Tuckerton Elementary School: Smart Technology Meets Smart Management
Kyle Calderwood came to Tuckerton Elementary several years ago to solve a problem: The school had limited access to technology and depended on three carts of used MacBooks to meet their students' digital learning needs. Calderwood soon swapped the used MacBooks for new Chromebooks, due to their ease of use and cost-effectiveness, but had no way to manage the large, unwieldy fleet of devices.
"Because Chromebooks were so cost-effective, we had more devices in our building than ever before. Managing so many devices, keeping track of an inventory, sending them out for repairs, etc., these were challenges we had to solve for," explains Technology Coordinator Kyle Calderwood.
When Tuckerton implemented GoGuardian's software suite, including GoGuardian Admin, Teacher, and Fleet, the school found a Chromebook management solution that could solve all of these challenges on a large scale. While GoGuardian Admin ensured the online safety of students, GoGuardian Teacher engaged students with the right content online, and GoGuardian Fleet ensured all school devices were secure and up to date.
GoGuardian Fleet also took the difficulty out of managing a large deployment and saved the technology department time. "GoGuardian Fleet allows me to keep track of all the devices at once. I know exactly who has the device and at what time. And I actually know what version of OS they're on, so that makes it a lot easier for me to update them, make changes, or see problems that may arise before they happen," said Calderwood.
After launching the full GoGuardian suite, Tuckerton Elementary could manage its software across devices with ease, and with robust technical support. "GoGuardian support has been fantastic," Calderwood attests. "I've actually contacted them off-hours, on the weekends, and they've always been there for me. They are always listening. There's a feedback button in the panel that, if you have a wish, put it in there and they'll listen to you. It's one of the many reasons why we keep coming back to them."
The challenge
When Tuckerton Elementary replaced their Macs with more cost-effective Chromebooks, they had more devices to manage than ever before. Using a spreadsheet to keep track of inventory and repairs proved tedious and inefficient. Technology Coordinator Kyle Calderwood needed an efficient tracking solution to manage Chromebooks and keep them updated.
The plan
Calderwood deployed GoGuardian Fleet, Admin, and Teacher, not just to better manage devices, but to provide the school with multiple ways to holistically address student needs, differentiate instruction, and help ensure online safety.
The impact
Calderwood rolled out GoGuardian's software to all of his students within minutes. His team was immediately able to track individual devices, identify Chromebooks with missing barcodes, and update their software automatically. Technical difficulties became easier to troubleshoot, and repairs easier to manage. With the help of GoGuardian Admin and Teacher, Tuckerton was able to provide a Digital Learning Environment that empowered students to learn, explore, and discover, while still staying safe online. With GoGuardian Fleet, Tuckerton Elementary could monitor all of its devices in an easy-to-use, organized, and efficient way. GoGuardian saved hours of Calderwood's and his team's time, ultimately helping the school's Chromebook initiative be more successful.
By the numbers*
*Data is based on the 2017–18 school year as of 10/24/2017.
Smart technology needs smart management
As more schools implement technology programs, either through 1:1 initiatives or shared carts, the need for powerful, easy-to-use device management tools is greater than ever. From device assignment and repair tracking to web filtering and classroom management, many districts often end up using a patchwork of tools and apps to accomplish their strategic technology goals.
With a full suite of position-tailored products designed and built just for Chromebooks, GoGuardian makes it easy for school districts to manage large or small device deployments, keep their students safer online, and gain valuable insights into how their technology programs are working.