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3 Top Advantages of Having a Digital Curriculum

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In our digital society, everyone communicates, learns, and explores across countless technological platforms.

The 21st century student now has access to several online tools including digital textbooks as well as ways to map out their digital curriculum effectively, in order to suit their learning needs. Here are some of the advantages of this progressing technology:

 

eBook Initiatives Bring Higher Attendance Rates

Lugging around heavy textbooks can be a great workout, but it doesn’t exactly provide the mental and physical motivation needed to make it to class on time, if at all.

Studies show that learning with laptops and the option to utilize eBooks has several positive educational outcomes. An evaluation of the North Carolina 1:1 Learning Technology Initiative has revealed greater attendance, graduation, and teacher retention rates, as well as improved testing and writing scores for students with access to more educational technology.

 

eBooks Save Money For Students

Not only are many textbooks cumbersome to pack and carry throughout the day, but they are often expensive, or even out of stock at certain stores.

Replacing textbooks with digital content is extremely beneficial for both schools as well as students and their families, helping them save as much as 60% on textbook costs.

 

eBooks Are Up-To-Date

Pluto isn’t technically a planet anymore – it’s a dwarf planet. If you didn’t already know that, then your textbooks may be a bit outdated.

That may seem exaggerated, but it can actually take traditional textbooks up to two years to print, so some of the content may have changed or re-classified once the actual textbook is published.

Digital content is easier to update as more information is discovered, and provides students and teachers a cost-effective way to quickly download new versions of eBook to ensure that they have the most up-to-date information available.

 

schools save money with technology

5 Ways Schools Save Money with Technology

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Regularly, decisions are made to cut funding for schools. According to a recent study, Kentucky has cut at least 11.4 percent between 2008 and 2015 school years, but it isn’t the worst state. Oklahoma has cut investments on education by as much as 24 percent per student. We are a country of innovation and recovery, but declines in education funding are a disturbing trend. Is there a compromise? Schools are tasked with cutting budgets and reducing costs, so many new technologies have emerged to support school districts with saving money, without compromising educational quality. Schools are embracing technology in many ways to accommodate cash-strapped budgets.

1. Virtualization support

Many schools have embraced the concept of virtualization—access to all from a single, remote location. Virtualization delivers maintenance and interactive services for a low monthly rate. Schools are benefitting from remote support that has the ability to service and maintain multiple platforms, in many buildings, and used by multiple users. The complete IT infrastructure within the school can be managed from a remote location, without requiring individual tech teams to travel from room to room or school to school, installing multiple versions of software or having or evaluate a single device.

2. Encouraging device use

Many more schools are embracing the various devices available on the market: smart phones, mobile devices, laptops. Institutions are expanding beyond the traditional desktop and encouraging all users, including administrators, teachers, parents and support staff, to keep in touch with their own devices. For a successful virtual interaction, users need a smooth, safe and secure experience. Educational IT solutions provide IT staff with controls and school-specific platforms to make the school-wide interaction online easier and stress-free. The security system permits approved users and blocks access to unauthorized outsiders.

3. Embracing VoIP solutions

Everyone in the district needs to stay in touch, but comprehensive communication systems can be expensive. The alternative is installing a VoIP system where a broadband connection is available. VoIP maximizes communication, safety and efficiency, school- and district-wide.

4. Reducing paper and printing

Schools are embracing cloud services in an effort to increase communication and productivity, while reducing what needs to be printed and copied. Schools rely on paper, but many paper and printing expenses can be reduced with cloud technology. If the school suffers a loss or it needs to track down a paper trail, a cloud system ensures easy access and swift data recovery. It also encourages students, teachers and administrators to collaborate and communicate more effectively.

5. Installing interactive software

Educational apps are allowing students, parents and teachers to access educational materials from school or home, and while on the road. As long as there is internet service, teacher productivity and student learning can continue outside of the classroom walls. With the nationwide implementation of Common Core standards, interactive digital software, apps and cloud services is giving users a platform to discuss, collaborate, learn, and comply with all things Common Core.