Partner News & Resources Archives

Category: Partner News & Resources

Eliminate the Guesswork: With a CTL Device Test Drive

Posted on November 4, 2024 | by Hope

CTL offers single units at a 60% discount so you can try out a device and make your volume purchase with confidence. There’s no need to keep track of a unit to return after trial because the unit is yours. Take it apart, drop test it, and do whatever you feel is necessary to ensure your future volume purchase will fit your needs.

Skip the hassle of tracking and returning a demo unit with CTL’s convenient Buy and Try program.

Who Qualifies?

Volume purchasers of 30+ devices from these types of organizations:

Education
Government
Non-profit
Enterprise

What Products Qualify?

These CTL product types qualify for the discounted evaluation unit:

Contact your dedicated Account Manager:

Maureen Cooney

Account Manager

571-386-9797

mcooney@ctl.net

Learn More About CTL

Check out the current Chromebooks line from CTL.

Aligning Vision Mission & Values with School Design

Posted on October 29, 2024 | by Hope

A Guide for School Boards, Leaders, and Community Design Teams

By: Dr. Robert Dillon

Whether you are building a new school, adding onto an existing building, or remodeling and making the most of a current building, it is essential that you create explicit links between who you are and where you learn. The most effective schools craft visions, missions, and values that are alive — in that they feed the decision-making around all aspects of the school, including the physical design. Without this alignment, schools can create barriers to excellence. An apparent mismatch between what they say and the spaces they create can generate confusion about their true commitment to their vision and mission, discouraging buy-in from their communities.

This doesn’t have to be the case, though. When thoughtfully designed, the physical spaces within a school can significantly enhance the educational experience, support the wellbeing of students, and foster a sense of belonging and connection. They can also be figurative ambassadors that speak loudly about the excellence of the work happening inside. Through this article, we hope to outline a process for ensuring that future school designs align with the district’s core principles while avoiding the most common potholes.

Set the stage for success.

Articulate your mission

The first step in any design project should be to articulate the district’s vision, mission, and values clearly. So many schools and districts think their mission statements are clear, but many audiences don’t have a sense of their real meaning and message. They are missing context, making it impossible to align design decisions to these statements of core principles without a shared understanding of what they truly mean. In clarifying, make sure that the long-term goals of the educational experience you want to provide (as well as the instructional strategies to unlock that experience) are clear. Remember that it takes ongoing engagement with all stakeholders — teachers, students, parents, and community members — to ensure a shared and continuous understanding of these priorities and the language that surrounds them.

Evaluate the current spaces

Double checking the current reality before proceeding into a new design is important, as leaving some aspects of the building or buildings much farther behind others can detract from your mission. To avoid this, conduct a needs assessment to evaluate the current state of facilities and identify areas that currently fall short. This assessment should consider factors such as:

Whether the current spaces support modern teaching methods and learning modalities
How well the current spaces promote physical, emotional, and social well-being
If the current spaces foster a sense of community and belonging

Enlist the help of a diverse team

The schools and districts that have done this work in the most effective ways form a collaborative design team that includes a diverse group of stakeholders, such as educators, architects, designers, students, and community members. This helps to ensure that multiple perspectives are considered and that the new or updated design reflects the needs and aspirations of the entire school community. This allows a small group to keep the focus on intentional, linked design during every step of the process.

Contact your dedicated Account Manager:

Please contact the Demco inside sales department for everyday orders and general inquiries. For contract pricing, please reference C10903 or inform them you are an ILTPP member.

McKenzie Encarnacion
Inside Sales Specialist
mckenziee@demco.com

For larger projects needing installation or design, please contact the Demco Business Development Representative

John Jakelja
Business Development Representative
630-901-5989
johnj@demco.com

Learn More About Demco

Demco Portfolio

Mackin Announces Acquisition of Booksource, A National Book Provider for Classroom Libraries

Posted on October 16, 2024 | by Hope

BURNSVILLE, MN, October 10, 2024 – Mackin, a leading provider of PK-12 print and digital titles, high-quality maker educational products, and classroom curriculum materials, is pleased to announce it has acquired Booksource, a leading provider of books for classroom libraries and school curriculum.

The two industry leaders reached this agreement after long and careful deliberation. The decision to sell the 50-year-old company to the highly regarded Mackin made sense for the owners of Booksource, as the two companies have built their businesses on a shared philosophy of being a well-respected, single-source solution for the evolving needs of educators and librarians around the world. Together, the two companies have nearly 100 years of combined service in this field.

“Handing the reins of our St. Louis operations to another family-owned business and industry leader like Mackin was an easy decision based on their continuing success and the stellar reputation they have in the education market,” said Neil Jaffe, owner of Booksource. “It’s a win-win-win decision for our customers, our employees and the Jaffe family that we are proud to have made.”

“For many decades, Booksource and Mackin have grown steadily and are widely seen as the most trusted suppliers of educational resources for schools across the map. To carry the torch that Booksource and the Jaffe family have created, is an honor for Mackin and the Heise family as we continue to serve K-12 educators worldwide.”

About Mackin

For 40 years, Mackin has provided library and classroom materials for grades PK-12. Known the world over for exemplary service and a stringent attention to detail, Mackin has access to more than 18,000 publishers and a selection of over 4.2 million print and digital titles. MackinVIA, the free, state-of-the-art digital content management system, offers millions of digital titles including eBooks, audiobooks, read-alongs, databases, and videos. To date, this highly sought-after digital content management system has been awarded 24 distinctive national honors including multiple Best of Show Awards from ISTE, several Awards of Excellence by Tech & Learning, and Product of the Year and multiple Platinum Awards from Modern Library Awards. Today, MackinVIA can be found in thousands of schools and accessed by more than 9 million students around the world. In close partnership with the educational community, Mackin Classroom offers a variety of customization options and unique curriculum solutions for educators to address their specific and evolving needs. The makerspace division, MackinMaker, provides one of the largest selections of maker products for all grade levels. Mackin recently expanded their offerings creating MackinVision, a robust, forward-thinking library management system that goes beyond expectations to include a whole school’s total resources.

Contact your dedicated Account Manager:

Mesa Heise
Director of Bids & Contracts
800-245-9540
bids@mackin.com
mesa@mackin.com

Learn More About Mackin Educational Resources

Transform Your School with Effective STEAM Education

Posted on October 11, 2024 | by Hope

Discover how the Career and Success Academy Network of Public Schools (CANOPS) in South Bend, Indiana, achieved remarkable results by integrating the TinkRworks STEAM curriculum.

Key Highlights:

Increased Engagement: CANOPS reduced disciplinary referrals by 30% and saw an 80%-90% on-task rate.
Teacher Support: Educators praised the easy-to-use platform and comprehensive training that enhanced teaching effectiveness.
Integrated Learning: Strengthened connections between science and computer science, enriching students’ learning experiences.
Boosted Confidence: Hands-on projects empowered students to tackle complex topics and explore future careers in technology.

Download the success story to learn how these strategies can benefit your students and teachers.

LEARN MORE

Contact your dedicated Account Manager:

Matt Yena
Illinois School Partner
708-899-9362
matt.yena@TinkRworks.com

Learn more about TinkRworks

Beyond Cell Phone Bans: How to Address Digital Distractions and Enhance Classroom Focus

Posted on October 10, 2024 | by Hope

As the school year routines fall into place, K-12 administrators are once again navigating the ongoing challenge of managing digital distractions in the classroom. Tech-savvy students often find ways to bypass school device filters, using school-issued devices to access gaming content or trending videos.

Maximizing Tech Investments While Minimizing Classroom Distractions

IT teams are left constantly updating allowed and blocked lists, while teachers, in turn, act as digital gatekeepers, losing valuable instructional time as they close tabs and lock browsers to maintain classroom control, leaving less time for meaningful engagement with students and distracting from the core mission of improving student outcomes.

For school and district leaders, the challenge is clear: how to better support teachers and IT staff while ensuring that the significant investments in educational technology are being maximized to enhance student learning, not detract from it. To that end, many school districts are moving forward with policies to limit or ban cell phone use, with 14 states already enacting stricter regulations. The rationale for these decisions is clear, as limiting cell phone access during the school day positively impacts student mental health, reducing cyberbullying, and enhancing academic performance.

As schools enforce cell phone bans, attention increasingly shifts to school-issued devices, which hold the potential to become the next significant source of distraction in the classroom. The issue extends far beyond merely limiting cell phone use; it encompasses the broader and more complex challenge of internet addiction that many students grapple with daily. Research indicates that the near-constant exposure to digital content has led to a range of negative consequences for K-12 students, including heightened feelings of loneliness, elevated stress levels, disruptions to sleep patterns, and diminished ability to concentrate.

The digital distraction solution requires more than just bans or limiting access. K-12 administrators need a comprehensive approach that fosters a productive digital learning environment while mitigating the risks of internet addiction. This includes equipping students with the skills they need to be responsible digital citizens. Empowering students to develop digital metacognition and identify their optimal learning styles will help them use technology more effectively.

Contact your dedicated Account Manager:

Deledao Education
Jasen Whetstone
Account Executive
469-525-5208
sales@deledao.com

Three Questions to Consider for a Successful Transition to Wi-Fi 6E

Posted on September 18, 2024 | by Hope

The 6-gigahertz band comes with a lot of benefits, but before schools transition to the network, they should know how to fully maximize it.

Wi-Fi 6E, an extension of Wi-Fi 6, comes with faster speeds, lower latency and more network security, to name just a few of its features. Therefore, it’s no surprise school districts are adopting it. In fact, 1 in 3 Wi-Fi 6 device shipments are expected to be Wi-Fi 6E in 2025.

That said, Wi-Fi 6E might not be rightsized out of the box for every organization. Here are three factors IT leaders should consider before making the transition to the new standard.

1. Is Your Infrastructure Compatible with Wi-Fi 6E?

Just as students perform better academically in the right setting, the performance you get from Wi-Fi 6E will depend on the environment it’s in. Unless your infrastructure is optimal, your performance won’t be. So, it’s vital to assess your current infrastructure’s compatibility with Wi-Fi 6E, as upgrading will require compatible routers, access points and devices.

According to HP, “Integrating older standard Wi-Fi devices and applications is possible with Wi-Fi 6, but not 6E. It may take some time before the majority of Wi-Fi-enabled devices are 6E compatible. Until then, the range that Wi-Fi 6 delivers is beneficial for most devices that are likely legacy Wi-Fi 4 or 5 devices.”

IT leaders also need to ensure that the network architecture is compatible with Wi-Fi 6E’s 6-gigahertz frequency band. These networks need to support higher data rates, more wireless devices and deliver a more reliable and efficient wireless experience for users.

2. Does the Increased Network Performance Justify Upgrading?

Wi-Fi 6E offers numerous advantages to a school’s network performance, but making the switch can be expensive. To justify the ROI on Wi-Fi 6E, IT leaders should perform a cost-benefit analysis.

Often, the overall cost depends on the strength and capability of your current infrastructure. For example, are you able to keep any of your current devices? Will you have to undergo a complete device overhaul? How expensive will the requisite tweaks to your network architecture be?

Then balance those costs with the benefits of upgrading. The increased efficiency and productivity the network allows for can provide new opportunities for teaching and learning. Wi-Fi 6E can also help future proof the arrival of Wi-Fi 7 and 8; schools could experience additional long-term savings, as they won’t need to completely retool their infrastructure for future networks.

3. Do You Need to Consider Wi-Fi 6E Regulations?

Because Wi-Fi 6E operates in the 6GHz frequency band, there may be different regulatory restrictions or licensing requirements in some regions, as outlined by The Federal Communications Commission. Further, spectrum usage is often affected with 6E implementation — adding a new frequency band necessitates adding a new radio, which means swapping dual-band access points for tri-band APs — and there also may be various local regulations that impact how schools go about making these necessary changes.

The bottom line: Rather than transition to Wi-Fi 6E simply to keep up with the competition, IT leaders should consider these factors and decide if the upgrade is right for their environment.

Blog by J.P. Pressley
J.P. Pressley is a contributing writer and editor for EdTech: Focus on K-12.

Contact your dedicated Account Manager:

John Buttita
Sales Manager
877-325-3380
johnbut@cdw.com

Learn More About CDW-G

TinkRworks Unveils Two New Projects to Inspire STEAM Learning through Art and Music

Posted on September 10, 2024 | by Hope

TinkRworks, a proud ILTPP partner, is excited to introduce two new projects designed to inspire creativity and innovation in the classroom: Tech-A-Sketch and TinkRsynth These innovative projects integrate art and music with STEM, offering students hands-on experiences that build real-world skills.

Tech-A-Sketch (Grades 3-5) enables students to transform their drawings into interactive designs, while TinkRsynth (grades 6-8) allows students to create and customize their own music synthesizers — fostering both creativity and technical skill through STEAM Project-based Learning.

Curious about how these projects can transform your classroom?

READ THE FULL ARTICLE

Contact your dedicated Account Manager:

Matt Yena
Illinois School Partner
708-899-9362
matt.yena@TinkRworks.com

Learn more about TinkRworks

Six Classroom Management Strategies by DEMCO

Posted on September 10, 2024 | by Hope

Demco Ideas & Inspiration Blog
by Amy Uelmen

Management strategies for an active, flexible classroom

Teaching in an active, flexible classroom brings the potential for many successes: student learning and engagement, comfort and flexibility, and limitless lesson design! However, it does take some transition to reap these benefits for students and teachers. Set everyone up for success with just a few simple strategies. Setting expectations from the start and being intentional throughout the school year will help everyone find success in their new learning environment.

As our school district started redesigning classrooms to be active, flexible learning environments, we found common questions from teachers. Also, we had teachers who came into the classroom for co-teaching a class period or two who were not familiar with layout and flexibility and were asking about expectations and classroom management strategies. As a result, we developed the strategies below that we use within professional development with all teachers who transition into an active, flexible classroom, as well as specialist teachers who also teach within the space for limited periods of time.

1. Make a mental mind shift

The classroom is everyone’s classroom. It’s not just a place students visit that is the primary home to a teacher. Sometimes this requires a mental shift in allowing students to decide where they sit and how the room is arranged. Letting go of control and becoming comfortable with allowing students to move seats when and where needed can be difficult.

The room may not look the same each day. Seats may not always be in the same spot.  Desks may not be lined up in perfect rows. Table heights may not all be universal. But this means productivity, comfort, and flexibility become the true value of the seating and workspace in your classroom.

Students may be moving more. Sometimes the movement is distracting and feels chaotic. But many of our students need movement! Sitting for long periods without movement is difficult and leads to a loss of focus. Movement allows students to get their energy out, focus more, and be more ready to learn.

2. Set ground rules

Ground rules should be set with any new seating and workspaces in your classroom at the start of every school year. First, explain to the students the purpose behind the seating and workspaces:

To meet a variety of student comfort needs (size, height, moveability)
To be easily moveable and adaptable for a variety of learning activities
To provide spaces that support students’ ability to collaborate, create, work individually or in groups, and refocus when needed

If students understand the why, they will have more ownership in the classroom and take better care of everything within it.

Then, set ground rules for how each piece of classroom furniture should be and can be used. Create a graphic or slide deck explaining when the seat or table is a good choice and when it is not a good choice. Help them understand why it was designed the way it was, what learning needs it supports, and what they may like or dislike about it. This will help them make an informed choice of where they will learn best each day, week, or month, depending on how often they choose their own seating.

Here’s a graphic we share and discuss with students. Share it digitally with students and even post it around the room as a reminder! It features the seating in our classrooms but could be adapted to yours.

In the conversation with students, also be sure to outline the consequences of misuse.  The goal is that students decide where they learn best, but if they are not successful or not using the seating or workspaces in a safe or functional way, then the teacher may need to help the student be more successful. Teachers can still give choice but not free choice — they may give the student two seating options or even select the best option for them for a while.

Explaining the seating and workspaces in the classroom, setting expectations for use, and outlining consequences gives the students clarity and helps them understand the variety of options in the classroom and select the best one for their own success.

3. Talk with students about seat selection

The classroom should be a place where everyone makes decisions, everyone gives feedback, and everyone is in control of their learning. This starts with allowing students to select a seat and workspace that they will work best in and may vary from day to day depending on the student’s needs.

However, students will need guidance in selecting how and where they sit so they choose the best place for their work rather than the closest spot to a friend in class. Providing your students prompts to start thinking about selecting a seat based on how their body or mind feels will help them make informed decisions.

Here are some examples:

Feeling → Seat selection

“I am feeling anxious.” OR “I have lots of energy.” → “I need a seat that allows me to move while I listen and work.”

“I didn’t sleep well last night.” → “I need a back on my seat.”

“I’ve been sitting all morning.” → “I need to stand at either a standing desk or a taller table.”

Contact your dedicated Account Manager:

Please contact the Demco inside sales department for everyday orders and general inquiries. Please reference C10903 for contract pricing or inform them you are an ILTPP member.

McKenzie Encarnacion
Inside Sales Specialist
mckenziee@demco.com

For larger projects needing installation or design, please contact the Demco Business Development Representative

John Jakelja
Business Development Representative
630-901-5989
johnj@demco.com

Learn More About Demco

How Safe is Google Drive?

Posted on August 22, 2024 | by Hope

Schools store and manage a range of sensitive data. Often, schools rely on Google Workspace to handle their data appropriately — including Google Drive.

In the words of Education Week: “Google products dominate in K-12 classrooms.” Their research shows that approximately 70% of K-12 schools use Google Workspace apps, which includes Google Drive — they also say that among educators, Google products are the solutions of choice.

This implies that educators and schools more generally trust Google’s applications to securely hold information. But how safe is Google Drive, really?

Contact your dedicated Account Manager:

Warren Frebel
VP of Business Development
303-415-3656
wfrebel@managedmethods.com

Learn More About ManagedMethods

Keeping Devices Refreshed Is Critical to a Healthy and Modern IT Ecosystem

Posted on August 7, 2024 | by Hope

by Joe Kuehne
Joe Kuehne is a Senior Editor at BizTech magazine.

As in any industry, IT teams supporting K–12 schools must navigate a challenging landscape. But with education on the line, IT staff take on significant responsibility for ensuring that the technology they support provides an optimal digital experience for teachers and students alike.

Despite strict budgets and small IT teams, school districts must keep devices safely and continually refreshed. That task can be overwhelming in the face of such obstacles as reduced federal funding and constantly evolving security threats. Add to that the trend of school districts adopting one-to-one device programs, and suddenly those necessary device refreshes demand resources that many teams simply don’t have.

“I think the funding is going to be one of the larger issues for schools moving forward, especially after the federal Emergency Connectivity Fund wraps up,” says Caitlin Witry, senior manager of the education partner program at CDW. “ECF is about to expire shortly, and then the last round of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds would expire in September 2024.”

While it can be daunting, IT teams can’t delay or ignore the task of refreshing huge numbers of devices. Keeping them updated helps prevent interruptions in education and breaches in security. But there are some solutions and services available to help IT teams confront the challenges of device refreshes and maintenance.

Keeping Devices Refreshed Amid Funding Limitations

According to a recent survey from Lenovo, K–12 IT leaders are prioritizing device refreshes despite tight budgets. “With the increased number of devices a district is now required to maintain, as well as non-stop demands for more bandwidth, IT leaders want devices that support fast and robust Wi-Fi,” Lenovo reports. “Nearly all districts (94 percent) struggled with videoconferencing during the pandemic, and bandwidth was the leading cause of trouble. Wi-Fi 6 outranks 5G nearly 4 to 1 as an ‘important or very important’ priority.”

Some leading IT companies are working with schools and service providers to offer assistance and funding. One such program is the CDW Education Collaborative, a community of K–12 technical administrators across North America who work alongside CDW Education’s experts to navigate changes, updates, challenges and solutions within their Google and Microsoft environments.

Tech leaders such as Google and Microsoft offer automatic update policies, but devices in the K–12 setting frequently have shorter life spans than those in professional settings. Student devices may need to be refreshed or replaced more often, which can become expensive for schools and force them to find alternative solutions.

“Lately, we’ve seen schools trying to extend the life of their devices by using cases and extended service plans such as accidental damage protection, using more break/fix programs and trying to extend their lifecycles rather than doing a refresh every three years,” Witry notes. “They’re trying to stretch the bang for their buck.”

Contact your dedicated Account Manager:

John Buttita
Sales Manager
877-325-3380
johnbut@cdw.com

Learn More About CDW-G