Education IT News For VARs — December 18, 2014
By Christine Kern, contributing writer
In news, Jefferson College reduced help desk tickets by adopting single sign-on, and new rules go into effect governing education companies’ contracts using federal funding.
Jefferson College Solves Its Tech Issues Via SSO Computer Access System
This article from Campus Technology highlights how Jefferson College was able to reduce the number of help desk requests by adopting a new Identify Management System. The new system, is being used by students and staff to access its learning programs and computer networks through a single Web portal, with a single sign-on (SSO). The system also allows users to reset their own passwords, significantly reducing the number of requests made to the help desk. The system also had a five-week implementation period, compared to the typical six- to 12-month period.
New Rules Mean Education Companies Will Have To Negotiate Profits On Federal Contracts
This article from Education Week reports that education companies that sell more than $150,000 in goods or services to a school district will be subject to new rules that require the negotiation of profits on any contracts that entail federal funding. The new rules go into effect on Dec. 26. Although the rules were released a year ago, they seem to be coming as a surprise to education business executives and to school districts as the effective date looms.
Education IT Talking Points
The newest addition to the Kickboard instructional management solution is the Parent Student Portal, which allows access to student behavior reports and learning objective progress, and helps to establish strong two-way communication between teachers and students, according to District Administration. The Portal provides real-time access to grades, quarterly progress reports, and missing assignments via a computer or mobile device.
This article from Edutopia examines the 524 Project, a collaboration of art educators in Washington, D.C. and Detroit that has created a hybrid curriculum combining poetry, playwriting, and media arts to challenge the prevailing narratives about the respective cities. Called the 524 Project because of the number of miles that separate the two cities, the program integrated technology, utilizing iPads outfitted with video-recording equipment and Google Hangouts. The project demonstrates the potential for such initiatives, especially as more technology can be integrated into the models.
For more news and insights, visit BSMinfo’s Education IT Resource Center.