VARconnection

Interest in STEM Careers is Declining for Boys. Now What?

Research found that boys are 12 percent less interested in STEM careers than last year. The main reason young people aren’t pursing STEM careers is because they feel these careers are too hard. So how do we get students interested in STEM? A good place to start is with the tools used in the classroom. … Continue reading →

Reaching Educators on Social Media

Figuring out how to get your message to educators can be difficult. A great place to start is through social media. Educators are very active on social media and turn to social media when making decisions. Educators are influenced by their peers, making it a big win for you when an educator mentions your product. … Continue reading →

Empowering Students with Mobile Device Charging Towers

Administrators at DeForest Area School District in Wisconsin found themselves facing an interesting situation as they adjusted to students bringing their laptops, tablets and smartphones to school as part an informal BYOD initiative. District officials quickly realized that with students using devices all day, they needed a simple and safe way to store and charge … Continue reading →

Infographic: Decision Makers in School Districts

Understanding who make purchasing decisions in school districts can be difficult. It’s easy to think the principals make purchasing decisions for their school. However, that isn’t the case. Principals have some authority but any decisions made must be made within specific purchasing parameters. Let’s see who the district-level purchasers are so you know who to … Continue reading →

Transforming Learning with Video Games

With many new technologies in the workforce, engagement is critical to keep current on new information and mastering skills. However, keeping students engaged and trying to keep up with our fast-paced world can be difficult. The perfect way to keep students engaged is through video games. Video games capture attention, convert extrinsic rewards into intrinsic … Continue reading →

Impact of Technology on Education

It’s becoming easier than ever before to create an interactive classroom. While many classrooms have interactive technology, it will be a few years before schools have interactive whiteboards and individual tablets in every classroom. Flexibility with teaching methods Interactive displays allow teachers to think outside the box and integrate creative ideas when planning their lessons. … Continue reading →

Springfield Public Schools ‘IGNiTE’ Culture of Innovation Through 1:1 Initiative

Going 1:1 with mobile devices is no small feat for an individual classroom or school. Expand the initiative across an entire district, and logistical nightmares abound: infrastructure, maintenance, training, storage, security. The list goes on. So when the largest school system in Missouri introduced its district-wide 1:1 device plan, skepticism could have taken root. Instead, … Continue reading →

Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th of July from The Douglas Stewart Company! We will not be publishing a blog this week, but we’ll be back next week. Our office will be close July 4th to honor the Holiday. Sincerely, The Douglas Stewart Company

Making Schools Safer Online

We hear about data breeches in retail and healthcare all the time because they are big targets for data thieves. But what about education? Breeches are very common in education. We don’t hear about the breeches often because they are typically smaller and nobody knows how many records were compromised. IT departments are taking notice … Continue reading →

Buying Decisions: How Customers are Influenced

Consumers do a lot of research before making a purchase. This research includes reading reviews and comparing product options. Education decision makers are no different. To help increase your sales, here’s what you should know about buying decisions. Peer reviews can make or break. Many decision makers turn to their peers for product advice. They … Continue reading →