Issue link: http://osercommunicationsgroup.uberflip.com/i/698898
E d Te ch S h o w D a i l y 2 9 Tu e s d a y, J u n e 2 8 , 2 0 1 6 Best of Show 2016 HOW MANAGED NETWORK SOLUTIONS ARE HELPING SCHOOLS MAKE THE GRADE By Lisa Majdi, Cox Business – Education, Director Segment Marketing According to a 2014 study from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, almost 64 percent of the 50 United States provide less funding to public school sys- tems now than they did before the 2008 recession. But it is not because the need for funding has been sated; quite the con- trary. Driven by the need to meet high- tech standards being established around the world, school administrators are working to achieve improved network connectivity in classrooms while work- ing within tight budget constraints. For this reason, school districts should con- sider making the switch from legacy net- works to managed network solutions. Most legacy networks are more expen- sive and difficult to maintain than those that are hosted in the cloud and managed by a third party. Here are some of the ways that man- aged network solutions are helping schools meet the challenge of improved technology usage: Scalability: Cloud-based managed networks provide easy scalability to meet changing bandwidth requirements. Considering the disparate usage of band- width during the school year vs. over the summer months, it makes sense to utilize solutions that enable scaling back when students are on vacation. From a more long-term perspective, school districts that are growing or shrinking can also maintain an adequate level of connectiv- ity in a cost-effective and timely manner. No matter how much bandwidth is used, managed networks provide a pay-as-you- go method that ensures school districts are not throwing money away. Technical Support: While most schools do have an on-site technical sup- port team, managed networks are able to offer a higher level of customer care. The IT available through managed networks allows automatic software updates with- out requiring users to purchase rights or wait for existing contracts to expire. Third-party providers can also run net- work diagnostic checks as well as moni- tor usage. By enabling a third-party provider to handle network issues, schools free up their on-site technicians to handle other on-premises tasks, opti- mizing their skill sets. Security: Protecting student records, both personal and academic, should be a top priority for school districts when addressing their networking solutions. Managed networks provide a broader level of security than legacy ones that are solely reliant on internal IT staff. Similar to the way that software is automatically updated, security patches are automati- cally downloaded on managed networks. In addition, monitored networks also track usage to ensure that access to cer- tain parts of a school's network is restricted appropriately. Another compo- nent of tracking is that content filters can be put in place to ensure that students don't access inappropriate content. All of these security features protect privacy as well as mitigate the chances of a network being hacked. Due to these considerations, the switch to a cloud-based monitored net- working solution makes sense for school systems. With such networks, school administrators are better able to manage their resources and personnel, all while providing a higher level of security. As your full-service education part- ner, Cox Business delivers a complete suite of voice solutions to help your school or library operate more efficiently. Cox Business IP Centrex is a fully hosted cloud-based phone solution, and SIP Trunking leverages scalable, burstable trunks that offer several business continu- ity options at company and individual levels. And, with every solution we provide, you're ensured the highest reliability through Cox's self-healing architecture and 24/7 network monitoring. As technology advances and the demands placed on it increase, our broadband infrastructure is ready to adapt. For more information about Cox Business education solutions, visit booth #1341 or go to www.coxbusiness.com/education. CLASSROOM AUDIO HAS EVOLVED WITH ELMO PENTACLASS 360 DEGREE AUDIO SYSTEM Versatile, Easy to Use, Amazing Sound Quality What sets the ELMO PentaClass apart from the competition is its versatility and ease of use while still maintaining amaz- ing sound quality. The ELMO PentaClass can stay portable for easy transportation, or easily mounted on ceilings or walls. It also comes with a wireless, handcrafted, microphone which can double as a remote control for volume control, power on/off or to quickly transfer from micro- phone to Bluetooth in a matter of sec- onds. The Bluetooth setting allows the user to broadcast any Bluetooth device over the ELMO PentaClass. Why Do You Need an ELMO PentaClass in your Classroom? One third of what the teacher says can be missed due to poor acoustics in the classroom. Teachers are 32 times more likely to have voice disorders than any other profession. Studies have shown sound enhance- ment systems can reduce teacher absen- teeism by 36 percent. Students are more attentive and have fewer requests for repeated questions. The average teacher speaks at about 60 decibels, diminishing to zero decibels within 0.7 seconds. This means the farther the student is sitting from the teacher, the more that student will miss. The ELMO PentaClass resolves that issue with its ability to be mount- ed in the middle of the classroom and its 360 degree omnidirectional speaker, which disperses the lesson equally to each student as if he or she were sitting in the front row. See a live demo at booth #2334. Learn more at www.elmousa.com. BOXLIGHT & MIMIO COME TOGETHER TO EMPOWER CLASSROOMS & IMPROVE LEARNING The combination of Boxlight and Mimio will enable greater learning and engage- ment in more K-12 classrooms with their premier classroom technology and soft- ware solutions – from two of the most respected names in the industry. Through the purchase of Mimio, Boxlight Corporation will be able to pro- vide the best in both interactive hardware and software solutions. By combining Boxlight's manufacturing of patented, award-winning interactive classroom tech- nology and Mimio's advanced line of classroom hardware and software solu- tions, Boxlight will be able to offer schools and districts the most complete line of pro- gressive, integrated classroom technolo- gies available on the market today. Both companies provide a wide range of tech- nology solutions, but the union will extend the complementary hardware, collaborative software and resources with the offering of the best-in-class 24/7/365 U.S.- based service and technical support that is synonymous with Boxlight, giving schools the technology and reliability they need to prepare students for today and tomorrow. "This investment represents an important strategic opportunity to offer the best and most attractive product port- folio in the education technology indus- try and to be the single source for fully integrated classroom solutions in the United States and worldwide," said Mark Elliott, Chief Executive Officer of Boxlight Corporation. Mimio President Christopher Leonardo added, "We are excited about what this acquisi- tion enables us to bring to today's educa- tion market: a combined passion for learn- ing and a powerful integrated solution of hardware and software that is unmatched. But even more inspiring is where this will take classroom educators and their stu- dents in the years ahead." Experience the new combined interactive solutions of Boxlight and Mimio at booth #3311. For more information, call 360.464.2119 or visit www.boxlight.com and www.mimio.com.