CMAS

Teknique IT Has a CMAS to Become Your eRate Specialists

The California eRate program provides discounts on the costs of necessary telecommunications to eligible schools and libraries. eRate is a federal program of the FCC, which is administered by the Schools and Libraries Division of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC). This company provides 20 to 90 percent discounts to eligible Kindergarten through 12th grade public schools and libraries on Internet access, approved telecommunications and the costs of internal communications. In order to make eligible purchases to schools, you must also hold a California Multiple Award Schedule (CMAS) contract. Teknique IT holds a valid CMAS Contract in the state of California and is registered with the USAC. Keep reading to see how Teknique IT can be your eRate specialists.

About the CMAS Contract in California

When a company holds a CMAS contract, they are authorized to sell specific products and provide specific technical services. Companies with a CMAS contract are able to legally demonstrate their qualification to provide personal, consulting or technical services being offered. State and local government agencies can use CMAS contracts, including the K-12 public schools and community colleges chosen to spend public funds. CMAS contracts are set up for both IT and non-IT products and services at fair, reasonable and competitive prices.

Companies that are registered in California are offered a CMAS that is not established via a competitive bid process run by the state. Instead, they are based on pre-approved federal contracts. A company can hold up to 15 CMAS contracts.

Make Teknique IT Your eRate Technology Provider

Teknique IT holds a valid California CMAS Contract and is also registered with USAC. These qualifications make us eligible to make eRate purchases for eligible libraries and schools. It can be overwhelming when it comes to sorting out just what technologies your schools can obtain and how much. This is where Teknique IT can help. Our CMAS Contract allows us to consult and guide you through the process. We have eRate specialists on our team who can answer any and all questions you have about eRate technology for your schools.

Let Teknique IT Help With eRate Technology Planning

Although technology plans are not a requirement for eRate funds, there is a strong recommendation from the California Department of Technology that local educational agencies create and use a technology plan that has been locally approved. This will be a guide for the use of technology to improve the education of all students. Teknique IT’s CMAS allows our specialists to help you with any questions about eRate technology planning.

Contact Teknique IT to handle all of your eRate needs. Not only can we help those who are in need of a company who holds a CMAS, we can be there for all of your IT needs. Our business solutions include: VoIP, Mobility. Office 365, Custom Network Design and Cabling, Network Security, Virtualization, Business Continuity and more!

Data Recovery Service

Why Schools Need Data Recovery Service Providers

Schools today are embracing technology by storing most of their critical data electronically.  It is not uncommon to find test scores, teachers’ planning sheets, curricula, student transcripts and attendance housed digitally. While this is a step in the right direction, unfortunately backup recovery in education is often lacking. All of this information is important to the students’ future, staff’s performance and for the school to continue running efficiently.

If a natural disaster like a fire or flood occurs, a virus attacks, or a hacker decides to infiltrate the school’s system, critical data can be lost or take a long time to retrieve. This slows down the valuable education process and instills a loss of faith in the district. A cloud based data recovery service provider can help schools keep all their information secure and accessible in times of a catastrophe. Let us explain further the benefits for schools that have backup and data recovery service providers via the cloud.

Cost Effective

In the last few years, schools across the nation have been forced to deal with cutting down to the bare bones in order to save money. Having a backup and data recovery service provider is cost effective, since you pay based on how much data is being backed up. There is no need to invest in any hardware such as tape backup or initial start up fees. The backup plan is scalable and can be adjusted according to the school’s needs.

Continuity Plan

In the event that a disaster occurs, or even if you simply suffer a power outage, a data recovery service provider will allow the school to continue its operations and access data.  For example, if a child is unaccounted for, you will be able to pull up the attendance and find out if they are lost in the building or were absent that day. Anything else can be pulled up from a remote location in the event of a catastrophic situation like a fire or flood.

Simple Data Recovery 

Pull up and necessary information pertaining to the educational institution within seconds from any machine. There is no delay going through tapes, mounting them and finally reading the information. Find what you need instantly without wasting valuable time.

Easy Collaboration 

Teaching is all about collaboration between educators.  One student may have a homeroom teacher, a teacher for special ed and one for reading.  With cloud based storage, it is easy for those teachers in each department to share plans and files about the student, allowing them to collaborate and give the best instruction possible.  Once the information is stored in the cloud, it can be pulled up easily for reference and as a tool for future planning.

Data Security

All of the information stored about children in schools must be kept secure to ensure privacy, as well as for safety reasons. When investing in a data recovery service provider, information can be encrypted and transferred over the Internet via a secure connection. This is not unlike what is used in business and banking.  All information is backed up automatically so there is no need for staff to worry about special tools or software to back up sensitive data.

Wireless networks for schools

Five Reasons for School Wireless Networks

The schools we now know are drastically different from what we knew just a decade ago. Schools are adopting more technology, using state-of-the-art equipment, and instilling love and passion for technology in the younger generations. Much of what schools are accomplishing would not be possible, or at least as fluid, without the functionality of wireless networks. According to a Motorola wireless study, which looked at the number of educational institutions planning a wireless network strategy, 53% were higher education institutions and K-12 schools made up 47%. Regardless of size and institutional type, school wireless networks contribute to success. There are five main reasons why schools are seeking the benefits of a wireless network.

1. As budgets plunge, a wireless solution is an affordable option

A wireless network costs less than traditional wired methods. Instead of running lines and access points into each room, classroom, office, library and everywhere else in between, the network deploys a reliable wireless signal instead. The presence of a wireless network also reduces the institution’s need to provide computers and devices to access the internet. Employees, educators and students can access the wireless network with their own devices.

2. Schools can improve their e-leaning technology and applications

A wireless network allows teachers to employ online instruction materials, whiteboards and smart-boards. The classroom can enter a virtual setting that uses advanced tools, services, and on-line testing resources. The school, administration, and/or teacher can modify an online strategy to meet a variety of learning styles and challenges. Many classrooms and libraries are using mobile devices, such as iPads and tablets, and a wireless network allows children to learn on state-of-the-art technology.

3. Access is granted only approved users, and a guest setting is available for others

Tailored wireless solutions provide access to only authorized users and a guest setting for visitors on the school campus. When a user is required to use his/her specific login credentials to access the network, it makes the next point easier to enforce.

4. Proactive maintenance and monitoring prevents intrusions and data loss

Wireless solutions provide peace of mind and 24/7 accessibility. The less moving parts a system has, the less likely it is to experience significant problems. A wireless solution is easier to monitor and maintain. Allowing only authorized users to access the wireless network means the user has his/her user-specific login credentials. When this occurs, the IT team can successfully monitor and identify suspicious activity.

5. Productivity and accessibility improves

The institution as a whole is more accessible and productive when connectivity is streamlined. Educators, personnel, administrators, parents and students can all communicate better. The school can monitor a student’s progress, streamline recommendations and correspondence, respond to emergencies, and collaborate remotely. Students can also benefit from remote access and increased communication. When students are outside of the classroom, they can collaborate with peers, work with online educational apps, and complete assignments with their own devices in an area that is most comfortable and accessible for them.

school and technology

Schools and Technology

As technology evolves at a rapid pace, it is natural that we see more of it used in the classroom. Technology is allowing children who learn in non-traditional ways to thrive. Innovative tools are being used to teach everything from penmanship to physics. Let’s examine just a few of the interesting ways that technology is being utilized in school.

iPads and Apps

More and more iPads are showing up in schools across the United States. They are an excellent tool because of how versatile they are. An iPad can be used in elementary school all the way through to high school and college. Research can be done with a few taps of the fingers. They are excellent tools for brainstorming, creating presentations, aggregating information and working in groups. Their portability makes using them simple.

There are thousands of educational apps that can be used on an iPad. Elementary school children can learn to spell, practice their English and math, while high school students can learn chemistry through apps that allow them to see close up images of everything on the periodic table. Apps on iPads turn learning into games, which makes it less painful, especially for those who struggle academically. With so many choices, there is an app for all students and their needs.

Twitter

It seems reasonable that teachers want to keep their students off social media. However, in upper grades, teachers are using it as a learning tool. Since kids’ attention spans are steadily decreasing, it makes sense for instructors to use Twitter to send out information about a subject to their students. Kids can use the social media outlet to tweet questions about assignments, and read the answer in a tweet from their teacher.

Class Web Pages

Teachers have been using the Internet to create web pages for their class that can be used in many ways. Some post important announcements, but they can be customized any manner the educator sees fit. The site can include a class blog, photos, homework assignments, downloadable material and more. What makes class websites work so well is that they can be accessed from home or mobile devices.

Podcasts

The web contains literally thousands of podcasts about anything and everything. Teachers are searching and finding ones that are relevant to the subject at hand. Instructors are recording lectures to supplement lessons and creating their own podcasts for students to listen to on their own time. Interviews with authors can be used to supplement books the students are reading, to listen to at home or to be downloaded in class. In some cases, teachers have had students make their own podcasts to discuss their ideas on what they are learning about, or to document the progress they have made throughout the year.