Schools have had no choice but to adapt to teaching virtually due to the Pandemic. Now more than ever, it is important for schools to find an education software that will allow their staff and students to excel in the world of academia. Luckily, a new COVID relief package was passed at the end of 2020, which dedicates $54.3 billion for K-12 schools. In addition to this, the Biden administration is proposing another $130 billion to go to primary and secondary schools to provide even more relief, as reported by Future Ed. These relief benefits can go toward schools needing to adopt an education software to conduct remote and hybrid learning, but with so many options to choose from, it can be hard to know where to spend these dollars wisely. Here are some key things to look for while deciding which education software is best for your school.
Reliability
There are a variety of educational software programs on the market, but as you know, their network connection is not always a guarantee. Those hard-working students deserve to focus on learning and not struggling with the frustrations of poor network connection issues brought on by unreliable software. When shopping for your electronic tools, be sure to check that you have direct access to a support team that can be there for you when an issue arises. With all of our software programs, we have a dedicated support staff that is responsive to all questions and concerns in a timely manner.
Versatility
Your school would benefit most by selecting an education software that is versatile. Teaching remotely comes with plenty of challenges, so picking software that allows you to do multiple tasks within one system will help save you time and stress. With a tool like our Onspire platform, your staff can have the ability to complete personalized professional development, create custom courses for their students, and share online programs with parents, all with one simple login. Make sure whatever system you choose is reducing the number of platforms you need to do your job instead of creating more issues.
Efficiency
While looking for education software, schools should consider the efficiency of the program. There are only so many hours in a school day to tackle what needs to be done. Finding a program that streamlines the processes of remote learning, automated reporting and simplifies incident management is a miracle. For example, our anti-bullying software, HIBster, is a miracle worker with its ability for users to create custom reports and manage a school safety program as they enter incident data by utilizing our multi-tab automation process. Not to mention, it includes Student Information Systems (SIS) integration, making it easy to access student details without adding on a completely different system. The tool you use should also have this same capability so that you’re not adding on additional unnecessary work.
Security
Last but certainly not least, the software needs to be secure. Of course, you already knew that. However, we feel it’s important to stress this anyway due to the number of online systems that have been hacked during this adaptation phase of our lives. This is something that we knew was integral prior to a pandemic even being an issue, and our developers make it a top priority to ensure all information is safe, secure, and protected. Asking how companies ensure the security of the school and students’ information is in place will help save you issues in the future.
Deciding Factors
With funding available, now is the time to take advantage of updating your school’s education software. Finding a program that fits all your school’s needs doesn’t have to be a painful process. All of our software options have the capability to not only be streamlined together but also are completely electronic, which allows schools to communicate with one another within one district without being in the same office. Our hope is that these programs will transform the way clerical work is managed throughout your district, saving you both time and money while still being effective in your goals. You can see first-hand how reliable, versatile and efficient our programs are by requesting a free demo today.