# The future of edtech and how it’ll only work in these conditions
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2020-12-14
Category: TECHNOLOGY
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/technology
Meta Title: Empowering Education: Addressing the Digital Divide
Meta Description: Discover how the Inspire Learning Project in Scottish Borders Council revolutionised education with Apple technology, empowering students and educators.
URL: https://financedigest.com/the-future-of-edtech-and-how-itll-only-work-in-these-conditionshtml

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_By **Craig Smith,** Education lead, Jamf_

The education sector has been grossly impacted by the global health crisis and as a result, both students and educators have needed to adapt to new ways of learning, remotely. Schools, academies, colleges and universities quickly digitised content and educators learnt new skills and engagement strategies to support students, keep pace and stay open.

**Addressing the** [digital divide](https://www.financedigest.com/digital-divide-hits-rural-black-americans-hardest.html "‘Digital divide’ hits rural Black Americans hardest")

The pandemic has highlighted a disparity in funding for [education technologies](https://www.financedigest.com/impact-of-technology-on-education.html "Impact of Technology on Education") in schools, with some educational institutes and teachers being ill-prepared for what was to come after the first lockdown in March. According to a survey by [Teacher Tapp](https://teachertapp.co.uk/what-does-distance-learning-look-like-in-england-and-where-will-teachers-kids-be-today/), a higher percentage of pupils at independent schools (79%) reported receiving online classes than state school pupils – and even within the state sector, secondary pupils from the wealthiest households were more likely to be offered online support (64%) than their peers from the poorest fifth of households (47%).

As a result, the pandemic has instigated an opportunity for education leaders to collaborate and review how [technology and management solutions can support those who do not have easy access to education and where financial investments may need to be reallocated to future](https://www.financedigest.com/technology-skills-and-servitization-a-brighter-future-for-manufacturing.html "TECHNOLOGY, SKILLS AND SERVITIZATION: A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR MANUFACTURING?") proof the education sector.

**Making [digital learning manageable](https://www.financedigest.com/geometric-progression-based-on-digitization-to-be-witnessed-by-reproductive-management-products-market.html "Geometric Progression based on Digitization to be witnessed by Reproductive Management Products Market") and accessible**

In a region where geographical [poverty has had a major impact on the education](https://www.financedigest.com/poverty-education-levels-draw-battle-lines-in-french-election.html "Poverty, education levels draw battle lines in French election") system, Scottish Borders Council launched the Inspire Learning Project in 2018, with the aim to refresh the education curriculum and make a difference to all young people’s lives. The Inspire Learning team wanted to provide [opportunity and hope to students through the use of technology](https://www.financedigest.com/airway-clearance-devices-system-market-industry-analysis-opportunities-technology-demand-top-players-and-growth-forecast-2027.html "Airway Clearance Devices System Market Industry Analysis, Opportunities, Technology, Demand, Top Players and Growth Forecast 2027"), regardless of social factors like background and location.

The Inspire Learning [Project focused on four key](https://www.financedigest.com/fluid-coolers-market-by-covid-19-impact-analysis-volume-and-value-revenue-business-opportunity-future-projections-and-key-trends.html "Fluid Coolers Market By Covid-19 Impact Analysis – Volume And Value, Revenue, Business Opportunity, Future Projections, And Key Trends") areas: mobility, personalisation, collaboration and excellence. Having reviewed different [technology providers](https://www.financedigest.com/is-your-technology-provider-holding-you-back.html "Is your technology provider holding you back?"), the team selected Apple based on its sleek designs and compatibility with other creativity and collaboration apps. To create a seamless and exciting experience for students, enabling them to be successful from the very beginning, they enlisted the help of Apple device management experts, [Jamf](https://www.jamf.com/lp/jamf-pro/?attr=google_ads-brand-search-pro&gclid=Cj0KCQiAzZL-BRDnARIsAPCJs7176SP_dvf5kDf_t1imfMZr9ZVzs7IJx_HLJRZK10Jx_juf683YvSEaArFlEALw_wcB). This [allowed the Inspire Learning team](https://www.financedigest.com/allowing-yourself-time-to-grow-as-a-leader-consciously-will-enable-you-to-support-your-team-authentically.html "Allowing yourself time to grow as a leader, consciously, will enable you to support your team authentically") to maintain the unique Apple user experience.

Since the students and teachers were based in multiple locations, iPads were rolled out to maintain mobility. Students were excited to unbox their own iPads and teachers were confident that they could deliver their classes with little delay since the devices could be enrolled, deployed and configured over the air through the [Jamf Pro](https://www.jamf.com/products/jamf-pro/) solution.

Jamf Pro provides both students and teachers with varying levels of app [management and device access through a few clicks](https://www.financedigest.com/good-management-isnt-a-click-measuring-contest.html "Good management isn’t a click-measuring contest") by a selected administrator. As such, students could personalise their own interface and applications and the Inspire Learning team could customise the interfaces and applications of those with learning disabilities, to address their [individual needs](https://www.financedigest.com/insurance-that-every-individual-needs.html "Insurance that every individual needs…"), on their behalf. Furthermore, using Apple Classroom, teachers could restrict [specific applications](https://www.financedigest.com/application-specific-integrated-circuits-market-expected-to-reach-usd-33545-7-million-by-2026-tmr.html "Application Specific Integrated Circuits Market Expected To Reach USD 33,545.7 Million By 2026 – TMR") that were not relevant to their project for a safer online experience.

Whilst [working remotely](https://www.financedigest.com/helping-employees-recover-from-remote-workings-mental-health-implications.html "Helping employees recover from remote working’s mental health implications"), individuals within the initiative still needed to feel connected with one another and have the opportunity to collaborate. Through Jamf Pro, teachers can arrange specific [online learning](https://www.financedigest.com/brand-strategy-tactics-for-an-online-learning-platform.html "Brand Strategy Tactics for an Online Learning Platform") groups or 1-1 training sessions.

As the project was owned by Scottish Borders Council, it needed to [meet the standards](https://www.financedigest.com/beijing-meets-state-air-quality-standards-for-first-time-in-2021.html "Beijing meets state air quality standards for first time in 2021") of the local government. [Reporting and monitoring engagement was crucial for the team to know if students were having the best experience and using the iPads efficiently](https://www.financedigest.com/factoring-in-fail-safes-five-practical-steps-for-more-efficient-transparent-reporting.html "Factoring in fail-safes: five practical steps for more efficient, transparent reporting"). Through Jamf Pro, the Inspire Learning team has one holistic view of all devices to ensure the timely rollout of apps, patch updates and software to [maintain a high level of engagement and security](https://www.financedigest.com/maintaining-security-and-compliance-amid-digital-transformation-in-financial-services.html "Maintaining Security and Compliance amid Digital Transformation in Financial Services").

**Looking to the future**

The conventional learning environment has and will continue to be challenged in the [years to come](https://www.financedigest.com/mild-sourness-products-is-expected-to-fuel-growth-of-sour-sugar-market-in-coming-years.html "Mild Sourness Products Is Expected To Fuel Growth Of Sour Sugar Market In Coming Years") with many schools, academies colleges and universities all looking at ways to build strategies that include digital learning as part of the learning infrastructure – not just an add on. There are many benefits to be realised, from peer-to-peer [support and collaboration to increasing productivity](https://www.financedigest.com/the-cancer-supportive-care-products-market-to-stay-innovatively-persistent.html "The Cancer Supportive Care Products Market to stay innovatively persistent") and engagement levels that can help students across their education journeys. To make this a permanent fixture and less of a ‘band-aid’ to a world crisis, we’ll need schools and governments to review and reinvest their [time and money in education technology](https://www.financedigest.com/modernisation-of-insurance-technology-saves-invaluable-time-and-money.html "Modernisation of insurance technology saves invaluable time and money"). The Department of Education has made positive steps in this direction by supporting disadvantaged children, together with [care leavers and those with social](https://www.financedigest.com/tmwi-appointed-by-zeiss-vision-care-to-drive-integrated-paid-social-campaigns.html "tmwi appointed by ZEISS Vision Care to drive integrated paid social campaigns") workers, with free devices to ease remote learning during the lockdown.

The challenges that educational institutes may face in deploying education technology safely and securely and in justifying their investments, can be alleviated by an affordable and robust device and app [management solution](https://www.financedigest.com/quality-and-compliance-management-solution-market-to-rise-at-a-high-cagr-of-9-4.html "Quality and Compliance Management Solution Market to rise at a high CAGR of 9.4%") that makes investments successful and future proof.


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