Safe and Legal Way to Keep Track of Mobile Computers

"A Pennsylvania school district was sued last year for remotely activating the webcams on student's laptops to find missing machines." However, a nearby district was able to learn from this educational mistake. The Brick Township Public Schools of New Jersey "had a problem with missing mobile computers, too—but not anymore. And it won’t be in any legal danger from spying on students, either." The Brick Township district has integrated an, "asset-tracking program called Computrace," in order to keep track the school's more than 1,000 mobile computers. Before the schools use of Computrace they relied on a binder and piece of paper to keep track of who loaned the devices. According to IT Director Leonard Niebo, "students seem to lose or misplace devices all the time." He goes on to state that the result was "bedlam." With the use of Computrace he says, "Brick Township now has a 100-percent return rate."

Work Cited: http://www.eschoolnews.com/2011/01/26/how-to-keep-tabs-on-mobile-computers-without-being-sued-for-spying/

Schools need faster broadband speeds

While many schools provide some form of wireless internet access for school employees and students, almost 80 percent say their broadband connections are inadequate. These inadequate connections are mainly due to slow connection speed. In a recent federal survey more than half of those survey said they have broadband speeds just over 3Mbps while only ten percent said they have speeds over 100Mpbs.

With the age of technology here there is a need for adequate broadband connections. Students and employees are relying on computer and technological avenues for communication and education. With the slow broadband speeds these avenues are not reliable resources for educators and students. This in return can be counterproductive towards the students learning.

Texting for education success

In todays fast pace society cell phones can play an important role in our schools education systems. According to techlearning.com many school administrators are turning to cellular devices as a learning tool. Teachers and administrators can share all the things going on in the school at the touch of cell phone keys. No matter where the employees are at physically they can all be in contact. Principal Patrick Larkin from Burlington High School states, that by using cell phones you can save money the response systems that many companies are pushing for in schools.

Some of the information that can be shared via cell phones are teaching tips, announcements, crisis response, and staff encouragement, says Kurt Clay a principal in Delta, Colorado. He also states that improved input and better use of meeting time have been helpful results. Some other effective uses for cell phones in schools are reporting attendance, when a staff member is going to be absent, meeting reminders, and emergencies.