Over the past decade, we have seen an exponential growth in the use of digital technology in the classroom. According to a recent survey, EdTech usage among K-12 schools has increased by 99% since 2020. This is a direct result of schools implementing 1:1 device initiatives and investing more in digital classrooms to enhance learning experiences for students. Although the latest technology (such as Chromebooks, iPads, etc.) has replaced traditional learning equipment, it has inevitably given rise to some K-12 challenges.
In this article, we will discuss the current issues in K-12 education, the impact of these challenges, and how K-12 IT leaders can mitigate them through efficient ITAM.
One to One device challenges in K-12 schools
A recent survey by EdWeek Research Center indicated that most K-12 school districts have sufficient devices to cover all students for classroom usage. As these 1:1 programs continue to grow across the K-12 landscape, their fast adoption has highlighted both benefits and challenges in the current model. Considering the recently revised budgets for K-12 technology, it has become imperative for schools to mitigate these challenges as soon as possible so they can maximize the value they get out of student devices. Here are a few major challenges:
- Poorly used devices
Implementing a 1:1 program in school districts means that K-12 IT teams are tasked with providing either laptops, iPads, or tablets to all students. The high number of students and devices can result in either underutilization, overutilization, or mishandling of these assets by the students. If these devices are not being utilized and instead are kept in storage for long, they eventually lead to wastage, resulting in the consumption of the IT budget for no productive output. On the other hand, if students are using devices carelessly, it leads to an accumulation of hardware issues over time, hence shortening the lifespan of these devices. These issues strain the school’s IT department which has to oversee that these assets are contributing to an enhanced learning ecosystem.
Improper use of classroom technology also results in overhead costs due to wastage, minimized ROI on assets, and productivity loss.
- Device breakage
1:1 program results in hundreds of devices in a school’s ecosystem. Managing the servicing and maintenance of these devices can be costly and disruptive. Furthermore, when devices are sent for repair or maintenance, IT teams have to accommodate students with replacement devices, which adds to the already high maintenance costs of hardware assets. New components for devices in repair further stretch the IT budget and burden the IT department even more.
IT teams should implement processes or tools to ensure that these maintenance activities are carried out regularly to avoid unexpected downtime. This will enhance the device life cycle and keep repair and replacement costs low.
- Limited funding
Due to the high costs of laptops and other hardware assets, 1:1 device initiatives end up being quite expensive. The lack of dedicated management systems for such programs often results in more overhead costs incurred due to irregular maintenance, a siloed ecosystem, inefficient resource allocation, and more. Schools also need a robust system to track and monitor the software applications used on these devices to stay compliant with software vendors.
Recent budget cuts for K-12 schools have significantly impacted their IT spending. Schools will have to develop new cost optimization strategies to save money without compromising on IT initiatives like 1:1 learning and digital classrooms.
- Inadequate IT staffing
As schools increase their adoption of technology through 1:1 learning initiatives, they also have to scale their IT infrastructure and hire more resources to manage the entire network. It is almost impossible for smaller IT teams to manage a growing number of IT assets, software licenses, network assets, and security protocols.
Inadequate IT staffing leads to delayed maintenance and repairs, inefficient IT service delivery, compromised security, and limited support for remote students, eventually resulting in a disruptive and unproductive learning environment. Without sufficient IT support, schools may not be able to take maximum advantage of IT initiatives, which may result in costly non-compliance penalties, hefty repairs, and increased mean-time-to-repair (MTTR).
- Device allocation issues
With hundreds of devices to provision and distribute every year, optimal device allocation is a major challenge for K-12 IT teams. They have to segregate and allocate devices based on grade requirements, urgency, access permissions, and more. When these assets are not allocated according to a proper plan, students may get the wrong devices or end up without a device. This can lead to delayed learning opportunities, access to the wrong tools, and a distracting learning environment. In some cases, incorrect allocation can also lead to lost or misplaced devices.
- Inefficient support for remote learning
More and more schools are now adopting hybrid and remote learning models. Such models come with significant benefits like flexible learning environments, access to more learning material, and personalized learning approaches, but they strain the IT resources that are crucial to keep these programs running smoothly. Schools’ IT teams have to be more vigilant about network security since students are accessing the school network from various devices and public internet. Furthermore, if a student’s device has broken down, there needs to be a standardized process for students to raise such issues as soon as they arise. School districts lacking a dedicated service catalog may not have a process to report outdated software, request a new device, complain about a malfunctioning device, etc.
Impact of Current Issues in K-12 Education
A productive learning environment relies heavily on access to the right equipment, smoother IT operations, and standardization of IT service management processes. The absence of such systems in place can impact the success of a 1:1 learning program. Here is how:
- Creating a digital divide: The absence of streamlined IT support greatly impacts remote students or students who don’t have access to a stable internet, widening the digital divide. Unequal access to technology also disrupts learning for students who rely on optimal device performance and faster IT support, eventually leading to inconsistent learning environments.
- IT overload: Lack of ITAM and ITSM to support 1:1 learning can result in IT burnout, manual errors, and costly penalties. With such a large number of devices deployed to students, the tickets raised for troubleshooting, damaged devices, new hardware requests, software access requests, and network connectivity get exponentially high, overloading the entire IT and service delivery department.
- Lowered IT efficiency: With a one-to-one device program, the probability of mismanagement and inaccuracy gets quite high. Not only that, but IT resources find it harder to retrieve accurate information for devices and users. This ultimately leads to lowered IT efficiency and productivity. Without an asset monitoring system in place, IT professionals take a more reactive approach to IT asset management instead of taking strategic proactive measures.
- Increased costs: Mismanagement in asset tracking, missing out on scheduled maintenance, and overdue software licenses can result in hefty overhead costs. If schools are not investing in cost optimization measures like IT automation, implementing ITAM, and proactive asset management, they’ll find it harder to utilize their IT budgets efficiently.
IT asset management for a successful 1:1 program
While the 1:1 program is a great initiative to bridge the digital divide and make learning accessible for all hybrid and remote students, it can not deliver its full potential without efficient ITAM. By accurately tracking and provisioning hardware devices, robust K-12 asset management helps ensure optimal device utilization, enhanced IT asset life span, and timely maintenance. Here are a few ITAM functionalities that you can leverage to solve major K-12 challenges:
- Smarter procurement
Due to the recent budget cuts, strategic IT procurement has become more critical than ever. IT teams require accurate data on the number of devices a school owns, the number of surplus devices, and the headcount of currently used devices. They also need information on the devices that are close to retirement and require replacement. By analyzing historical device data on usage, health, and performance, IT teams can also determine the right vendors for their devices. Most ITAM software allows you to store vendor data and offers pre-defined purchase orders (POs) to streamline procurement.
- Strategic allocation
ITAM tools help streamline the device assignment process, automate provisioning, and offer greater visibility into device specifications and usage through the ITAM agent. As every student is assigned their machine, IT teams need a process to ensure that the right machines are delivered to the right end-users. Managing bulk allocations through ITAM can eliminate common issues like misallocations, lost or misplaced devices, or device shortages, eventually leading to a more constructive learning environment.
- Enhanced Life span
Monitoring asset performance over every stage of the cycle helps track device health over the years and allows schools to get the most value out of their investment. With an ITAM tool in place, IT teams can proactively foresee maintenance issues and plan timely repair and servicing activities. This faster turnaround time for repairs helps to eliminate downtime due to device breakage. Furthermore, IT asset management also allows for proper device disposal and replacement, ensuring that the devices are phased out responsibly/.
With ITAM and enhanced IT service management, K-12 IT leaders can easily overcome the current issues in K-12 education and get ahead of the curve, ensuring that the benefits of one-to-one programs extend to all remote and hybrid students.
