Educational Software

Computers and software programs do a great deal to keep us more informed. We can get email notifications about area news and weather. We can get text messages on cell phones from a friend who has found a great sale at the shoe store. So it makes complete sense that we would want to use computer software advances to stay more informed about our children and the school system.

Edulink is one of many companies that provides communication and tracking software solutions to school systems. In today's world where both parents work, or where the parental roles are divided due to divorce, it can be a challenge to get important information to the guardians that need it. Additionally with parents often away from the home with busy work schedules, it can be difficult to arrange a traditional parent-teacher conference to discuss the child.

That is where software programs and advances in computer and phone technology can play an important role in broadcasting a general message to a large group as well as providing specific student information in a password secure method.

In smaller schools and in more rural settings this type of high-tech system might not seem that relevant, but consider a school with thousands of students in a large city. Parents could be scattered literally around the world on business. In today's multi-cultural environment, chances are there are several languages spoken in the homes of students. With home phones, cell phones, email and PDAs, how long would it take the school staff, working with traditional phones, to reach everyone to relay important information?

And unfortunately we don't have to think long to come up with a list of what those important messages could be. A severe weather situation where school is being dismissed early. A report after a tornado has passed the area. A situation of school violence. So many events could warrant getting correct information to a great number of people within a short amount of time.

Edulink and other programs like it give school administrators the ability to send out a broadcast message in a very organized, effective manner. Of course all of the correct information has to be input into the program. All contacts and their numbers, email addresses and home language are required input. But once the information is in place, a broadcast message is as simple as typing in the words. The program takes the text and creates speech in the required languages. The system calls, texts or emails all of the selected contacts and tracks the results. With one simple report the school administrator knows who has received the message.

Not all school communication is about emergencies of course. And software like Edulink can assist with those areas too. Parents and teachers need a way to stay in touch with each other and share information about grades, classroom behavior, attendance, health concerns, discipline, homework and other concerns.

Students today are no different than in years past. Some may skip class or have behavioral problems that parents are not aware of. A tracking program allows parents to access student information under the security of a password either by website or phone.