Technology has had a slow growth in the Education sector over the years. Some schools had begun using BYOD or one-to-one device policies prior to the COVID 19 pandemic, but there were many schools that simply didn’t have the funding. The last two years have demonstrated the educational value of providing a device to every student and with emergency funding, many schools are now receiving the opportunity to bring technology to the forefront. But without proper planning, rolling out a one-to-one device program can be challenging. Here are a few tips to make the process go more smoothly.
Make a One-to-One Device Deployment Plan
When the pandemic forced U.S. school districts to provide one-to-one devices for students and staff in March 2020, many were not able to put a device deployment plan in place before distributing devices. As a result, many school districts experienced technical difficulties and device loss.
As the U.S starts the third COVID-affected school year, many school leaders have realized the value of creating deployment plans. It’s important that your deployment plan provides a strategy for how to efficiently and securely distribute devices to students and staff. Make sure your plan requires tracking and other security software such as mobile device management (MDM) to be installed on all devices. These software tools allow districts to locate devices if they go missing and completely lock down or wipe devices they believe have been stolen.
If you’ve started your school year without a device deployment plan, it is never too late to create and implement a strategy to protect your devices. Since many software tools are cloud-based, it is also possible to install security software remotely to devices already in the field.
Invest in the Right Wi-Fi Infrastructure
No matter what device program your district is using, it is going to require a robust network and internet connection. Many schools use older Wi-Fi networks that may not be able to support hundreds of one-to-one devices at once. This can lead to slow loading times or to devices and software not working at all.
Many schools and districts have improved the one-to-one device experience by investing in the new Wi-Fi 6 network. Wi-Fi 6 can support hundreds of devices at once. It also expands your network’s reach to the outdoors, allowing students to stay connected while engaging in learning outside.
Schools can take advantage of the federal Emergency Connectivity Fund program to invest in upgrades to their Wi-Fi networks. The funding is available to schools that are providing one-to-one devices to students as well as off-site broadband service. Schools can learn about and apply to the program at emergencyconnectivityfund.org.
Get Professional Device Support
The amount of time and effort it takes to manage a network of one-to-one devices caught many districts by surprise in 2020. One-to-one device management is intensive and can stretch district IT departments to the breaking point. Districts that do not properly support their device rollouts are more likely to run into problems with device performance and maintenance down the road.
A mobile device management (MDM) partner can work alongside a district’s IT department to manage the procurement, deployment, and support for every one-to-one device in the field. With an MDM partner’s help, districts and schools can identify the types of devices that best fit their students’ learning needs and make sure every device comes loaded with the appropriate learning software and security and tracking software. This way, devices are delivered to students ready-to-go with no additional set-up. When problems arise, your school’s MDM partner can provide 24/7 support to students, parents, and staff.
