December 09, 2019
By 2025, technology spend in K-12 is forecasted to reach $342 billion. But with school districts around the nation continuing to face serious budget crises, technology in the classroom must be fought for despite its innovative learning properties.
There’s no arguing the cost of rolling out Edtech programs like one-to-one computing and similar initiatives requires significant investment in devices, applications, bandwidth and more. The expectation for every school board then is a demonstrable return. To ensure sustainable student technology programs, administrators must be able to show the positive effects of their technology investments. ROI matters.
The best indicator of ROI is almost always found within learning outcomes but getting to the data that proves technology is escalating scores in this area isn’t always easy.
With a one-device-for-every-student program, an important metric to monitor is device use. But use should go far beyond simple distribution figures including how are devices being used. Are they being to their full potential on campus or are they left idle? What does student web activity look like? How many times does a device leave the classroom? Are devices being used at home and for how long?
In our recent study of 3.2 million anonymized K-12 endpoint devices, Cybersecurity and Education State of the Digital District in 2020, we found devices are actually too-often underutilized. 21 percent were used for <1 hour per day and 60 percent of devices weren’t used by students at home.
For more on device use in schools, read: Cybercriminals Take Aim at K-12
With this and similar such district-wide data, administrators can assess student groups or even individual users and make more informed decisions on improving academic performance.
This kind of analytical information comes only with full visibility of the devices in your endpoint inventory, however. With this kind of insight, you should also have extensive control over those devices, no matter whether they are on or off the district network. Where are they, what are they running, and are their security applications working as they should?
Full visibility and control over these devices will mitigate risk, improve operational efficiency, ensure internet safety policies are adhered to and, when done right, demonstrate compliance so that future discounts from such organizations as e-Rate and Student Support and Academic Enrichment (SSAE) are possible.
Full visibility and control over your device population also provides you with another very powerful capability – endpoint resilience. Making the most of the devices you have, both in and out of the classroom, will improve learning outcomes. Making the most of the tools you have on those devices will tell you whether or not they are working as they should or if they are exposing your district to cyber risk.
For more on how to prove classroom technology ROI and mitigate the risk that technology inevitably brings to students, educators and staff, watch our latest episode of Cybersecurity Insights, K-12 Education 1:1 Programs. And while you’re at it, be sure to subscribe to the Cybersecurity Insights playlist on YouTube.
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