Business technology in schools is something that has become increasingly common over the years. For example, word processing software – and computers in general – came into use in schools after they were established as a viable technology for business.
Most technology that ends up being used in schools will have been developed for a business context, before people realised it would find use in an educational context. We spoke with TechQuarters, a company providing small business IT support London companies rely on, about this concept. They confirmed this fact, even pointing out how schools began using videoconferencing tools to enable remote learning during the height of the coronavirus pandemic. Solutions that were primarily geared towards business use once again became commonplace in classrooms.
Business Technology vs. School Technology
With regards to the difference between business technology versus school technology, there are some things to be pointed out. However, there is a considerable overlap to be found. This is mainly because business technology often revolves around productivity and communication, both of which are important aspects of any school. This means that many solutions can be used in both settings.
TechQuarters provides IT support services in London, to businesses across many sectors besides education. They told us that, although schools differ from other types of business (e.g. they work with children, they act more as a service than a business model, etc.), they still need business-style solutions. For example, document management, file-sharing, and co-authoring are all demands of a modern school the same as a modern business.
Examples of Business Tech in Schools
So, what types of business technology solutions are commonly used in schools? We once again spoke with TechQuarters – as they have provided IT support for schools for a decade. Below are 5 examples of solutions used by businesses, which can be leveraged to great affect for educational purposes:
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Cloud Storage
Cloud Storage is an immensely useful technology; one which has radically changed the way we do business, and how people do their jobs. Thanks to the cloud, users are no longer tied to a single location when accessing their personal files and data.
The benefit of relying on cloud storage is that files and documents very rarely get lost when they are stored in the cloud. This is useful for schools – it allows teachers and students to keep better track of projects, assignments, and homework.
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Videoconferencing
Videoconferencing is a technology solution which, if you weren’t familiar with before the Covid-19 pandemic, you certain will be now. It became heavily used in business, in schools, and in people’s homes (to keep in touch with friends and family).
In a post-Covid world, it has been important to offer remote and hybrid capabilities, in both business and education. This is not only due to the risks of Covid, however. Videoconferencing increases the accessibility of schooling. It may also be used by students who need to collaborate on group projects outside of school.
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Office Productivity
Office productivity actually refers to a variety of technologies that are usually used in tandem with each other, to make the various office-based tasks and processes that businesses need to undertake easier. Products like Microsoft Office – which includes emailing, word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation capabilities, to name a few – are examples of this type of technology.
As technology advanced, the capabilities of office productivity software has grown, and the price of the solutions has lowered, making them much more viable for widespread use in schools.
Office productivity software was actually one of the earlier forms of business technology to be incorporated into schools. Students have been using word processing and presentation software, and emails for well over a decade now.
