industryopinion
Interactive touchscreen solutions: Device management software that school administrators will applaud.
Nadav Avni, Chief Marketing Officer at Radix Technologies explores why schools need a device management system to manage and secure their touchscreen devices.
T
ouchscreen technology is a great vehicle to create content that instantly reacts to students’ movements. Collaboration is also another aspect of active learning supported by touchscreens.
They allow students to work with or compete against each other - adding a layer of friendly competition to the monotony of maths problems, history class, literature, all of it! Incorporating interactive fun into everyday school life elevates the educational experience. Even before issues in the global supply chain caused price hikes,
touchscreen technology was already a significant financial investment for school districts. This is why school administrators need to invest in the maintenance of these machines as well. Maintenance entails servicing devices for routine updates and on-the-spot repairs - so the entire fleet can function optimally for years to come! Furthermore, system administrators should be cautious of curious
students looking for a challenge. They’re kids, after all. They may view touchscreens as a way to alleviate their boredom, leading them to use the devices without supervision or authorisation. This can include attempts to remove usage restrictions or make unauthorised copies of saved files. The best way to protect the school’s investment is to acquire reliable
and complete device management software. Preferably, the school should purchase one that ensures all interactive touchscreen solutions remain well managed, well maintained, and well secured. Central to the upkeep of touchscreen devices is a powerful
management layer. This gives both the system administrators and the IT support team a real-time status window of all maintenance, updates, and installation tasks. This management layer provides a centralised area where the support team can handle the administration of the district’s touchscreen fleet. Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) of touchscreens
especially appreciate this layer, as it can serve as the vehicle for their subsequent software updates and patches. School system administrators use this layer to monitor the various brands of interactive touchscreen solutions in their system while managing the influx of software updates, patches, and installations. Ideally, the device management solution should remain
device agnostic. This means that devices hailing from different manufacturers, or those running on competing operating systems, shouldn’t inhibit the device management solution. Instead, the software should seamlessly integrate each device into the network
14 | August 2022
before equally prioritising them. Securing the devices from unauthorised use is also a big concern
for system administrators. Students may attempt the challenge of breaking into the school network. Fortunately, a reliable device management solution can serve as a deterrent. The software can dictate who is granted access to the school’s touchscreen devices, as well as the access levels for those users. Managing the touchscreen devices also includes locking system
settings and apps and preventing the installation of unauthorised programs. In cases of repeated attempts to override the system, the administrator can choose to freeze the device until the threat passes. Geolocation and tracking features can also determine if a particular device has been transported to an unauthorised location. If this happens, the administrator can wipe the data clean from the device to prevent others from accessing it. A reliable device management software should allow the district’s IT
admins to remotely control the panel. Remote access enables troubleshooting and streamlining
operations without physically being in the classroom - no matter what the need and instructors can proceed with the day’s lesson as planned. In case of emergencies where time is of the essence, the device
management software can turn all connected touchscreen devices into a message board for incoming announcements from the district. This handy feature can help a lot, especially when districts need ways to spread information quickly and effectively. For example, the IT admins of the district can post timely announcements about the suspension of classes due to inclement weather. Once the message is sent and displayed, the system can switch the devices back to their normal learning mode. OEMs and vendors may find it worthwhile to bundle the right
device management software when offering their touchscreen devices to school districts. This can mean substantial savings for budget- conscious schools on the lookout for value-added bundles. Not to mention, offering bundled products can serve as a tiebreaker when competitors submit similar bids as your company. Meanwhile, school districts may find better value in vendors or
manufacturers that offer an integrated management solution. The inclusion of a bundled or subsidised device management solution will likely appeal to school board members who scrutinise proposed expenditures!
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