E-learning and cloud communications have quickly become a necessity in the classroom. About 60% of students say they use mobile devices to look up information in school, and 33% even use their devices to set up reminders for upcoming tests and projects. While students have quickly jumped on the digital bandwagon, school systems are often using outdated and legacy technology, especially regarding communication.
Bringing Schools Into the 21st Century With Cloud Communications
Legacy school communication systems like private branch exchange (PBX) are rigid, clunky ways of communicating. Not only do PBX systems require tons of hardware, extensions, and constant reworking, but they are usually expensive to maintain. School districts often run on a tight budget, and the average cost per pupil continues to rise, hitting $13,187 for each public school student. Cloud communications can help reduce costs for school districts while being easier to maintain.
What Are Cloud Communications?
Cloud communications are internet-based voice and data services. It’s a single solution for multiple communications apps and services, incorporating phone calls, video conferencing, virtual meetings, messaging, file sharing, whiteboarding, and more. Cloud communication in the classroom offers a number of benefits. It creates more accessible communication between teachers, allows for modernized lessons, and brings the classroom out of the chalkboard age and into the future.
Four Ways Cloud Communications Benefit the Classroom
1. Create Enhanced e-Learning Opportunities
When COVID-19 hit, many schools were drastically unprepared to embrace virtual learning. With cloud communications, teachers can quickly launch screen sharing, whiteboarding, and even video conferencing in a few simple steps. Students can seamlessly connect their own devices, and disruption is minimal.
2. Address Emergencies Quickly and Efficiently
When an emergency occurs, acting quickly is critical. Teachers can leverage cloud communications to call 911, which will pinpoint exactly where the call is coming from within the school for first responders. To create a safer environment for students and faculty, teachers can also use their classroom phones to integrate with their mobile devices. If an emergency happens, they can quickly be reached without someone digging for a personal cell phone number.
3. User-Friendly Administrative Platform
Gone are the days of a dusty IT room full of phone hardware and intercoms. With a cloud communications platform like UCx with Webex, IT professionals can seamlessly manage the platform for all schools in the school district from a single back-end portal. As teachers move classrooms or change schools, adjusting the phone numbers for classrooms or creating new users is simple.
4. Cost-Efficient Communication
Not only do new cloud communication systems create better functionality, but they’re also often more cost-effective. School districts will no longer have to buy expensive hardware that is outdated within a few years, and they can also save money by consolidating the number of communication apps.
Save Money With Cloud Communications
Cloud communication pushes schools into the new digital age, helping faculty and staff embrace new learning trends and save money in the process. By using cloud communications, schools take another step in the right direction of bringing modern technologies into the lives of students. Contact TPx today to see how your school district can utilize cloud communications.