In an era where technology is deeply woven into daily life, schools often respond to distractions by blocking websites, restricting access, and tightly controlling student devices. But does this approach actually improve behavior? Research and real-world experience suggest otherwise. Instead of trying to block behavior, we should be teaching students how to navigate digital spaces responsibly—because attention management, digital literacy, and AI fluency are lifelong skills that are best developed early.
This session will explore how students, teachers, IT administrators, and devices can work collaboratively to create a healthy digital learning environment that fosters engagement, critical thinking, and self-regulation rather than relying solely on restrictive controls.
Let’s rethink how we approach devices in education—not as obstacles to block, but as opportunities to collaborate, guide, and empower the next generation of learners.
Key Takeaway
Blocking ≠ Better Behavior – Restriction-based policies do not inherently teach students self-regulation or digital responsibility. Instead, they can create frustration, workarounds, and disengagement.
Empowering Students with Digital Self-Regulation – Just as students learn time management and study skills, they must also develop strategies to focus, filter distractions, and manage their own attention in a tech-driven world.
A Collaborative Model for Digital Learning – Successful device management in education isn’t just about IT policies; it’s about partnership between students, teachers, IT admins, and technology itself. This model shifts from control to coaching and collaboration.
AI & Digital Literacy as Essential Life Skills – Knowing how to use AI tools effectively, evaluate online sources, and stay focused in an information-rich world are critical skills for future success—not just in school, but in life.
Dive deep into how your organization can extract maximum value from your CrowdStrike Falcon Complete investment through strategic integration with Discovery and Spotlight tools. This comprehensive session will demonstrate how these powerful capabilities work together to create a more robust security posture while reducing operational complexity.
Gain real-world Intune expertise with interactive demos, live configurations, and best practices from an industry-leading security engineer. You will learn how to effortlessly enroll and manage iOS devices with Microsoft Intune, ensuring smooth deployment, security, and compliance at scale.
In an increasingly digital world, technology should empower students, not distract or endanger them. This session explores how schools can use technology to foster a safe, structured, and engaging learning environment where students can thrive.
With over 40 years of combined K-12 experience, Gaggle and Hāpara will share what issues and challenges districts are seeing at a national level. We will also be sharing use cases for how our combined solutions can help address these issues, while supporting student success by balancing digital exploration with safety, focus, and responsibility.
Regional Sales Manager for Gaggle Safety Management, with 7 years of experience in the K-12 industry helping districts use technology to identify early warning signs of at-risk students. Through my experiences in the industry, I've helped hundreds of districts use their digital spaces... Read More →
Thursday May 1, 2025 10:20am - 10:50am EDT William Conner
Each of these areas faces unique challenges and in this session we will cover how to find ways to help teachers create a controlled digital learning environment on student devices in the classroom. We will look at ways to help monitor and control sites and detect student inputs within the browser. We will look at how to gain insight into Gmail, Outlook, Drive, and OneDrive where students are sending emails, creating content, and sharing content.
Learn how ManagedMethod’s Classroom Manager, Content Filter, and Cloud Monitor can work together to provide visibility and control into these multiple areas and help better help students from the classroom, to the browser, and to the inbox.
Student vaping and school security incidents are reaching critical levels. In 2024, 1.63 million students used e-cigarettes, and public schools saw over 1.2 million security events, according to CDC and NCES data.
These critical issues are causing schools to rethink their security technology and operations. Faced with an outdated security system that required costly maintenance and wasted valuable time and resources, Middlebury Community Schools sought a modern security solution to help reduce student vaping, enhance security district wide, and cut costs. In this session, learn how Middlebury has reduced student vaping by 30% and decreased investigation times by 70%.
Matt Angelotta is an Enterprise SLED Account Executive at Rhombus, where he helps schools and public agencies modernize their physical security with AI-powered cameras, access control, and sensors. Based in the Midwest, Matt works closely with technology leaders to design scalable... Read More →
Thursday May 1, 2025 10:20am - 10:50am EDT Ditslear C
Come hear about an effective way to deploy access control on classroom doors and off-line locks to create a safer environment within your school. Door prize given at end of session.
Wireless Networking Solutions is an Indiana based company that was founded in 1999. We specialize in wireless connectivity and IP security solutions. Wireless Networking Solutions services the entire state of Indiana. We also have completed projects in Puerto Rico, California, Massachusetts... Read More →
Thursday May 1, 2025 10:20am - 10:50am EDT Ditslear A
