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.

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.