Podcast Series: Innovations in Education

Explore the full series of eSchool News podcasts hosted by Kevin Hogan—created to keep you on the cutting edge of innovations in education.

It’s time: Drop the paper and embrace digital workflows

Covid underscored the need for two things: network security and reliable digital workflows.

When classrooms and central offices closed, the ability to properly manage traditional paper-based processes was gone. What came next? Automating those processes—and most schools have discovered they are more efficient with this workflow automation.

Replacing old paper trails with codified digital workflows complete with e-signatures not only better protects the data on those forms, but better ensures the validity of the transactions themselves.…Read More

When it comes to edtech, it’s not about the tools, but how you use them

In this week’s Getting There: Innovations in Education, Editor at Large Kevin Hogan explores how to get the most impact out of the edtech tools in your district.

Also in this podcast:

  • New cyber security standards attempt to help secure district networks through awareness.
  • Dr. Matthew X. Joseph, Executive Director of Learning, Providence Public Schools on the power of human networks.
  • How video creation tools can improve parental relations.
…Read More

Learn how secure, compliant workflows with Adobe are helping schools improve efficiencies, data security & compliance

Building efficiencies in your back office (or should we say back school) operations is essential to running a compliant school operation. Amongst the myriad disruptions to school district operations last year, the ability to properly manage traditionally paper-based processes was taken away. The only solution was to automate—and most schools have discovered they are better off because of it. Replacing old paper trails with codified digital workflows complete with e-signatures not only better protects the data on those forms but better ensures the validity of the transactions themselves.

Register now!

Join eSchool News’ panel of experts in the second part of our webinar series to discuss building efficiencies and data security and compliance in education. Hear how replacing those folders filled with parent-signed health and AUP forms with online solutions improves the user experience for everyone—parent, teacher, and administrator alike. Learn methods to capture signatures for important documents like IEPs and vendor contracts while staying compliant and also saving time and money.…Read More

Delta Security Management supports local schools during lockdown

Sussex based security firm, Delta Security Management has today launched a new security service, which includes keyholding and alarm response, security patrols and DNA asset marking, exclusive to schools in the Sussex and Surrey area.

The new service, known as School Protection, is delivered by a dedicated Delta security team, which has been providing expert security services and solutions in the region for over 25 years. To ensure the greatest levels of security and outstanding service Delta Security are so well known for, every element of the service is operated by the trusted and reliable team of officers at Delta Security Management.

David Graffham, founder of Delta Security Management said, “With 2021 continuing to be a difficult year for schools, we recognise that keeping our children safe and still learning as best as possible in very challenging circumstances, is vital. The last thing being considered with everything going on is school security and that’s why we’re here to help and offer School Protection”.…Read More

Bolstering cybersecurity with Zero Trust

Like all other sectors, the pandemic expedited digital transformation in education. School districts and universities around the globe found themselves making years’ worth of changes rapidly, as the coronavirus shutdown resulted in a mad dash to a new, fully remote “normal.” As schools continue to make sense of distance learning strategies, it is imperative that they factor long-term cybersecurity considerations into their plans.

Each day since the pandemic began, educators and administrators are forced to confront systems that have seen an overwhelming and tremendous surge in usage. The process of implementing new e-learning technologies at scale created significant gaps in security. In fact, according to one report, “the average number of weekly attacks per organization in the academic sector increased by 30 percent July through August of 2019.”

Given the number of individuals involved in, and affected by, the education system, the idea of “move fast break things” may leave those who lack a proper cybersecurity infrastructure at a particularly high risk from cyber threats. Prioritizing cybersecurity in education has never been more pertinent.…Read More

LenelS2 Announces BlueDiamond Mobile-Ready Readers

LenelS2 today announced a new line of BlueDiamondTM mobile-ready readers. The new multi-technology readers are cost-effective, designed to provide simultaneous support for a wide range of physical credentials and can be seamlessly upgraded to support BlueDiamond mobile credentials. LenelS2, a global leader in advanced security systems and services, is a part of Carrier Global Corporation (NYSE: CARR), a leading global provider of healthy, safe and sustainable building and cold chain solutions.

“Access control needs are dynamic, and with BlueDiamond mobile-ready readers, users have a single platform that can meet their needs today, tomorrow and into the future,” said Jeff Stanek, president, LenelS2. “These new readers allow organizations to easily transition to mobile credentials at their own pace.”

BlueDiamond is an open platform, and the new line of mobile-ready readers are among the most versatile access control readers on the market. The readers work seamlessly with existing infrastructure and are access control platform agnostic. They include support for the standard output protocols including Supervised F/2F (SF/2F), Wiegand, OSDP™ and OSDP V2.…Read More

Promethean Partners with Radix to Expand Device Management and Security

Today at FETC 2021, Promethean®, a leading global education technology company, announced a premium device and application management solution for the seamless management of virtually any device in a school’s technology ecosystem. This new offering is the result of focused efforts between Promethean and Radix, a cutting-edge device management solution provider. This solution will directly reduce IT administrators’ work time and introduce new opportunities for efficient centralized remote control of devices, including the Promethean ActivPanel® Elements Series from a single web console.

As classrooms have seen rapid evolution over the last year, new guidelines required schools to quickly transform educational settings for remote and hybrid learning. This resulted in a proliferation of new edtech devices within educational ecosystems that were already complex. Managing all these devices and keeping them secure in hybrid and remote learning environments has never been more important.

Promethean Panel Management simplifies device management by deploying mass updates, grouping devices, and setting ActivPanel® Elements Series configurations. With the implementation of Radix VISO, users can greatly expand management to cover prior generations of ActivPanels and the ever-growing number of other devices within schools. Radix VISO device management and Promethean Panel Management together deliver comprehensive device management, allowing IT teams to manage growing infrastructures more efficiently while improving security and ensuring a seamless user experience.…Read More

LenelS2 Introduces OnGuard Security Management System Version 8.0

LenelS2 today announced the release of the OnGuard® security management system version 8.0, empowering security teams with enhanced situational awareness through unified views of the security environment, as well as powerful visualization for data-based insights. Version 8.0 provides major updates including integration with the Magic Monitor® unified client, rich interactive maps, a new modern reporting engine, cybersecurity enhancements and more. The OnGuard security management system is an advanced solution in Carrier’s Healthy Buildings Program, and provides critical features like occupancy management, enhanced access control and proactive screening solutions to better protect people and assets, and optimize building health and efficiency. LenelS2, a global leader in advanced security systems and services, is a part of Carrier Global Corporation (NYSE: CARR), a leading global provider of healthy, safe and sustainable building and cold chain solutions.

“OnGuard version 8.0 provides end users with the tools they need to be in complete control of their security environment and transform security data into actionable insights,” said Jeff Stanek, president, LenelS2. “As the world returns to the workplace, the breadth of new features, updates and enhancements in OnGuard version 8.0 make it an ideal solution for today’s unique security challenges.”

The OnGuard 8.0 system enhances security and situational awareness through integration with the Magic Monitor client, a Windows® and MacOS® client, which provides a unified view of access control, video surveillance feeds and web content in a single display. Users can view OnGuard system alarms, credentials as well as live or recorded video from the LenelS2™ Network Video Recorder (LenelS2 NVR) platform, or third-party video management systems, including the Milestone XProtect® system. The Magic Monitor unified client supports a single display, a command center workstation or expansive video walls.…Read More

LenelS2 Announces Strategic Agreement with Bosch Building Technologies

LenelS2 today announced a strategic agreement with Bosch Building Technologies to resell Bosch IP cameras in North America and Europe. As a result of the agreement, end users will have access to the complete Bosch IP camera portfolio through LenelS2’s Value-Added Resellers (VARs). The Bosch IP camera portfolio integrates with all LenelS2™ video management solutions to enhance critical video analytics capabilities that help protect people and assets and optimize building health and efficiency. The integrated solution joins the Carrier Healthy Buildings Program suite of offerings to help deliver healthier, safer, more efficient and productive indoor environments. LenelS2, a global leader in advanced security systems and services, is a part of Carrier Global Corporation (NYSE: CARR), a leading global provider of healthy, safe and sustainable building and cold chain solutions.

The relationship provides a convenient, single source for LenelS2 VARs to procure and build their video surveillance solutions. VARs will be able to leverage a unified support infrastructure for products across both company product lines. LenelS2 and Bosch are developing tighter integrations between products to enable advanced features for future product releases. Bosch cameras integrate with all LenelS2™ OnGuard® and NetBoxÔ ecosystem video management solutions including LenelS2 NVR (LNVR), UltraView, VRxÔ, and NetVRÔ. Bosch cameras also integrate with Milestone XProtect® in support of LenelS2 and Milestone’s distribution agreement.

“Bosch Building Technologies is a longtime partner and member of the LenelS2 OpenAccess Alliance Program (OAAP), so this was a natural step to take,” said
Jeff Stanek, president, LenelS2. “This alliance further supports our commitment to providing open platforms and comprehensive Healthy Buildings solutions, enabling our customers to select the best solutions for their security needs.”…Read More

AEPA Awards National Security Solution Bid to Deledao

On December 1st, 2020, the Association of Educational Purchasing Agencies (AEPA) awarded Deledao a national bid in their Security Solutions category. This allows the 29 member states to offer Deledao through a nationally bid contract designed to meet state bid law requirements.

“We’re excited to partner with AEPA to expand our reach to school districts across the United States,” says Shuang Ji, CEO at Deledao. “This partnership aligns with our company goal of providing education solutions that are easy and effective. Member ESAs can now focus on solving the web security needs of their districts instead of wading through complicated purchasing processes.”

“Student mental health crises are increasing at an alarming rate, with internet access and social media exacerbating this issue. The internet is always there, it doesn’t rest,” says Kevin Benson, the Security Solutions Committee Chair at AEPA.…Read More