As a former teacher, I remember that our district’s technology guru spent his days fixing errant printers -- but that was a while ago (and we definitely didn’t take advantage of his expertise). Edtech has moved beyond desktops and printers, and is integral to instruction design, home-to-school communication, and informing school improvement. Nowadays, school and district technology teams are key players in a school community’s overall success. Not only do they help troubleshoot, but they design and build the infrastructure, from the connectivity to the hardware. Plus, they research and advise on which programs to adopt and how best to implement. Their teams often are responsible for the training too, which can still be spread a bit thin as the edtech landscape is ever evolving.
Tech teams will be thrilled to learn that Maple, a unique hotspot provider, is helping districts and schools by providing an all-in-one solution in an age-old industry. In recent years, education providers have had to rely on hotspots designed for business and corporate use to bridge the gap for students who do not have internet connectivity at home. While these hotspots provide connectivity, they do not account for the diverse needs of kids and families relying on a school-provided device.
WHAT IF …
Maple, a hotspot provider since 2017, spent the last few years revolutionizing their design based on the feedback and insights from educators. The proprietary design of the worldwide-patented Virtual SIM technology means that schools can ensure that the devices are being used in a balanced manner for school-based purposes. The management controls means that schools can roll out, track, and pull reports on their fleet of devices. Plus, Maple’s white-glove service means we take care of everything from applying for ECF support, to device setup and remote fleet management trainings. These specialized features of Maple’s devices and service also increases the probability of schools receiving fully-approved rounds of ECF support year over year by minimizing loss overall:
Let your tech teams know that this also means that there is a shorter lead time on production, meaning that you all can get hotspots in the hands of students in time for summer extended learning or as you look ahead to a new school year. Don’t forget that the Emergency Connectivity Fund is opening its third window of support April 28-May 13, 2022. Apply for ECF’s $1 billion in support now by reaching out to Michelle Mirshokri at Maple (michelle@mapleconnect.co) to help secure awarded funds for the next 12 months.
