As we head into the school year, administrators and school district CIOs have to ask themselves tough questions about how technology can better work for their classrooms and students. Here are some top tips from former CIO, Bob Moore of Dell Education to help you kick-off the school year!

Move into a digital learning environment. We all know that students are growing up in the digital age – whether they’re listening to music or researching projects online, it’s all about access to content.  Enabling online learning opportunities for students is going to be the key moving forward. You don’t have to have all the answers now, but it’s important to start thinking about what platforms you would use and how. 

It’s all about the data. As educators, data matters. Content and data has always been critical to any learning environment.  When looking at big and small decisions about technology, student achievement and equipping students with 21st Century Skills, the same applies. Ask yourself, how can we make data accessible to teachers and educators and enable them to make wiser decisions about the school year? 

Online assessments are the next big thing. Assessments have always been an important factor, but as we start looking at the new requirements and potential changes in assessments, it is going to be even more critical to make sure schools are ready for online assessments. This will affect everything from infrastructure to the type of devices you’re deploying on campus.  An overall holistic approach will need to be taken from the onset.  So start preparing now!

The cloud is our friend. Simplifying your IT can often mean many different things. By moving to the cloud, teachers can securely work applications and files to create lesson plans or update assignments in real time. As you start the school year, start thinking about what you’re doing to move applications to the cloud. How are you leveraging these tools and reducing costs overall?

It’s not about cutting budgets, it’s about saving money. This might sound like a bit of a strange statement, but the fact is we’re always going to be asked to do more with less. It’s about efficiency and finding ways to use minimal resources, but increase our output. And, it’s about saving money and spending in smarter ways. Virtualization allows you to do just that. If you’re not virtualizing your desktops or servers today, it’s a technology you should consider.