USE CASES
Transforming the K-12 landscape with solutions from Schoolbox processes to improve learning outcomes. Key performance indicators To measure key success metrics of the transformation that enables school leaders and executives to understand what is working in the school and what is not. With its integrations and adaptive design, the Schoolbox platform is compatible with school IT systems and where it is not, it can be custom integrated. (Right to left) Sean Richards, James Leckie and Matt Sambell.
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ore and more leading schools in the MENA region are relying on software-as-aservice providers for the delivery of eLearning and school community engagement platforms. Schoolbox was founded in 2002 and since then, has been transforming K–12 schools in multiple geographies including Australia, New Zealand, Asia and MENA. A company that started with three co-founders; James Leckie, Sean Richards and Matthew Sambell; Schoolbox has now grown to 40 employees, with remote offices in multiple locations. Founded on a customer-centric approach, the principles of Schoolbox are based on building a product that fulfils the needs of the customer. “It is all about the customer,” says Product Owner and Co-founder, James Leckie. “Listening to their feedback, building a product that addresses
their key problems and ensuring the protection of their privacy.” Schoolbox provides a single platform to connect, communicate and collaborate with parents, teachers, students and the broader school community. By ensuring all user interactions occurs in one platform and eliminating the need for individualised tools for different aspects of learning, the overall IT burden is reduced.
WHAT IS TRANSFORMATION At Schoolbox, business transformation is about three things: Introducing transparency Allowing students, teachers and parents visibility over the entire learning journey, increasing the quality of education delivered with accountability and ownership. Quality of communication Enabling faster resolution of issues and providing streamlined
“Schoolbox provides a single platform to connect, communicate, collaborate with parents, teachers, students.”
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SUCCESS WITH TECHNOLOGY “The role of a CIO or Head of IT is threefold,” begins Leckie. “First is to identify the areas of improvement that technology can provide, next is to find a solution to effect the improvement and finally, assess the risk of the technology.” Essentially, the role of the CIO or IT Head should be driven by outcomes, not the product itself. And there needs to be a strong focus on measuring the success of the transformation. So, time should be spent to understand the questions that need to be answered to enable a determination of the level of success. To do this, CIOs and IT heads should engage with key stakeholders of their organisation. With a school, for example, the selection of a SaaS platform or other technology solutions will become an essential part of the school’s operation. The involvement of key stakeholders like the Principal, Heads of Curriculum, Parents, Teachers and Students is crucial for success. We are in a world where technology has become a fundamental aspect of society. To set up the new generation for success, technology is an important aspect of student learning and
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