Technology


School Communication System Adds Contact Tracing Features

SchoolStatus, which produces a mass notification and communication software-as-a-service platform for schools, has added functionality to enable contact tracing reporting and tracking.

Aerial photo of a building

Using AI to Ensure Healthy Air In School Facilities

AI can change its instructions to your HVAC equipment based on the number of students in a room, the time of day, changes in weather throughout the day, and more, all while ensuring a comfortable environment for your building occupants.

AI Welcome Center automatically turns on when a person faces it. Then it performs a quick temperature measure with laser-sensing technology and checks for face masks using "vision AI."

"Welcome Center" Automates Health, Mask Check-in

A company that produces technology for the food industry has developed a "welcome center" that schools can use to automate student and staff check-in.

The screening solutions let employees and visitors self-assess their health and wellness through web- and email-based tools before requesting access to a building.

Facility Access Tools Repositioned for New Occupancy Controls

A company that produces physical security products is repositioning its products to address the needs of facilities under new restrictions. The offerings from LenelS2 cover touchless access, occupancy management, enforced access control and screening solutions.

Student using her tablet at her desk. Two other students are in the background working at their desk.

Learning Space Design Plays a Key Role in Supporting Tech Use

What does it mean for a learning space to support the use of technology? It means the space has been intentionally designed to make it easy for teachers and students to seamlessly use any technology they might need, without having to disrupt a lesson or cut into valuable learning time.

Parents Create COVID-Screening App for Schools

Dr. Brian Benson, a family physician and his wife, Kaley Benson developed a symptom-screening software for schools called Cleared4School.

Meter ranging from green, yellow and red with the word "risk" underneath it with arrow pointing towards "high."

School Safety and Security: The Value of Knowing What You Don’t Know

School districts should conduct comprehensive threat vulnerability assessments that not only focus on existing measures already in place, but also encapsulate a thorough review of operational safety and security focused policies and procedures.

proper distancing in schools

Rethinking School Spaces and Structures to Maintain Proper Distancing Amid COVID-19

When students finally return to school after months of learning from home, there will be dramatic changes. Even when K-12 leaders are allowed to reopen their facilities, doing so safely and responsibly will require everyone to maintain proper distancing while they’re at school, experts agree — at least until there is a working vaccine for the COVID-19 virus.

Group of students seated next to each other.

Q&A with the Editor: Tim Nyblom and Dave O’Driscoll, HID Global

We spoke to HID Global's Tim Nyblom, End User Business Manager - Higher Ed, and Dave O’Driscoll, Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives, about cloud and mobile technologies that will be important when universities reopen in the fall and in the next few years.

Wisconsin’s Education Agency Issues Guidance for Reopening Schools

The Department of Public Instruction recommends smaller class sizes, alternating school-day schedules, and providing mental health support for students and staff.

Dallas ISD Considering In-Person, Virtual, Hybrid Instruction Options

Dallas ISD is waiting on direction from the state and haven’t solidified plans, yet. In the meantime, the district has created a first draft of safety and security guidelines for campus reentry, along with three different potential instructional models.

Classroom with agile furniture spaced at six feet apart.

How to Support Active Learning During a Pandemic

The design of the learning space will play a critical role in enabling active learning to occur in a responsible manner.

Elementary student taking notes and watching his teacher on an open laptop screen.

With E-Learning, School Districts Are Building the Foundation for Better Learning Outcomes

When the pandemic subsides, districts that haven’t already will likely take a closer look at e-learning and the skills and solutions that make it possible.

Child working on homework.

How to Overcome the "COVID Slide"

The COVID slide could exacerbate existing achievement gaps if K-12 leaders don’t take action. Here are four strategies that can help solve this challenge.

Adapting to online instruction

Adapting to Online in a Pinch

Ideally every institution would be prepared for teaching continuity before an incident occurs. The following recommendations can be helpful even if your institution is already in the midst of a switch to remote teaching.

Schools In Focus Podcast logo and Todd Ferking, principal at DLR Group

Schools In Focus Podcast: 2020 Education Design Trends

In this episode, Todd Ferking of DLR Group talks about education design that is geared toward the future.

child distant learning on laptop

Moving to K-12 Digital Learning Fast: Where to Start

As coronavirus changes life as we know it, these education experts offer advice on how to make the transition to online instruction.

Pathfinder Kindergarten Center: photo ©Chris Roberts, courtesy of DLR Group

K-12 Design Trends to Watch in 2020

Just as Winston Churchill once said, “we shape our buildings and thereafter they shape us,” designers must consider how education environments of the next decade will shape student behavior.

Makerbot, a 3D printer company and subsidiary of Stratasys, recently launched MakerBot SKETCH Classroom, a 3D printing setup for the classroom that maximizes student access and helps teachers manage printing resources and student projects.

Makerbot Launches SKETCH Classroom

Makerbot, a 3D printer company and subsidiary of Stratasys, recently launched MakerBot SKETCH Classroom, a 3D printing setup for the classroom that maximizes student access and helps teachers manage printing resources and student projects.

The new culinary lab at Downers Grove South. Each lab contains six large work stations that look like kitchen islands that faces a teacher demonstration station at the head of the class.

High School Culinary Makerspaces Draw Inspiration From TV Food Shows

Community High School District 99, located just outside of Chicago, is harnessing foodie culture to revamp culinary arts facilities at two of their high schools — Downers Grove North and Downers Grove South.

The district decided to install engaging digital displays in various locations throughout Sherlock School, including the main entrance and the 4th floor interactive space.

New Elementary School Unveils Custom Digital Displays

The district installed engaging digital displays in various locations throughout Sherlock School, including the main entrance and the 4th floor interactive space.

Ridesharing on Campus

Let's Share a Ride: Promoting Carpooling on Campus

When students, faculty or staff carpool, the end result is less congestion on campus roads and a greener campus. The key to promoting carpooling is in your students’ hands.

Texas School District Loses $2.3M to Phishing Scam

Three separate fraudulent transactions happened in November, according to the Manor Police Department.

School Management Software Reports Data Breach

The hackers possibly accessed personal information of webstore users including names, credit and debit card numbers, expiration dates, security codes and Blue Bear account usernames and passwords.

audio visual

3 Ways AV Can Draw People to Campus

Today’s audiovisual experiences reflect a digital world that strongly appears to tomorrow's higher education students.

Digital Edition