Appropriate hardware and software

If possible, visit your local store or supplier and ask to see the products in question and speak to an expert.

Getting staff feedback will also help when it comes to introducing the new technology. Staff are more likely to be receptive to the change if you've asked for their feedback early on.

The right technology can make running your business easier and more efficient. Business technology could include: hardware such as computers, printers, EFTPOS systems and data storage devices software such as computer programs or cloud subscription packages like Adobe Creative Cloud or an online cloud-based accounting package There's a range of products and set-ups to choose from.

Write a 'must have' and 'nice to have' list For any hardware, software or subscription purchase that you're looking to make such as Adobe Creative Cloud or a cloud-based accounting package , create a list of the features you'd like it to have.

Then separate your list into 2 categories: 'must have' — this list should be short and outline the features that are absolutely necessary for your business. Your 'must have' list will align with your digital strategy. List the features in order of importance, including all the capabilities that will make running your business easier Make a note of these lists in your marketing plan.

Consider the Cloud While it's not always appropriate to get 'the next best thing', many businesses are trending towards 'cloud computing' and it might be a valid option for your business.

It normally includes: infrastructure-as-a-Service IaaS — for example, servers for storing files, customer data and emails platform-as-a-Service PaaS — for example, Google apps software-as-a-Service SaaS — for example, accounting platforms like Xero and Sassu 2. Ask yourself the right questions When trying to find the best fit for your business, it's important you factor in several possible uses and situations to make sure it's the right fit.

Here are some general questions to ask yourself when considering new technologies: What are your reasons for buying it? Who is going to run and maintain it? Hardware and Software In order to use the Services, you must obtain and maintain, at your expense, compatible hardware and software as specified by us from time to time.

Ask us or visit our website for current hardware and software specifications. We are not responsible for any third party software you may need to use the Services. Any such software is accepted by you as is and is subject to the terms and conditions of the software agreement you enter into directly with the third party software provider at time of download and installation.

Choosing the right hardware and software for your business can be quite challenging, due to the hundreds of options readily available in the market. Hardware and software procurement is a task that itself takes up a lot of time and resource.

So what factors should you consider before making your choice? We provide some tips below:. The right set of IT tools can set your business up for growth and increased productivity. To help you select the best technology at the lowest possible cost for your business, consider the following:. What does your business truly need? If your business is solely digital, a digital design firm, for example, high-performance computers and state of the art industry software can increase productivity.

If you are handling a great deal of company or client data, cloud backup tools or a virtualised desktop might be the best fit for you.

Figure out what your business needs and address those needs accordingly. Before deciding on what to buy, consider comprehensive market research. The right IT service provider will undertake this research for you, and will likely have strong partnerships with technology vendors to provide you with a solution to meet your needs.

There are plenty of available options when it comes to hardware, with vendors offering similar features at different rates. It is down to you or your IT provider to navigate through the noise by undertaking research on the most useful and cost-effective solution in both the long and short-term.

But I can tell you that I think the following are very important to my everyday lessons: Software Kidspiration, Inspiration: We use those all the time. Theyre great brainstorming tools as well as nice ways to organize facts, present knowledge. Theyre very popular with the kids because the applications are so versatile.

We create, record voices, make slideshows. Tux Paint is a nice free application that the kids can download at home and it's a change from Kid Pix here at school as it has different features. We learn formatting, how to get toolbars, how to "dress up" a paper or a presentation. Type to Learn : For 3rd grade, I teach keyboarding the first three weeks of school, every day for 45 minutes. Then, every week, the kids review for 15 minutes before our regular lesson. By the end of third grade, they are touch-typing with keyboard covers no peeking!

Google Earth , along with ePals , allow our students to experience their world, learn about different cultures, and see for themselves the vast differences and similarities we have with people everywhere. Google Sketchup : My kids love that free application.

It has great tutorials and is easy enough for even young kids to feel successful. Scratch is popular because it has easy to follow tutorials, is free, and is FUN! Great early programming app. Stationery Studio : I use it for students to write letters. We sometimes send get-well letters to absent classmates or staff members. It allows the kids to choose which template they want, so it can be customized easily. I also use it to print sheets for students who need to remember how to log on to the computer, as it can be used to practice handwriting and letters.

Image Blender is nice because it allows students to edit and have fun with digital photos. They can put a cool frame around their photos, or curl the edges, or draw on it.

It's a great application to resize photos. It also comes with a nice instruction booklet with good ideas to get the kids started. Hardware digital camera with video capabilities iPod with a recorder lcd projector s a decent screen to project on Personnel This is the first year I dont have an assistant in my lab, and every day I realize how valuable she was to me and to the work I do with kids.

The Education World Tech Team includes more than 30 dedicated and knowledgeable educational-technology professionals who have volunteered to contribute to occasional articles that draw on their varied expertise and experience.

Trending Report Card Comments It's report card time and you face the prospect of writing constructive, insightful, and original comments on a couple dozen report cards or more. Here are positive report card comments for you to use and adapt!

Struggling Students? You've reached the end of another grading period, and what could be more daunting than the task of composing insightful, original, and unique comments about every child in your class?

The following positive statements will help you tailor your comments to specific children and highlight their strengths. You can also use our statements to indicate a need for improvement. Turn the words around a bit, and you will transform each into a goal for a child to work toward.

Sam cooperates consistently with others becomes Sam needs to cooperate more consistently with others, and Sally uses vivid language in writing may instead read With practice, Sally will learn to use vivid language in her writing.

Make Jan seeks new challenges into a request for parental support by changing it to read Please encourage Jan to seek new challenges. Whether you are tweaking statements from this page or creating original ones, check out our Report Card Thesaurus [see bottom of the page] that contains a list of appropriate adjectives and adverbs. There you will find the right words to keep your comments fresh and accurate. We have organized our report card comments by category.

Read the entire list or click one of the category links below to jump to that list. Behavior The student: cooperates consistently with the teacher and other students. Character The student: shows respect for teachers and peers. Group Work The student: offers constructive suggestions to peers to enhance their work. Interests and Talents The student: has a well-developed sense of humor. Participation The student: listens attentively to the responses of others. Social Skills The student: makes friends quickly in the classroom.

Time Management The student: tackles classroom assignments, tasks, and group work in an organized manner. Work Habits The student: is a conscientious, hard-working student. Student Certificates!