Today’s students have grown up with their hands on technology, many since they were old enough to walk! With the internet and digital devices at their fingertips, students are comfortable, and adept with using technology.

Factor in the pandemic and the changes it brought, and you can see why elementary, secondary, and post-secondary schools are being forced to rethink how they use technology. Some experts believe that educators have been forced to accelerate the adoption of technology by up to 5 years as a result of the pandemic.

Will the learning experience continue to evolve with technology? We believe so based on the awareness and demand from schools we serve for Unified Communications, IT services, document management, cloud integration, and of course the surge in SMART boards we’re now seeing in the classroom.

Below are five transformational trends we’re seeing in the educational sector.

1. Increased Focus on Security – With the growth of data in education, protecting student records is of paramount importance. Traditional paper files create vulnerabilities and as records go digital, security becomes a factor as schools are not exempt from cyberattacks and cybercriminals.
2. Transition to the Cloud – An outdated, expensive, and obsolete IT infrastructure is quickly giving way to the cloud as both SaaS and a storage medium. The cloud can encourage collaboration and communication while promoting data security. With automatic backup and built-in redundancy, data can be kept safe and secure.
3. The Rise of Digital Citizenship – Social media and the rise of the virtual classroom have elevated the awareness of digital citizenship. As a result, students of all ages are learning acceptable behavior and proper protocol.
4. Reduced Paper Use – 98% of GenZs own and use a smartphone as their gateway to information. Schools must keep up and provide students with information in digital form instead of paper. In the past, schools were traditionally the biggest users of paper alongside the government, healthcare, legal and financial industries. As digitization grows, and manual processes are automated, scanning will replace hardcopy output as it is faster, more accurate, and more secure.
5. The Emergence of Smart Devices – Much like in the home, smart technology use is growing quickly. SMART boards are replacing projectors in the classroom as students and teachers create, share, and collaborate on a digital screen. Other smart devices include thermostatic controls to adjust temperatures, devices to restrict access into schools, and more!

In the past, schools have traditionally been 3 to 5 years behind the private sector in terms of the adoption of new technology due to funding challenges, and a culture that was slow to adapt. Now, schools realize that transformative digital technology is affordable and easy to attain with a solid implementation plan from a technology partner that understands the unique needs of students, teachers, and parents alike.

At Allied we’ve designed and implemented education-specific solutions to control costs, convert paper to automated digital workflows and mitigate security risks. Give us a call for a quick assessment to pinpoint the biggest opportunities for improvement in your document workflow.