summer months. Others, though, might view a summer take home device program as a logistical nightmare that increases the risk of devices being damaged or lost.  

Inventorying and inspecting

If your school does collect all school-owned devices at the end of the year, IT departments may commiserate with school librarians– you both spend a significant portion time attempting to track down and wrangle missing (and overdue) items.

Once the devices are collected, they can be inventoried and inspected for damage. 

Cleaning devices and identifying devices that are damaged or in need of repair

As students and teachers return their devices, your IT team will be looking for devices that have incurred damage over the school year. Devices will also need to be cleaned– for instance, laptop vents need to be dusted to prevent overheating, and 

Consider whether it’s time to retire aging devices

As you assess devices that are damaged, some will likely be at or near the end of their lifecycle. These devices will need to be recycled, and, depending on your school’s needs, replaced. 

Coordinate repairs for damaged devices

It’s likely that your team will identify many devices that need repair. Your IT team will want to coordinate the repair of these devices so that they’ll be ready for the new school year

Software and security updates 

The summer break presents an ideal opportunity for IT teams to perform software updates with minimal disruptions to students or staff. Security updates and device refreshes can also take place during this time. 

Arrange training for staff and students (if necessary)

Is your school introducing new technology to teachers and students? If so, you’ll likely need to schedule training sessions to familiarize staff to new devices. 

Reconsider your school’s device insurance 

Once your device inventory is complete and you’ve identified which need to be repaired or replaced, it’s an ideal time to decide whether your current device warranty or insurance coverage is adequate. Standard factory warranties for tech devices often don’t provide the coverage schools need, particularly as devices begin to age. 

Consider scheduling a JonesCare Needs Assessment. We’ll take an in-depth look at your district’s needs, budget and assess the lifecycle stages of your district’s devices. Then, we’ll work with you to customize a protection plan that’s tailored to your district’s unique needs. Our goal with JonesCare is to provide a seamless experience with minimal disruption to students and staff when devices need to be repaired or replaced.

Reach out today to book a JonesCare Needs Assessment.

How Intel and Microsoft are Harnessing AI to Transform Education: These programs and tools prepare students and teachers to make the most of Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence has been with us longer than many of us realize, assisting us in the form of conducting a spell check as we’re writing an email or a chatbot popping up to offer help as we browse a website.

As AI continues to be refined and integrated into daily life, we expect it will bring significant benefits to education. As AI advances and evolves, many expect it to absorb a large portion of the administrative burden educators carry, freeing them up to focus on students. AI is also likely to be used for personalizing learning for students with diverse learning needs.

Below, we’ll take a look at how two of our partners, Intel and Microsoft for Education, are already harnessing the power of AI to improve accessibility and inclusivity in education.

Intel’s AI for Youth program

Intel designed its AI for Youth program to empower students ages 13-19 by teaching them about AI. The intensive program breaks down what exactly AI is and isn’t, arms students with hands-on skills and then supports them as they craft individual social impact projects using their new knowledge and skills. For instance, an eleventh grader in Siberia created a prototype for an app that can help identify mental health issues in its users, while a group of young students who completed the AI for Youth program in Israel crafted an app that helps small retail clothing stores sort and display garments according to their color and design.

Intel’s AI for Youth program offers participants a variety of both technical and social skills and encourages diversity. It’s currently being used in several countries worldwide.

In its mission to \"demystify and democratize\" AI, Intel also launched an annual AI Global Impact Festival, in which students from 26 different countries participate in a competition of their AI innovations. In 2023, a group of teenage students from Brazil took the top prize with a device that can track eye movement to enable patients with ALS to communicate.

Microsoft

Artificial Intelligence is exciting, but it also comes with a learning curve. Microsoft for Education has built a suite of courses that break down the concepts of AI and show educators how specific tools might benefit them.

Microsoft for Education also created the AI Classroom Toolkit. This toolkit is designed to introduce AI tools, such as Microsoft Copilot, to students ages 13-15.

Microsoft Copilot is a generative AI assistant that’s currently available for educators. Generative AI is AI that uses data to create new content. For instance, teachers can use Copilot to tailor lesson plans for students who have different learning styles, assist with creating feedback on student work and help brainstorm classroom activities.

Microsoft has also previewed its Reading Coach tool. With Reading Coach, AI collaborates with readers to create stories and to identify and provide opportunities for practicing particular words a reader is struggling with.

As we learn more about the capabilities of Artificial intelligence and how it can assist educators, students, and the world at large, we’re excited to see what unfolds.

Outfitting Your Classroom On a Budget: 5 Affordable Ways Teachers Can Outfit Their Classrooms

Since a classroom is essentially a home away from home for both teachers and students, making it a fun and functional place to teach and learn is a priority. For newer educators, though, it can seem a bit daunting; it’s hard to build a Pinterest-pretty classroom on a lean budget.

Fortunately, there are a number of ways to outfit your classroom without breaking the bank. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Garage Sales

With the summer months being prime garage sale season, it’s no wonder that many teachers start here when outfitting their classrooms. Whether you have something particular you’re hoping to find or you prefer to browse around and see what strikes you, garage sales are generally affordable ways to pick up odds and ends for your classroom. Depending on your level of craftiness, keep in mind that you can often refinish or paint furniture that’s less than appealing as-is.

Buy Nothing Groups

Built on the premise of creating a sharing economy, Buy Nothing groups are a fantastic place to source classroom supplies. You can see if your community has a Buy Nothing Group and join it; currently, the majority of these groups take place on social media sites. When a member has an item that they no longer need, they offer it up in the group, and those who are interested respond. No money changes hands and no strings are attached– it’s built on the concept of freely giving what we can.

Invite your students to help you decorate

Incorporating your students into your classroom design is a great way to co-create an environment that reflects the uniqueness of your students. Most learners feel a sense of pride and belonging when they see something they’ve created displayed in the classroom.

Think outside the box

When considering a classroom element like flexible seating, which has become increasingly popular in classrooms in recent years, but also expensive, keep an open mind. While wobble stools and soft seating are eye-catching, they can also be prohibitively spendy. Consider thriftier options like yoga mats, gardening knee pads, or chair pads, all of which can be found in fun colors and are more affordable.

Create a classroom wishlist

While it’s common for teachers to create a list of items they’d like parents to supply at the beginning of a school year, you might consider saving some of your wishlist items for holidays and the end of the year, when parents are looking for ways to thank their favorite teachers. A wishlist takes the guesswork out of gift-giving and can be a relief for parents and teachers alike.

Give it Time

While it can be tempting to try and create an Instagram-worthy classroom, seasoned educators are likely to tell you that outfitting your classroom is a process that takes time and evolves over the years. Over time, you’ll discover what items are most useful in your classroom and what you can do without. Your students are likely to inspire you to incorporate new items or decor, helping you gradually create an environment that feels functional and welcoming.

Six Women Leaders in EdTech: Shining the spotlight on EdTech’s most influential women

In honor of International Women’s Day, we’re highlighting a handful of the female EdTech leaders who are blazing the way.

Sophie Bailey

In 2016, Sophie Bailey launched The Edtech Podcast with the mission of "improving the dialogue between ‘ed’ and ‘tech’ through storytelling for better innovation and impact." She aired 250 episodes before passing the reins to another host so she could focus her energy on creating WorkTripp, a digital platform that helps work teams plan and measure their gatherings.

Dr. Monica Burns

Monica Burns became an accidental influencer in the EdTech space after presenting an impromptu talk in 2012 on the topic of technology in classrooms. Her presentation was so well-received that she began blogging about EdTech and went on to create the Class Tech Tips website and podcast. In 2021, her book, EdTech Essentials: The Top 10 Technology Strategies for All Learning Environments was published.

Victoria Thompson

Originally a fifth and six grade math and science teacher, Victoria Thompson’s colleagues recognized her talent for using technology in educational settings. She later shifted her career to focus on educational technology and grew a hearty social media presence in the EdTech space. She led the Microsoft Innovative Education Expert (MIEE) program before moving on to CDW, where she works as a K-12 Education Strategist for the Southeast U.S. Thompson has racked up an impressive array of awards for being an innovator; in 2023, CIOLook magazine named her as one of the Top Ten Most Visionary Leaders in Education and ISTE included her in its Top 20 to Watch.

Dr. Akilah Willery

Dr. Akilah Willery has been working in education technology for 20 years. She currently works as an education strategist at CDW and co-hosts the web series EdTech Coffee Talks. She was recently named by EdTech Magazine as one of 30 K-12 IT Influencers to Watch, where she was praised for her social media posts giving voice to the needs of school districts. Willery has also written several articles for EdTech Magazine.

Kristina Ishmael

In her most recent role as the Deputy Director of the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Educational Technology, Kristina Ishmael worked on timely issues including digital equity and AI in education. A longtime champion for accessibility and equity in education, she recently received an ISTE 2023 Making It Happen Award and was named as a K-12 IT Influencer to Watch by EdTech Magazine.

Diane Doersch

While she started her career as an elementary and middle school teacher, Diane Doersch went on to serve as Director of Technology and later as Chief Technology and Information Officer in a Wisconsin school district. She proceeded to earn her Certified Educational Technology Leader (CETL) certification and is now the Senior Director of Information Technology at Digital Promise, a nonprofit devoted to equitable learning. She’s also a board member of the Consortium of School Networking (CoSN).

What Does 2024 Have in Store? Our predictions for trends in education in the new year.

The start of a new year is a natural time to ponder what’s ahead. While it’s impossible to predict exactly what’s waiting around the next bend, we can make some predictions about education trends for 2024.

Below, we’ve outlined the trends we anticipate continuing or growing traction in 2024.

Artificial Intelligence

2023 brought a huge leap in the development of Artificial Intelligence, and this evolution is likely to continue dramatically transforming the landscape of education in the months and years ahead.

For one, AI is likely to become an integral tool for educators, lightening mundane tasks and quickly analyzing data that would take teachers hours to complete. As labor shortages continue and rates of teacher burnout remain high, we’re hopeful that these emerging tools can help make life easier for educators. Of course, implementing this will require significant professional development to keep teaching staff current on how they can harness artificial intelligence, as well as what the best practices are.

AI is also likely to play a large part in personalizing education for students. Artificial intelligence can help detect students’ learning pace and style, and can tailor lessons accordingly. With an increased awareness of the need to meet a diverse array of learning styles and neurodivergence, we expect AI to be a huge time-saver for teachers while assisting students with learning in a way that works best for them.

Mental health

Student mental health has become another area of attention in education. In the wake of the pandemic, studies have consistently shown an increase in mental health struggles among students. We expect schools to address this by investing additional time and resources in holistic wellness for their students. Some school districts are offering free teletherapy to students, while others are experimenting with apps that can monitor student mental health and alert staff when students are deemed to be at risk. Still, others are harnessing the power of nature to promote student wellness.

Gamification and Immersive Technology

Gamification– making learning more enjoyable by employing strategies used in games such as using points, quests or leveling up – has been a fast-growing trend in education, and we believe this will continue in the near future. Similarly, AR (Augmented Reality) and VR (Virtual Reality) are immersive forms of technology that create a more engaging experience for the user. For example, students with access to immersive tech can experience what it’s like to visit a foreign country or even outer space.

Teaching Soft and Life Skills

In the U.S., college enrollment has been dropping over the past few years. Between the rising costs of college and a lingering labor shortage, more young adults are choosing options beyond a traditional four-year college education. Some choose to attend two-year trade programs while others enter the job market immediately after graduating from high school. For K-12 students, this could mean a push towards exposing students to information about emerging career paths. For high school students, this might mean an uptick in students exploring career and technology programs aimed at preparing them for high-demand careers.

Beyond career choice, schools are recognizing the need to teach students soft skills and life skills. In a rapidly changing world, students will benefit from developing soft skills like communication, problem-solving, flexibility, emotional intelligence and creativity. Life skills include financial management, goal-setting and stress management.

Navigating a changing educational landscape can be a challenge. We’d love to talk with you about how technology can help your school stay ahead of the curve. 

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Looking Back, Looking Forward: A look at the evolution of Arey Jones, and technology.

As we head into 2024, it’s natural to consider our plans and goals for the year ahead. But the New Year also provides an opportunity to pause and reflect on where we began, what we’ve accomplished, and how we’ve weathered the inevitable changes we’ve encountered along the way.

A Common Theme

Did you know that our company’s roots stretch back more than 100 years? Founded in 1897 in San Diego, Arey Jones originally sold typewriters and stationary locally. While the last 120 years have brought innumerable changes to nearly every aspect of life, one thing has remained the same– our commitment to supporting student learning through technology that’s both innovative and reliable.

As Technology Evolved, so Did We

Fast forward to the 1970s, when the Scarpella family, who owned Broadway Typewriter Company, purchased Arey Jones. While the company has grown over time and now works with K-12 schools across the U.S., we pride ourselves on providing the high level of service and support that you’d expect from a close-knit family business.

Over the years, our evolution continued. In the 1980s, as technology like computers, Walkmans and VCRs became more integrated into daily life, our company honed its focus. Arey Jones found its niche in helping school districts choose, implement and service the educational technology that supports young learners.

As a company with a lengthy history, we understand the complexities that administrators, teachers and school boards encounter regarding evolving technology. Our goal is to make the process of choosing, implementing and supporting educational technology as smooth as possible.

Our seasoned senior staff have worked in the education technology market for decades. We enjoy long standing relationships with many of the school districts we work with, which has allowed us to develop a deep understanding of each district’s unique needs.

One of our best-kept secrets, though, is our customer service. Our support team is dedicated to troubleshooting technology issues so that schools can do what they do best– focus on their students.

Our Partners

A strong team needs solid partners. We’re privileged to work with some of the world’s leading technology companies, including Microsoft Education, Google for Education, Lenovo, Dell and HP. Partnering with these companies enables us to select and deliver excellent technology solutions to school districts of all sizes. Our relationships with these companies also allows us to stay ahead of the curve on emerging technology trends.

Let’s talk!

While our corporate office remains in San Diego where our company began, we have offices and fulfillment centers positioned across the U.S.

We started by mentioning our roots as a typewriter and stationary company more than 100 years ago. Now, it’s your turn! We’d love to learn about your school’s unique history, strengths and challenges so we can create a plan to deliver cutting-edge technology that serves your students now and into the future.

Want to learn more? Contact us to discuss how our educational technology solutions can benefit your school district.

4 Key Considerations from the DOE’s Guide on AI in Education

Policy recommendations from the DOE's first report on AI and Education

In the summer of 2022, the Department of Education convened a group of listening sessions centered on the topic of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and education. Over 700 constituents representing educators, technology developers, researchers, policymakers, learners and their caregivers showed up to voice their hopes and concerns regarding this rapidly developing technology and its potential impact on education.

The 71-page report generated after these listening circles acknowledges the possibilities that AI opens up to educators, such as providing assistance to overextended teachers and creating personalized learning solutions for diverse learners, while cautioning against potential risks including data privacy and bias.

In the report, the Department of Education outlines four foundations that should be considered in regards to moving forward with AI and K-12 education.

Keep it human-centered

Noted as a strong favorite among the constituents, this first foundation is simple: humans, and in this case teachers, should remain at the center of the educational process. Artificial Intelligence should never attempt to replace educators– its purpose should be to assist and enhance the work of educators and students.

While many educators are enthusiastic about the ways in which AI might aid them as teachers, they also expressed significant concerns about privacy. The report suggests that as policies are developed to deal with these concerns, we ensure that human decision makers remain at the center of these policies. As the report states on page 7, "Society needs an education-focused AI policy that protects civil rights and promotes democratic values in the building, deployment, and governance of automated systems to be used across the many decentralized levels of the American educational system."

AI Must Advance Equity

Attendees at the listening session consistently expressed concern about racial equity and AI. Because datasets are used in the development of AI, there was a strong push to create policies which ensure that the datasets used in the development of AI leave no room for bias. The report points out that the historical data that is used as a basis for AI algorithms can, in many cases, be rife with bias.

The report offers the example of algorithms that might be used in colleges or universities to make admission decisions, flag students who might need intervention or alert educators to potential cheating. These algorithms, the report suggests, must be scanned for bias in both the development of the systems and once they’re put into action.

Privacy and Effectiveness

Data safety and privacy was another provocative topic. AI relies on data; developers must be vigilant in regards to data privacy. As the report points out, most AI models have not been developed to consider for use in schools or with student or teacher privacy in mind; thus, the models are unlikely to adhere with existing student and state privacy laws.

Beyond privacy issues, educators made it clear that effectiveness is a key principle of education. They argue that leaders need evidence proving that AI-enhanced edtech aligns with existing policies, such as the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).

Proceed... With Transparency

Attendees voiced that educators need more than disclosures as they begin to incorporate AI into their teaching– they should be able to explicitly understand how AI models work so that they can look for and spot problems as they occur. As developers continue to create AI systems and tools for education, teachers must be an integral part of the process, even if that means a slower development process.

How to Create and Maintain an Acceptable Use Policy

Best practices for maintaining and updating your school’s Acceptable Use Policy

An Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) is an agreement between a school and those who use devices and internet provided by the school outlining rules and expectations as to how the educational technology can be used. This document aims to protect students from harmful content, encourage students to be responsible digital citizens and clarify the rules and consequences if the agreement is violated.

With educational technology developing and changing rapidly, AUPs are living documents that need to be reviewed and revised regularly.

According to a recent report by EdTech Hub, AUPs should contain the following six elements:

• The introduction/preamble states the goals of the policy and clarifies why the agreement is needed.

• A policy statement outlines which technologies the document covers– for instance, school-issued devices and email.

• The Acceptable Uses section should explicitly state how the technologies should be used.

• An Unacceptable Use section offers concrete examples of how the technologies shouldn’t be used. For example, unacceptable uses could include social media, downloading games or plagiarism.

• The sanctions section should clearly state what the repercussions will be if the policy is violated.

• The user agreement, signed by students and/or parents indicates they’ve read and understand the policy

When establishing or revising an AUP, EdTech Hub recommends the following eight steps:

1. Establishing and coordinating structures. In this initial stage, school administration would form a committee responsible for establishing the policy and ensuring that all relevant stakeholders are represented within that group. For example, a committee could include teachers, administrators, students and parents.

1. Review and research. The group reviews national policies that pertain to the AUP, which could include federal laws, national privacy policies and child rights acts. The group also should check its own policies, like code of conduct, digital learning plans and device warranties in this stage. From there, group members can study examples of existing AUPs.

1. Preparation of draft policy. As the group prepares to draft the policy, it considers any unique needs related to the school and its students. EdTech Hub also suggests that, during this phase, the group considers providing online safety information to students and families. Members will consider which, if any, content filtering tools it will use.

1. Circulation/consultation. The group distributes the drafted AUP to stakeholders, solicits and collects feedback and revises the policy as needed.

1. Ratification and communication. Once revisions are incorporated, the committee presents the policy to the school board. After the AUP is approved, the group creates a plan for circulating the policy to those who need to sign it, which could include students, parents and teachers.

1. Implementation. At this stage, the policy is in effect. The committee should elect a member or members who can address any incoming concerns or questions from students, parents and teachers.

1. Monitoring. EdTech Hub suggests the AUP committee keep a running tab of questions and feedback. Other aspects of monitoring might include asking educators to track device usage as well as any misuse or damage to the school’s technology.

1. Reviewing, evaluating, and revising. Finally, the group should regularly review the policy as well as feedback from stakeholders. Committee members should then make adjustments as needed to ensure that the policy encompasses current and developing technology.

Do you have questions about how your school’s device warranties or insurance relate to your AUP? 

Let’s talk!

How EdTech Tools Are Changing Special Education n

A look at the tech tools transforming education

The number of students receiving special education has been on a steady incline for years. According to Pew Research, about 15% of students enrolled in public schools in the U.S. during the 2021-22 school year had a disability. EdTech tools are helping schools meet the growing demand for learning that supports a student’s unique needs. Below, we’ll take a look at some of the different types of edtech that might be used in special education.

Assistive Technology

Assistive technology refers broadly to technology designed to support activities of daily life. Most of us use some form of assistive technology in our daily lives, such as a pair of reading glasses that allows us to read fine print. A higher-tech example is a screen reader that can translate written text to braille. Both Microsoft and Google have features that are compatible with braille display devices.

Text-to-speech software is a form of assistive technology that translates text into audio, allowing students who have physical conditions or a learning disability that prevents them from reading to access text. Microsoft’s Immersive Reader incorporates tools like read aloud, text decoding and an image dictionary.

For students with ADHD or other executive functioning challenges, who may struggle to organize their thoughts, an app like Mind Node can help them organize and outline their ideas before sitting down to write.

Sip and puff devices enable users to command a device by using air pressure. By using the mouth to sip or puff air, students can control their wheelchair or computer.

Assistive technology can even be something unexpected, like a virtual sensory room. A virtual sensory room enables students who get easily overstimulated or emotionally disregulated to access calming tools, such as listening to a meditation, participating in a guided breathing exercise, listening to soothing music or watching a live animal camera.

Augmented and Alternative Communication

Augmented and alternative communication (AAC) refers to a variety of ways in which people who have limited or no verbal speech may communicate with others. Examples of AAC range from American Sign Language (ASL) to voice recognition software that enables learners to communicate with their teachers and peers. In a classroom setting, a student might use a device to communicate with teachers via text or visual images.

Beyond Education and Into the Workplace

Several of our partners have made significant strides in creating more inclusive technology and embracing inclusivity among their workforce. Microsoft has created the Inclusive Tech Lab, a facility devoted to inclusion in daily life, including in the areas of education and gaming. People with disabilities can visit the lab to interact with assistive and adaptive technology. Google has launched the Start With One program, which highlights individual makers and innovators who harness Google technology to solve a problem or make life easier in some way. Dell launched a Neurodiversity Hiring Program in addition to True Ability, an employee resource group that supports employees with disabilities.

Want to know more about how educational technology can help students with disabilities thrive in school and prepare for the future? Let’s talk!

Best Educational Apps for the 2023-2024 School Year

Apps can be a powerful tool for teachers and students. But with new apps emerging constantly, it can be challenging to discern which ones are most effective. Here’s a roundup of some of the best educational apps for the 2023-2024 school year. We’ve included some old standbys as well as some new favorites.

Google Classroom
You’re likely already using Google Classroom, and if you're not you should be.Teachers can use this app as a home base for storing lesson plans, assignments and tracking student progress. The messaging feature allows for easy communication between students and teachers.

Pear Deck
Pear Deck, which was designed to work as an add-on to both Google and Microsoft Education apps, is an interactive lesson and assessment platform. Tech-savvy teachers can create custom presentations or choose from Pear Deck’s library of existing templates. The app is designed to increase student engagement while also giving educators important and immediate information on how well students are taking in the lesson.

Brilliant
Brilliant delivers short, digestible lessons in math, science and engineering. The app was created for students aged 13 and older, with the goal of helping users strengthen and expand their problem-solving abilities. Brilliant’s course offerings include statistics and finance, foundational logic and high school math. Educators can enjoy free access to Brilliant’s bank of interactive lessons.

Duolingo
When it comes to language learning apps, Duolingo remains at the top of its class. The app uses research-backed methods of teaching and adds elements like gamification, personalized learning while also aiming to delight its users. A few new features to note– users can now create a fun, unique Duolingo avatar. Duolingo also just added a new subscription tier, Duolingo Max, which harnesses AI technology.

BrainPOP
BrainPOP is a popular educational app that aims to help students to better understand the world. BrainPOP Jr. supports kids in grades K-3, while BrainPOP is designed for upper elementary and middle school aged kids. BrainPOP also offers BrainPOP ELL to support those learning English. The app features a bevy of resources on topics around digital citizenship, including lessons on topics such as conflict resolution and information privacy.

In addition, BrainPOP for educators offers lesson planning tools and professional development.

Quizlet
Quizlet delivers tools that help students learn to study. Students can customize digital flashcards and take quizzes to boost and test memory retention and retrieval. Quizlet has also introduced a beta version of Q-Chat, which employs AI to help students learn.

Writelike
This free app helps students expand their advanced writing skills. Writelike teaches skills like deconstructing text, spotting the patterns found in good writing and then practicing using those patterns in their own prose.

Writelike’s sister product, Frankenstories, engages students in collaborative writing projects, encouraging students to work together while developing their writing skills.

Prodigy
Students learn math and English skills through game-based learning via the Prodigy app. The app uses an adaptive algorithm to track student progress. In Prodigy Math, designed for students in first through eighth grade, students act as wizards fighting math-based battles. Kids in first through sixth answer questions that help them gather materials to build their own world. Teachers have access to student progress, allowing them a deeper understanding of their student’s learning.

How Chromebooks Benefit Classrooms, Plus Some New Updates

A look at how Chromebook partnerships can work for your school, and the latest updates to Chromebooks

Chromebooks have become a staple in many school districts; they’re known for being durable, powerful, and affordable, which makes them an excellent choice for many schools. Whether you’ve been using Chromebooks in your classroom for a while or your district is considering investing in them, we wanted to highlight a few of the reasons Chromebooks are such a popular choice in education, while also letting you in on some of the newest updates Google is making on Chromebooks.

Chromebooks are user-friendly

Chromebooks are simple to operate, which means less time is spent training both students and educators on how to use them. These devices boot up quickly, and their extended battery life is designed to endure the school day and beyond.

They’re secure

Chrome OS, the operating system that Chromebooks run on, isn’t prone to viruses. Chromebooks employ multiple levels of security; Chrome OS incorporates automatic updates, which run in the background so as not to interrupt learning. Data encryption keeps information secure, while "sandboxing" enables each website and application to run in isolation– if a website or app does become infected by malware, it won’t affect other open tabs or apps.

They’re budget-friendly

Chromebooks are more affordable than most PCs, making them a great option for schools. All Chromebooks come equipped with Google Apps for Education.

What’s new with Chromebooks?

Google is debuting 13 new Chromebooks, each designed to enhance the educational experience. These devices boast features like larger screens, upgraded storage capacity, and extended battery life.

Among the latest convertible devices – Chromebooks that can function as both laptop and tablet– are the HP Dragonfly Elite and the Dell Latitude 5430. These models will be equipped with touchscreens and styluses. Another focus is on sustainability. Many of the new Chromebooks are designed to be easier to repair than previous models. In addition, several models, like the Lenovo 100e Chromebook Gen 4, are constructed from recycled plastic.

Google is also updating features on Screencast, the Chromebook recording tool that enables students and teachers to record, edit and share lessons and projects. Screencast is expanding to support twelve more languages, including Italian, Japanese, and Spanish. In addition, they’re creating a web player that enables students and teachers to view screencasts from any device. Finally, new demo tools are being added to make it easier for those watching a screencast to follow.

Cast Moderator, a tool that lets students and teachers share their screens wirelessly and securely, is also announcing some upgrades. Most notably, presenters will be able to pause while screencasting, as well as change the tab they’re casting from without interrupting the screencast.

With 20% of U.S. children having a learning difference, Google is excited to launch Reading Mode on its Chromebooks. When engaged, Reading Mode limits distractions like videos and images on the screen, allowing students to focus on the material they’re reading. Users will also be able to customize elements like typeface, font size, background and text color to suit their individual needs and preferences.

Want to know more about Chromebooks? Reach out today for more information on how Chromebooks can support your students and staff.

Can Educational Technology Replace Teachers?

With impactful technological advances like ChatGPT making headlines, the question on the minds of employees across many fields is– will technology replace me?

When it comes to teachers, we believe the answer to that question is a resounding no.

There’s no denying that technology is changing the way we work, learn and live. The dovetailing of rapid advances in technology with the Covid-19 pandemic, which forced us all to rely more heavily on technology, has had a profound and irreversible effect on education. And technology is definitely changing the way educators teach; immersive educational technology engages students in a way that paper and pencil simply can’t. For example, Stanford University’s virtual reality program, "Becoming homeless," was shown to increase empathy in participants. Similar technology is being used to train nursing and other medical students to gain a better understanding of what their future patients might be experiencing.

Technology is also being harnessed to help balance out inequities in education. Assistive Technology (AT), for instance, can help level the playing field for students with learning differences and disabilities; Microsoft’s Immersive Reader uses features like read aloud and text decoding to help boost comprehension for readers of all levels.

If you’ve ever been stuck on a frustrating phone call with an automated assistant, though, you’ve no doubt encountered one simple truth– technology can’t replace the human element.

Technology doesn’t have the most important qualities of great teachers– passion and heart.

Take a moment and think back to a few of your favorite teachers. I’ll go first– I’m thinking of my third-grade teacher, Mrs. Cahill. I don’t have any recollection of whether she was savvy with the overhead projector or the Apple IIe. I just know that she was warm and kind and she made me feel seen. Technology– as fascinating and helpful as it can be– can’t replace those human qualities.

In fact, as technology plays an increasing role in our lives, soft skills like empathy, problem-solving, creativity, communication and collaboration are becoming more important in the workplace than ever. Students will need to learn these skills in order to thrive in their future work lives and address the complex challenges we face in modern life. While technology may have a place in helping students learn these soft skills, teachers will play a larger role.

The role of teachers is likely to continue evolving. As technology develops, educators will be able to use it to outsource time-consuming administrative tasks like grading, allowing them more time and energy to focus on students and their individual learning needs.

Google Education’s recent Future of Education report predicted, "As the educational landscape changes, teachers shift from being ‘gatekeepers of knowledge' to ‘choreographers of learning.’"

The report forecasts that the role of teachers is likely to continue to shift away from someone who shares knowledge on a particular subject, to someone who facilitates learning through their relationships with their students and their awareness of the various tools– technological or otherwise– that can best support their learning.

While technology is a valuable tool, we need great teachers more than ever.

Meet Our Partner, Promethean

We're absolutely thrilled to be a partner of Promethean, an industry trailblazer in the realm of educational technology. The company was founded by teachers, for teachers in Blackburn, U.K. in the 1990s. Since then, Promethean has grown, becoming an international innovator of interactive displays and educational software. With a presence in 126 countries, Promethean is headquartered in Seattle.

You might be familiar with Promethean’s interactive display panel, ActivPanel. A recent report announced that Promethean was the global leader in the volume of interactive flat panel displays shipped.

Promethean’s ActivPanel 9 just won both an iF Design Award and a Red Dot Design Award, two of the most coveted design awards. The interactive display panel was created to maximize student engagement while still being easy and intuitive to operate, as well as being capable of integrating with a school’s existing technology. ActivPanel 9 works seamlessly with the most common educational platforms, including Microsoft Teams and Google Classroom. Promethean’s ActivSync technology allows users to connect other devices to the ActivPanel via a single cable, which cuts down on the frustration of scrambling for different cords. A few other key features are screen capture, a proximity sensor and enhanced security, including remote sign-out.

ActivPanel LX, which provides schools with a more affordable interactive display panel, debuted earlier this year. Like the ActivPanel 9, ActivPanel LX is designed to work with a school’s existing technology, which cuts down significantly on training time for teachers and administrators.

The company also develops collaborative teaching software like ActivInspire, created to make learning on the ActivPanel more immersive. ClassFlow, a cloud-based software, helps teachers deliver engaging lessons in remote or hybrid learning environments.

Promethean has also taken a keen interest in harnessing the power of emerging technology, such as artificial intelligence, in order to enhance possibilities in education. With concern about what ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence means to the education system making recent headlines, Promethean partnered up with eschoolnews to deliver a webinar and report on how AI can augment education and improve the lives of teachers. A University of California, Irvine study showed that among educators who used Merlyn Mind, a digital assistant for teachers, for a period of seven weeks, more than half experienced an increase in efficiency. With Merlyn Mind, teachers can use voice commands to perform tasks like opening an app from anywhere in the classroom. Promethean’s software, Symphony Classroom,

Looking for professional development? Promethean provides a number of courses designed to orient educators to Promethean’s technology. The company also offers a two-hour Promethean Certified Teacher course. In July, educators can attend Camp Promethean, a day packed with free, online professional development sessions for educators. Sessions include "Gamify the Promethean Classroom with ActivInspire" and "AR/VR with Promethean." Other seasonal professional development opportunities include Teacher Tailgate in September and STEAM Forward in November.

Like Arey Jones, Promethean is accustomed to working with school districts of varying sizes, needs and budgets. If you’re interested in learning about how Promethean’s solutions might work for your district, reach out to us today.

Tips for Planning your EdTech Budget: Stretch your school’s technology budget with these tips

As schools rely more and more on technology as an integral educational tool, it’s easy for a district’s technology budget to get out of hand. It’s been estimated that K-12 schools in the U.S. spent between $26 to $41 billion on technology–and that was before the COVID-19 pandemic.

With technology evolving at such a rapid rate, it can be overwhelming to figure out what your district needs– as well as what to do with existing technology that might be outdated. We’ve got a few ideas for ensuring your school makes the most of the available educational technology without busting your budget.

Start with an audit or site review

When it comes to technology, it can sometimes be hard to see the forest for the trees. That’s where your technology solutions provider can help. Consider having your provider conduct a site review at your school or district. We’ve found that by visiting a site, we can often identify ways to increase efficiency and save money, whether it be through leveraging the technology you’re already using, or replacing it with newer equipment.

Band together

If the schools within your district are not already working together to purchase devices in bulk, consider doing so. Ordering devices in bulk and using a single vendor can save your district money while also streamlining your technology and support needs.

Explore device insurance and warranties

Allocating your school’s dollars to service protection isn’t exciting, but it can save your school a significant amount of money in the long run. By locking in your costs for service and repairs now, you can avoid being surprised with repair costs– not to mention lost productivity– down the road.

For schools with 1:1 device programs, the cost of repairing and replacing damaged and lost devices can be astronomical. Purchasing device insurance is one way to help mitigate those costs. Some schools absorb the entire cost of the device insurance, while others opt to pass at least a portion of the costs on to families.

Consider refurbishing

As you plan to purchase new equipment for your school, think about the areas of your school that need the most cutting edge technology and will endure the heaviest use, such as classroom devices or the computer lab. Older devices that still have some life in them can often be repurposed for lighter jobs, such as a serving as a search device for the school’s library. We can help you identify when it makes sense to invest a little money into extending the lifespan of older devices.

But do phase out obsolete tech

While the life of some technology can be prolonged, it’s generally not worth maintaining outdated technology, like overhead projectors and cassette tapes. Repairing these types of items can be like pouring money into an ailing car– unpredictably expensive, and with little to no return on the investment.

Don’t forget training

It can be tempting to focus on purchasing the most cutting-edge technology for your school. But don’t forget the time and money it will take to train staff and help them adapt to these innovations. Be sure to factor that in as you prepare your school’s technology budget.

We’d love to help you come up with a technology plan for your school. Get in touch to talk about how we can help.