Technology for Students: Back-to-School Tech Checklist

Fresh notebooks? Check. New schedules? Check. Classroom decorated? Check.

But what about the technology?

Today’s classrooms depend on laptops, tablets, interactive displays, cloud applications, WiFi and online learning platforms. When even one piece isn’t ready, the first week of school can quickly turn into a technology troubleshooting marathon.

Preparing technology for students before everyone returns can help teachers spend less time fixing problems and more time teaching. Here’s where to start.

1. Update Every Student Device

Don’t wait until the first morning of school to discover 30 laptops need updates.

Before students return, power up classroom devices and check for:

• Operating system updates
• Browser updates
• Security patches
• Application updates
• Antivirus and endpoint protection status

Updating back to school technology ahead of time also gives your internal IT team a chance to identify older devices that may no longer support required software.

2. Test the WiFi Under Realistic Conditions

The wireless network may work perfectly when three administrators are in the building. Things can look very different when hundreds of students arrive with laptops, tablets and phones.

Test WiFi coverage throughout classrooms, common areas and other learning spaces. Pay particular attention to rooms that experienced connectivity problems last year.

Reliable classroom technology depends on a network capable of handling the number of devices actually connecting to it.

3. Check Student Accounts and Logins

Nothing slows down the first lesson like half the class being unable to log in.

Review student accounts before classes begin. Make sure new students are properly provisioned, former students are removed and returning students have appropriate access.

Schools should also review authentication policies and multi-factor authentication where appropriate. Managing access correctly helps protect technology for students while reducing unnecessary login headaches.

4. Give Classroom Equipment a Test Run

Teachers shouldn’t discover five minutes before class that the projector isn’t connecting.

Test the equipment teachers rely on every day, including:

• Interactive displays and smartboards
• Projectors and classroom monitors
• Document cameras
• Printers and scanners
• Webcams and microphones
• Charging carts and docking stations

A quick inspection of classroom technology can uncover missing cables, damaged chargers and connection problems while there’s still time to fix them.

5. Make Cybersecurity Part of Back-to-School Prep

Students aren’t the only ones returning to school. Cybercriminals know schools are getting back into full swing too.

Before the year begins, review security across your back to school technology. Confirm endpoint protection is active, backups are working and critical security patches have been installed.

It’s also a great time to remind faculty and staff about phishing. A fake password-reset email or Microsoft 365 notification can look surprisingly convincing during a hectic first week.

6. Clean Up Old Apps and Accounts

Schools accumulate technology quickly. Unfortunately, old applications and forgotten accounts can stick around long after they’re needed.

Before school starts, review what your organization is actually using. Remove outdated software, disable unnecessary accounts and check whether applications still meet your security requirements.

Less clutter can mean easier management and fewer potential security vulnerabilities.

7. Have a Plan for the First-Week Tech Rush

Even with perfect preparation, someone will forget a password, a laptop will refuse to cooperate and a teacher will need help connecting something.

Make sure teachers know exactly where to report technology problems and how urgent issues should be escalated. Having an organized support process can prevent small problems from disrupting entire classrooms.

Start the School Year with Technology That Works

The best technology for students is technology they barely have to think about. It connects, loads and works when they need it.

Our experts can help schools prepare devices, manage updates, troubleshoot network problems, strengthen cybersecurity and provide ongoing IT support throughout the school year. We can also help keep school computers protected against malware, cyberattacks and other security threats.

Get your technology ready before the first bell rings – and give teachers and students one less thing to worry about this school year.