Issue link: http://osercommunicationsgroup.uberflip.com/i/840175
EdTech Show Daily 2 9 Monday, June 26, 2017 conduit that enables learning, embracing that fact that it's an important tool in edu- cation. So why is there so much debate on this topic? Going back in time 20 years, we saw a very different picture. There was mini- mal discussion on technology in educa- tion. As we progressed through the years, people were willing to accept small steps forward as big improvements on this front. For instance, a teacher presenting material from their computer onto a screen was, by some, seen as notable technological progression in the class- room. The teacher-centered lecture model of technology had a new spin, yes, but it was the same old model. There are ways to take bigger, more impactful steps. Frameworks that could aid in this movement, like ACOT and TPACK, have been around awhile. And in the early 2000s, LoTi, SAMR, 4Cs and TIMs emerged as evaluation models for tech- nology integration. They shifted the focus to student-centered, high-level thinking. Now, with these powerful tools, we can move the discussion forward and reevaluate the main drivers of learning. Get Past the Limits of Technology Regardless of your current platform, or what you may adopt in the future, con- sider using an evaluation tool compara- JAMF (Cont'd. from p. 1) ble to SAMR. By using rubrics that insist on the potential of the technology you implement, you can better understand the effect it has on learning. For instance, the founder of SAMR, Dr. Ruben R. Puentedura, believes in moving learning from simple substitution and augmenta- tion to use cases that apply modification and redefinition of former practices. When it comes to implementing new technology, it's important to fully evalu- ate how it will live in the classroom. Will your model meet each individual stu- dent's needs? Will it grow with students as their maturity and knowledge base expand? As with SAMR, improving the technology implementation in your envi- ronment could consist of mass cus- tomization and an agile approach to moment-by-moment adjustments. Think of linking digital citizenship programs to students' privileges on their devices. Instead of granting all students the same permissions, consider providing access to different applications or resources based on their actions. Support your digital equity efforts by focusing on customized learning environments for all students. With all of this in mind, let's start a new discussion around technology that focuses on promoting measured progress and a gradual transformation, all while also tending to students' dynamic needs. For more information, go to www.jamf.com or stop by booth #3326. how high-risk this environment can be for technology. We strive to protect both school-owned and parent-owned devices. ESD: What should schools know before they launch a hardware deployment? BS: Before a school decides to deploy new technology to their students or staff, there are two main things they should keep in mind. First, the device cost means more than just how much you're paying for the units. Important questions to ask include: What will you do if a handful of devices need to be replaced? Will the students be taking the devices home or will they stay in the classroom? How are you going to protect these devices from accidental damage and theft? Who is going to man- age all the complications and nuances that come up once the deployment takes place? Second, we all know that budgeting for large new initiatives can be tough. Product protection solutions, such as Safeware, don't always have to be fund- ed by the school. Unique approaches such as parent-funded programs, via cus- tom enrollment portals, are available. These alternative methods of funding help get new technology in the classroom without impacting other important budg- et categories. ESD: Is Safeware seeing any shifts in Safeware (Cont'd. from p. 1) technology trends for K-12 schools? BS: We have definitely seen a shift in device types within the K-12 space. This change has been largely due to the intro- duction of the Chromebook into the edu- cational environment. When these devices entered the market in 2011, schools were hesitant to bring the new form factor into their classrooms. As Chromebooks continue to be a reliable, cost-effective option and flexible operat- ing platform for the classroom, more and more schools have quickly adopted the technology. To provide a real-world example, in 2014, only three percent of Safeware's K-12 insurance policies were on Chromebooks. Today, that number has grown to nearly 25 percent. With an increase of over 650 percent in three years, it is clear that schools see Chromebooks as a viable option for their technology programs. ESD: How can decision makers learn more about Safeware's protection solu- tions? BS: Visit our team members, Ryan Vaughn and Zach Morral, at booth #360. We'll be happy to discuss the protection solution that best fits your program! For more information, visit www .safeware.com, call 800.800.1492, email marketing@safeware.com or stop by booth #360. More Secure Browsing Young students are particularly vulnera- ble to cyberthreats. They have inquisi- tive, but unsuspecting minds. As such, providing them a 100 percent secure browsing experience is essential. Managed services can control browsing features in real-time to make sure stu- dents can't go to questionable websites or click suspicious links. 24/7 Network Monitoring Conducting around-the-clock network monitoring is another benefit of work- ing with a managed services provider. While your personnel are only likely to monitor your network during school hours, managed service providers have their own dedicated staff working 24/7 to catch potential threats as they occur and stop them before they can do any damage. This feature also ensures that your security software is automatically updat- ed and patched as new versions are rolled out. By freeing schools from having to do this manually, the likelihood of missing an upgrade is reduced, shoring up vulner- Cybersecurity (Cont'd. from p. 4) abilities more quickly. Data Integrity Most managed service providers will also make sure all of your data is protect- ed in the event of an emergency. The storage, backup and recovery of data are vital in the event that a district does suf- fer a cyberattack. You'll have leverage if ransomware is used to encrypt your files. If a denial of service attack shuts down your server, you'll still be able to get access. Given the current state of cybersecurity for K-12 school districts, it is imperative that administrators begin to partner with managed service providers. While plenty can be done at the district level to educate students and faculty about the threats they face, there are simply too many responsibilities for districts to go it alone. Stop by the Cox Business booth #2638 to learn how your district can begin leveraging managed services as a part of your cybersecurity efforts. For more information, visit www.cox business.com/education or stop by booth #2638. bined with educator-made teaching mate- rials, to teach students what being a STEAM professional looks like, and to learn how these individuals carved out their career. STEAM career Learning Champions™ take the time to share their professional stories and backgrounds with students. In turn, aspirations can turn into attainable realities, harnessing the power of technology as a bridge between classrooms and workplaces around the world. Genius Plaza provides schools and teachers with STEAM resources that are leveled and primed for blended learning. The award-winning platform works on all internet-enabled devices. Educators can explore careers with personal Genius Plaza (Cont'd. from p. 4) insights and individual stories. These les- sons include the unique experiences, pro- fessional achievements and adversity each professional overcame while pursu- ing their career goals. Students will not only see the diversity in the STEAM field, but understand in learning about each professional that people of all back- grounds and experiences are thriving in in-demand career paths. Awareness is the first step to break any barrier. Genius Plaza career portal allows students to explore a wide range of science, technology, engineering, arts, math and other career fields. The ulti- mate goal is igniting the genius in all stu- dents. For more information, visit booth #2152 or go to www.geniusplaza.com. MATIAS WIRELESS ALUMINUM KEYBOARD Matias is a Canadian keyboard manufac- turer with operations in the U.S.A. and Asia, and distributors around the world. Matias has been making keyboards for over 15 years, and is especially well known for its Mac-oriented keyboards. Matias started out making specialty keyboards for the assistive technology market (and still does, with its "Half Keyboard" and "Half-QWERTY 508 Keyboard"), but when the mechanical switch based Apple Extended Keyboard was discontinued, Matias had a new role to play – saving Mac mechanical key- board technology for those people who still wanted it – so it launched the Matias Tactile Pro Keyboard, and is still making it 13 years later. More recently, there has been anoth- er hole in the Mac keyboard market – this time involving slim aluminum keyboards. The normal offering is for either a wireless keyboard which does not have a number pad, or a wired full size keyboard with number pad. Matias has finally filled the gap with the launch of its Matias Wireless Aluminum Keyboard. The Matias Wireless Aluminum Keyboard is a full size wireless (Bluetooth) keyboard with number pad that allows you to pair with up to four devices (e.g., Mac, iPad, iPhone, Android phone, PC, etc.) at the same time and eas- ily switch between them, while having a rechargeable battery that lasts up to a year before needing recharging. The Matias Wireless Aluminum Keyboard is $99, and comes in four beautiful anodized aluminum colors: sil- ver, space gray, gold and rose gold. With beauty, performance and extra function- ality, Matias has created the keyboard that should have been made before now. For more information, go to www.matias.ca or call 905.265.8844 or 888.663.4263.