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.  

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.

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.

Staying on the Cutting Edge

The New Year brings to mind resolutions and fresh, blank calendars– it’s a time for pondering the future and setting goals. But the change of the calendar can also be an ideal time to take a look at where we’ve been and how we’ve evolved. At Arey Jones, we have a rich and extensive history in the educational technology field that stretches back more than 100 years.

Our Humble Roots

Arey Jones was originally founded in 1897. The company was launched to support the stationary and administrative demands of the local education market in San Diego. As technology advanced, the company adapted to meet the shifting needs of educators.

In 1972, the Broadway Typewriter Company, owned by the Scarpella family, purchased Arey Jones. While our business has expanded over the years, at its heart, we’re still a family business. The Scarpellas, who bring their many decades of experience in the k-12 educational technology field, continue to be involved in the daily operations of the business.

We’re Laser Focused on Educational Technology

While Arey Jones has been serving the needs of school districts for more than 100 years, it was in the 1980s and 1990s that we discovered our true calling– harnessing technology to enhance and optimize the k-12 learning environment.

We have a deep understanding of the challenges school districts face amidst the rapid pace of evolving technology because our company has evolved and flexed as technology continues to become a more integral part of life and education. We know that technology can be overwhelming– and we consider it our job to make it less so. We provide hardware, software, integration, service and ongoing support to our clients. From choosing which specific devices are best for students in your district, to imaging and configuration, to setting up carts for charging devices, we’ll be with you every step of the way.

Our staff consists of seasoned professionals who’ve been vetted through background checks to ensure safety within the many schools we serve. Like the Scarpella family, the other members of our senior staff bring decades of experience to work with them.

We Work With the Best

We’re proud to partner with leaders in technology, including Google for Education, Microsoft Education, Dell and HP, to create the best solutions for school districts with varying sizes and needs.

We’d Love to Work With You!

With offices and fulfillment centers located throughout the United States, we’re poised to help school districts nationwide.

Our regional configuration centers allow us to design and implement technology solutions that meet the unique needs of the school districts we serve.

Our services continue well past the sale and installation of technology. Our support team is primed and ready to help with any issues that arise, allowing classrooms to stay focused on learning instead of troubleshooting. Our skilled designers, installers, systems engineers and support staff are ready to help when needed.

Would you like to know more? Contact us to explore how our educational technology solutions can serve your school district.

Using EdTech to Teach the Arts

Technology offers endless opportunities to expand and enrich the way students learn. While many of us grew up learning to draw with pencil and paper, shaping clay with our hands, or gluing stiff pieces of macaroni to construction paper, today, the ways in which students can learn are infinite—and decidedly less messy.

Beyond cutting down on cleanup time, using edtech to teach the arts offers other unexpected benefits. Technology allows students with disabilities new, more accessible ways of creating, evens the playing field for kids who believe they can’t draw a straight line, and increases engagement for learners who might otherwise be reluctant to learn the arts. 

Below are a handful of impressive edtech tools that can be used for teaching the arts.  

Google Arts & Culture 

A quick scroll on Google Arts & Cultures reveals a multiverse of engaging content for curious kids—and adults, too. Curious students can explore art and art history by color, a time period, a culture or a theme. 

The site provides virtual tours of faraway museums or galleries, as well as a collection of arts and culture-based games in addition to its deep dives on visual art. 

Smarthistory

The result of a collaboration of more than 500 professionals in the art world, Smarthistory is another great resource for educators and students. The site hosts a variety of webinars, videos, courses and multimedia textbooks on topics of art history ranging from ancient Egyptian artifacts to modern art. 

The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts offers educators free lesson plans on subjects like visual art, theatre, opera, literary arts and more. Whether you’re prepping for a high school lesson plan on Shakespeare or an elementary school unit on the life cycle of sunflowers using Van Gogh’s paintings, the Kennedy Center offers a rich resource for educators. Eager learners can also view video-based art lessons from a roster of talented visiting teachers.  

PlayART app

A fun app designed with younger children in mind, PlayArt allows kids to use existing elements from classic artwork and add their own touch, encouraging both artistic exploration with a pinch of art history. 

Music Constructed

Music Constructed provides music teachers with a variety of lesson plans, teaching units and a wealth of ideas, as well as three tiers of professional development resources. The site also boasts an online forum where teachers can network, connect or ask questions of their peers. 

Soundtrap 

Students can collaborate on musical projects or podcasts through Soundtrap, a cloud-based app. Soundtrap lets students experiment with sound, recording, rhythm and more. Students and teachers can add tracks from home, allowing plenty of opportunities to collaborate, whether in the classroom or from home. 

Book Creator

With Book Creator, students can create impressing, multimedia comic books, magazines or books. Designed to include reluctant writers and kids with learning differences, the app allows users to incorporate voice recordings, videos, icons, emojis and more as tools for expression. 

At Home Learning: Best Tech for Grades K-12

In the last year especially, our society has learned of the fundamental importance of technology to education. Not only does the access to technological support literally expand the classroom, but it also does wonders to engage students in different ways.

When it comes to at-home learning, it’s crucial to that all devices and programs are age-appropriate. Whether it’s hybrid learning, completely remote, or supplementing education at home, selecting such devices and apps requires some specific considerations. 

Check out our guidelines for at-home tech that’s best suited for K-2 students.

Recommended Devices:

• HP Chromebook x360 14b is stylish and sleek, but durable. The magnetic docking station eliminates the chances of losing the stylus (perfect for little ones), and it has a versatile 360° screen. The touchscreen is easy and engaging, allowing for pinching, tapping, zooming, and swiping. 

• It’s hard to beat the intuitive nature of an iPad. The new iPad has tremendous capability and versatility in performance. Its easy-to-use home screen makes app selection effortless, and switching between programs is seamless, even for young kids. The new iPad has all of the old one’s capabilities at a surprisingly great price.

• Google’s Pixelbook Go a flexible, highly proficient device. It features a lightweight design with a textured bottom, which is perfect for little ones and drop-prevention. Its fast connection and high-resolution duo cam is an ideal must have for virtual learning. With 12 hours of battery, this small machine packs a big punch.

Educational Websites:

With all that exists on the Internet, sometimes it’s difficult to discern educational sites with entertainment. These sites are recommended by both parents and educators.

• Starfall is a site designed for pre-K through third grade, and is focused on phonics and aims to support reading skills.

• Fuel the Brain is perfect for age-appropriate and educational games. Its activities feature all subject areas.

• XtraMath is a great site for improving mathematical computation skills.

• Stories are a wonderful way to learn, and they provide a creative outlet for applying knowledge. Storybird is perfect for curious and eager second graders who want to create and share their own imaginations; with this program, they can produce a story and even “publish” it in the library. 

• ABCMouse is a fun and functional site designed for ages 2-8. Make math, reading, science, and art interesting and engaging with over 10,000 activities. The program creates a step-by-step learning plan designed for each student.

K-2 learners are inquisitive and imaginative, and they need their technology to reflect their interests and capture (and keep!) their attention. These devices and websites are age-appropriate and created to keep young brains engaged and learning. 

Protect Your Kids’ Data With These Six Tips

Being a 21st century kid comes with some challenges; among them is having to be cautious about one’s personal information on the Internet. Through smart phones, tablets, computers, and games, children amass a large amount of data. According to Wired, 92% of the children in the United States will have a digital footprint before they turn two years old. The ramifications of this only increase in importance as children grow up and use technology more frequently and more independently. Understanding the importance of data security is especially crucial, as children have spent more time on tech devices in this last year.

Fortunately, there are several safeguards that parents can employ (along with their kids) to help protect their safety and security online.

Be involved in new applications. 

For young children, especially, the thrill of using a fun new app or device surpasses any concern (or knowledge) of risks. Discuss with them the importance of privacy; that passwords shouldn’t be shared with anyone other than a parent or teacher, and that an authority figure needs to approve an application before it’s purchased or downloaded. Make having the parent approve the application part of the routine.

Check privacy settings. 

After a new app’s initial set up, go back and make sure you’ve handled the privacy settings. Disable location sharing and the application’s request to post on other social media platforms. For apps that include messaging ability, make sure to choose “friends only” to filter users who are allowed to send your child messages. These steps take a just few minutes, but are hugely beneficial.

Disable location sharing.

This one has can lead to serious repercussions, but it’s often overlooked when setting up a profile. Be thorough with reviewing the location settings on your kids’ devices and apps. Likewise, set expectations for photo sharing as it relates to location; it’s not prudent to publicly broadcast being out of town, for example, due to home security reasons. Young people need guidance to make prudent choices.

Pay attention to fine print. 

Terms and conditions are tedious, but they’re key to understanding what you’re agreeing to. Read the T&C together with your kids, modeling meticulously good online habits. This way, if something appears that you don’t feel comfortable with, you can cancel the download without unintended consequences.

Utilize parental blocks.

Parental blocking technology is designed primarily to protect children from illicit material and unknown Internet dangers. It’s important to keep your own information safe as to not accidentally provide your kids with administrator access. While there is no replacement for vigilant supervision from real parents, a parental block can help provide another layer of protection.

Establish a VPN network.

If you’re interested in greater Internet anonymity, you may want to consider a Virtual Private Network. There are two primary benefits to using a VPN. The first is that all of your family’s data will travel through an encrypted virtual tunnel, making you less susceptible to cyber attacks. The second benefit is that this tunnel also hides your IP address (the online equivalent of a postal address). This provides you with more anonymity and less vulnerability.

Young people are spending more time with technology, both for academic purposes and for entertainment. In this digital age, it’s incredibly important to closely manage kids’ data online. These precautions will help you and your children enjoy the use of your devices while knowing you’re protected.

Back to School Icebreakers for 2020

Whether in person, online, or a hybrid model, school is sure to look different this year. For teachers and for students, it’s crucial that routines and expectations remain as normal as possible. Some of that normalcy includes the importance of back-to-school rituals; among them is building rapport between students and teachers. Icebreakers are fun games and activities that are intended to create a comfortable environment for everyone.

Regardless of the educational model, there are plenty of creative ways to engage and get to know your students.

In-Person:

The Number Game: In a small group, or as a whole class, sit in a large circle. The goal is the count to ten aloud, and that each number is spoken by a different student. Anyone is able to call out a number, but if more than one person speaks at the same time, the game starts over. Repeat as many times as is necessary to reach 10, and then try for a larger number.

“What Am I?” Game: Provide students with sticky notes with names of every day items, famous people, books, or movies. They’ll team up with a partner, and then the partner will give clues about their mystery item. If the guesser correctly identifies the object, they get a point. Take turns with different notes.

Letter to Yourself: Have students compose a letter to their future selves. Prompt them to talk about their interests, strengths, and hopes for the year. Keep the letters in a special location and give them back on the last day of school.

Virtual:

Show and Tell 2.0: Get creative with video conferencing! Students can be instructed to share their favorite object in their room, give a room tour, or even introduce a pet to their classmates. 

Desert Island Share-Out: Project a picture of a desert island, and then ask students to identify (and share) two items that they would want to bring. The items can be for survival, or even just for fun. Either way, this is a entertaining and creative way to get to know students.

Head and Shoulders: For this game, all students should be visible on individual screens. Prepare trivia questions beforehand (ones that have a clear yes or no answer). For “yes”, have students put their hands on their heads, and for “no”, students will place hands on shoulders. Observe the movement and enjoy the laughter that will ensue!

In-Person or Virtual:

Names Word Search: Help kids learn each other’s names with this non-intimidating activity. Using Puzzlemaker, create a custom word search filled with names of classmates.

About Me Backpack: Using this awesome resource from Teachers Pay Teachers, have students fill a “backpack” with small items that best represent themselves. Have them take turns sharing their objects in small groups, partners, or with the whole class.

For educators or students looking to upgrade their technology this year, HP has released the Chromebook 11A G8 EE. Built specifically for educational purposes, the G8 is durable, convenient, and affordable. With its spill-resistant keyboard and battery life of over 13 hours, this machine is perfect for the demands of the school year, no matter the circumstances.