Blog Posts for Education Industry

“Change is the only constant in life.”

This popular quote has been attributed to Heraclitus, a Greek philosopher born in 554 BC. Much more recently, in 2020, Mark Cuban, the billionaire entrepreneur, said, “The only constant of business is change.” How true both statements are! In fact, at no other time in recent memory have they been truer than now. We experienced a lot of changes in 2020. From constant Zoom meetings in makeshift home offices to getting used to wearing masks and sheltering in place, all of us have had to learn how to adjust to a new way of life. Our country turned virtual, seemingly overnight, and companies had to scramble to adapt as their employees transitioned to remote work. (more…)

The ongoing pandemic has forced schools and districts to change the way they operate. Depending on local guidelines, the new school year looks different than any other previous year. Some schools are reopening with precautions in place, others are choosing hybrid models, and some are conducting all classes online. As schools resume either in-person or via remote learning (or a hybrid of both), mass notification systems can quickly and effectively keep stakeholders and communities informed. This has become even more crucial recently because information changes rapidly and on an almost daily basis. Mass notification systems can help schools overcome the speed and reach of communicating with administrators, staff, students and the community at large. (more…)

Digital innovation is the cornerstone within education, especially when it comes to higher education. The need to work anytime, anywhere and quickly switch back and forth from online to in-person has been accelerated by the global COVID-19 pandemic. The need to have flexible solutions at home and on campus is more crucial than ever before. University faculty, staff and students need to be able to adapt quickly and seamlessly with easy-to-use collaboration tools. (more…)

As campuses across the country closed and sent students home to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, faculty members moved their classes online at an unprecedented pace. Online courses and distance education were once thought of as the opposite of what a college experience should be, with “sub-par learning experiences” or for-profit companies acting as educational institutions. But now, online learning has quickly become a necessity to keep classes going and colleges and universities alive. (more…)

Manufacturing, commercial print, legal, healthcare and education – all of these industries have diverse and unique challenges, trends and objectives, but the one commonality among them is the pathway toward digital transformation.  It is happening everywhere, and at a rapid pace, as technology continues to change the face of the modern landscape and demand for greater access to data increases.  Our customers, prospects, vendors and partners are all at some point in the continuum that spans from consideration and evaluation to decision and implementation. (more…)

The definition of synergy is the interaction or cooperation of two or more organizations to produce a combined effect that is greater than the sum of their separate effects. And, Konica Minolta Business Solutions truly would not have been awarded the Buyers Laboratory Inc (BLI) PaceSetter Awards for the K12 and Higher Education Verticals without the support and collaboration of its IT services division, All Covered. (more…)

There are several different ways we can help schools with physical security needs. Examples include active shooter situations, family abductions, problematic teacher/student relations, as well as vandalism. The unfortunate reality of today is that these scenarios, almost unthinkable a generation ago, have occurred with increasing frequency. Schools today regularly practice ‘active shooter’ drills, complete with classroom lock downs and door barricades. (more…)

Nick White, Teaching and Learning Consultant for Konica Minolta’s IT services division, All Covered (All Covered), has received local, state, and national recognition for leadership and innovation in education and instructional technology. He is a frequent presenter for staff development programs and education conferences. After teaching for 24 years in K-12 schools, Nick has served as an administrator, professional development specialist, and school district technology director.

The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) conference is coming up on June 24^th and so we decided to ask Nick, who has attended for many years for some helpful tips! Last year’s show had grown to a whopping 15,000 attendees – and everyone wants to make the most out of their time! (more…)

It has been our 7^th year participating at the International Society for Technology in Education conference (ISTE) and 2018 did not disappoint!  While no single technology led the show this year, student learning and helping teachers be more effective was at the center of discussion.  This idea was further punctuated by keynote speaker David Eagleman, (https://www.eagleman.com/) when he described the science behind learning. To paraphrase him, students have moved from “just in case learning” such as the history of a country you may need to know about, to “just in time learning,” like how to solve a math problem, which can be looked up instantly via technology.  For digital natives, otherwise known as today’s students, this is the norm.  And with that idea in mind, educators are on point to think and teach differently.  As he puts it, “the onus is on educators to meet their students half way.” (more…)

As an educator, my summers should be typically lighter with school sessions out. But since I represent Konica Minolta at the popular International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) conference each June, I get to teach administrators and educators about the latest technologies for educators we offer and hear from them about the hot issues on their minds. I recently attended ISTE 2017 in San Antonio, TX – along with about 20,000 other attendees – and learned a great deal from them myself. (more…)