1:1 Initiatives

North Kansas City Schools Monitors Student Laptops

• By Dian Schaffhauser
• 03/31/10

North Kansas City Schools in Missouri has implemented an application to help analyze real-time usage of its software. The district will be using ClassLink Inquiry to monitor usage of equipment as part of a new 1:1 laptop program for its 5,600 high school students.

The application, which is intended to be used by the IT organization in a district, provides real-time reporting of software usage, including programs being used from the hard drive and off of the network. Users can generate metrics on how much a specific computer is being used; what student, class, or grade is using the computer most; when it's being used most and least; and what software is being accessed most and least. Inquiry also measures Web site usage and also allows for comparison by class, building, school, and district.

"Our laptop initiative is not about the devices, it is about how we can change classroom instruction to improve student achievement. And ClassLink's Inquiry is an integral resource that will help us analyze both the success of this initiative and identify any modifications that may be needed," said Janet Herdman, executive director for information and technology services. "Inquiry will allow us to analyze and determine the effectiveness of both the laptops and the software by providing us comprehensive information on their usage."