The biggest benefit that school managers foresee from adapting a “smarter,” more tech-connected school is its impact on the students: Better engagement and a more personalized education. But developing a smart school is easier said than done.
Schools Need Systemic Change to Become “Smart”
After surveying 612 different schools — mostly across North America, with a few respondents from the Asia Pacific and Latin American regions — Extreme Networks was able to report an exhaustive list of smart devices already at work in school environments. The list appears to be a pretty even split between devices, seen here: …And more complex, interlocking systems like these: Tablets and eBooks Multi-touch tables 3-D printers Interactive whiteboards Electric lighting/ maintenance Smart podiums Athletic bands or wearables Temperature sensors Virtual and augmented reality Robots School supervisors overall seem to be better at individual devices then in overhauling entire coordinated systems: Their top currently used smart technologies are interactive whiteboards, cameras and video, and the fabled tablets/ebook readers. School bus tracking Smart HVAC system Supply inventory tracking Motion sensing and tracking devices Attendance tracking Airplay and Smart TV Devices Wireless door locks Adaptive learning systems Parking sensors Facial recognition systems iBeacons Schools seem intent on developing with the times. As the same survey linked above found, 46 percent of K–12 and higher ed IT managers believe smart technology in education will “have a major impact over the next one to two years.” But in order to follow through on that commitment, school systems will need to adapt to more change than just adding tablets to each classroom.
