How Interactive Displays Fit Into a K–12 Device Ecosystem

Adopt a Centralized, Scalable Approach

To manage interactive screens across multiple classrooms, or even multiple schools, IT needs centralized, scalable technology.

“They should be able to see what’s going on in all of those classrooms. They should be able to see device status and be able to organize devices by school or even by use case,” Murray says. 

In addition to applying settings and deploying apps and updates, “they should be able to troubleshoot when problems do happen,” she says. “Routine actions should be automated, so that when they add a new device to the network, it doesn’t add to their workload.” 

Built-In Software Helps IT Teams Manage Classroom Devices

SMART has spent decades looking at what educators need in the classroom and what IT teams need behind the scenes. “Those needs are very much connected,” Murray says. “If the technology is difficult to manage, it becomes difficult to use.”

With that in mind, SMART Remote Management software gives IT teams a centralized way to manage classroom devices remotely — from the cloud, geography-independent and from one console. “Administrators can manage individual displays or groups of displays. They can be set up by school or by use case,” she says.

The software empowers IT to remotely deploy certificates, manage settings, control updates, restart and shut down, and troubleshoot.

“It works seamlessly with our other experiences across our interactive display devices. This means that IT teams can save time and money,” Murray says. “They can focus more on higher-priority items, while keeping teachers teaching and learners learning.”

In many cases, a school or district will have mixed hardware generations, further complicating the device management effort. A retrofitted iQ Appliance module answers that need. A computing module that plugs into any generation of SMART display, “it upgrades the embedded computing experience on that display and keeps a consistent experience for customers,” Murray says.

This streamlines device management and delivers a potential financial win. “Sometimes, your display hardware still works — that stuff is built to last — but the software experience and the security updates can get out of date,” Murray says.

With an iQ Appliance module, “you get a consistent experience across your fleet, without having to replace your display hardware,” she says. That’s a win for total cost of ownership.

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Device Management Helps IT Teams Operate More Efficiently

For under-resourced IT teams looking to maximize their effectiveness, centralized device management is part of a bigger picture.

“The physical footprint of a school or a district can be very large,” Murray says. Within that footprint, K–12 IT teams are tasked with managing a wide range of devices, and they have a long list of priorities. With centralized, remote-management capabilities, “IT teams can devote more of their time and energy to supporting effective teachers and effective learning.”

Empowered with centralized management software, “they can focus on those higher-priority items,” she says. “Centralized, remote fleet management can really impact their time and effectiveness.”

Imagine a district with multiple locations and a small IT team supporting interactive displays across multiple schools. Many of those have been purchased over several years. “Now, suppose that district needs to deploy an approved app and update settings across its displays before the school week begins,” Murray says.

Rather than physically visiting every school and classroom to repeat the same task many times, the IT team can leverage SMART Remote Management software to do the job just once. “With remote centralized management, you can group devices and apply changes centrally,” she says. “And with our iQ Appliance module, you can modernize that environment without requiring a full replacement.”

Manageability is key to delivering on the instructional value of technology. With the right tools, “IT can manage devices efficiently, educators can rely on a consistent experience, and we protect both school’s investment and the learning time,” Murray says.

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