What is IoT and how is it used in education? One respondent in our recent survey of school business officials described IoT as “things that make life easier but can be a pain when you get to use them and then they don’t work.” Fortunately, IoT is more than just a sensor.
IoT in education is huge. With IoT-enabled devices, students can now receive customized instruction, learn how to write code using robots and complete lessons while riding home on WiFi-enabled buses. At the same time, teachers and staff can provide real-time feedback, monitor students’ progress, and improve on-board bus safety.
But beyond learning, IoT truly enables the business of education to be more effective, more accountable, more cost efficient and more driven to create safe and supportive environments for students.
Extra credit: How to use IoT in K-12 and higher education
The real-world applications for IoT in education are nearly infinite. These are just a few:
School & campus safety
- Sensor rays (things) can detect vaping and noise associated with bullying (connectivity) and alert school officials to its precise location (platform).
- Smart doors and security cameras (things) can monitor movement (connectivity) and automatically open, shut, lock and unlock doors by zone (platform).
- Sensor-embedded badges (things) can track students from the bus to the classroom and back to the bus (connectivity) to provide complete visibility to school administrators and parents (platform).
- GPS-enabled sensors (things) can continuously track the movement of buses and other school-owned vehicles (connectivity) and provide information to school officials and parents on their exact location in real time (platform).
Video surveillance
- Sensor-equipped cameras (things) can monitor student behavior, traffic and resources accessed (connectivity) to create personalized learning environments (platform).
- Video cameras (things) can detect violence and destruction on school grounds (connectivity), and help administrators notify authorities and identify those involved (platform).
School asset management
- RFID tags (things) can track computers, books, equipment, vehicles—even teachers, staff and students—(connectivity) and provide real-time location information (platform).
- RFID tags (things) can automate maintenance schedules (connectivity) and provide information on upcoming repairs and repairs performed (platform).
- Scannable tags (things) can track school assets throughout their lifecycles (connectivity) and provide needed information on purchase cycles and disposal (platform).
- Sensor-embedded ID cards or wearables (things) can automatically track attendance (connectivity) and generate notifications in the case of tardiness or absence (platform).
Building & facility management
- WiFi- and cellular-connected sensors (things) can monitor everything from temperature and humidity to leaky faucets and noise levels (connectivity) and prompt immediate action (platform).
- Smartphones (things) can track campus parking, laundry, concessions and restrooms (connectivity) and alert students to availability (platform).
- Wearable devices (things) can track student traffic patterns (connectivity) and aggregate that data to make better decisions about scheduling construction and maintenance projects (platform).
Wayfinding
- Smartphones (things) can receive signals from real-time location systems (connectivity) to help students, staff and parents with school or campus wayfinding (platform).
Mass/Emergency notification
- Beacon-enabled smartphones (things) can create localized notification systems (connectivity) that allow users to instantly provide critical information to key personnel (platform) for faster incident response.
- Sensor-embedded pendants (things) can track the wearer’s movements (connectivity) and provide real-time location information to first responders and parents (platform).
Logicalis: Enabling your school or district with IoT
Navigating the complex landscape of IoT and analytics technologies can be overwhelming. Logicalis can help you understand how these new technologies will affect your current infrastructure, culture and the overall business of education.
Our consulting services can help with digital transformation roadmaps that can quickly narrow the focus and facilitate district- and campus-wide participation. We can also help you align the right technologies with your needs, budgets and timelines.
Learn more about how IoT can help you build a smart school or campus. Contact us at info@us.logicalis.com or call 1-866.456.4422.
Mike Trojecki is the vice president of IoT and analytics at Logicalis US, responsible for developing the company’s strategy, partnerships, and execution plan around digital technologies.