Mobile-phone apps are the cutting edge of school district communication, according to an article in the latest issue of School Administrator magazine. With a growing number of students and parents relying on their phones for news, Cody Cunningham, chief communications officer in the McKinney, Texas, Independent School District, said it's a shame more districts aren't creating apps.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools plans to do that in the coming year, says chief spokeswoman LaTarzja Henry. That's hardly a surprise, given the district's push for multimedia communication.
I downloaded the McKinney app -- it's free, so check out misdGO if you're curious -- and played around. It offers news, photos, videos, menus, job listings, a school directory, sports scores, arts events and alerts on weather closings. It also lets parents log in to check their kids' homework and grades, similar to the CMS Parent Assist online program.
I found it intriguing, though the combination of aging eyes and small screen leads me to prefer a computer for anything complicated. But I'm not the target demographic here. I'm curious: Would the parents out there like to see their school districts create an app? If so, what would you most like to see in it?
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
CMS: There'll be an app for that
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20 comments:
CMS might start with an app to write a plan for the grading of current formulative testing. Attempting to fix a broken document after the fact is so, oh, CMS.
CMS has soooooooo much more to accomplish before they even think about a app on a phone its ridiculous. Scrap the PR department would be one of the top 25 things CMS needs to do. This is one of the reasons CMS loses so many great kids and staff it head is in the sand.
I'd recommend an app to fix stupid.
Because there's plenty of that going around.
Perhaps they should start with a BOE app that could track travel spending.
How about a Heath App? A Latarzan app? A Board app with a clue backup?
If we had a Murri App the kids could have technology this year.
I like the concept of an app (and fully understand it can be developed in parallel with other initiatives, so those commenters saying CMS should do X before making an app are missing the point), but I would hope there's some focus testing being done first.
How often do parents think, wow if only I could check Parent Assist while I'm sitting here waiting for my food to show up?
It's a nice convenience, but does it solve a problem?
If the app could also connect me to my son's school and I could see calendars, messages from teachers and the principal, that'd be useful. If I can pay for ACEP or school lunches via the app, even better.
If I could also send messages to the school that my child is sick, or has a dentist appointment in 2 weeks and it goes on their master calendar, that would save time and hassle.
If they could push notifications, reminders, even sudden events like lockdowns that would be very worthwhile.
To have an app that just passes on information in a general sense about CMS as a whole, that's of very limited value in my opinion.
Overall, I'd say create the framework and a template for an app and let each school decide what they want to do with it from there. Then enlist students from Berry and other tech programs to work with each participating school to customize the app to their needs. Win-win.
Jeff, That website already exsists as teachers have websites set up. They are supposed to be updating these so parents have the data. If you dare let your chilld eat school lunches I scold you. (look at what is served) So all of what you described is available to parents already. Not sure you would know this if you child is not in CMS yet? Or it may not be relevant to a band class that your wife teaches.
How about an app that will tell you when the bus is going to be late.
And why.
How about a app that makes it state mandated schools start no later than 8 a.m. and get out no later than 3:15? You know so all the kids not getting free after school welfare daycare and sports can have a normal schedule? Or so they can have their after school time back. Would hate for CMS to lose more of its brightest kids and state/federal/county dollars since kids are leaving. Shame on Morgan,Davis,Lennon,Waddell,Mcalrath!
Anonymous 11:08a,
Yes, each school's website has much of that information and for some schools it's very well done. I didn't spell that out very well in my original comment.
My thinking was to push all those sources of information into an app and let CMS students help make it happen.
I may be in the minority but I'd be more inclined to consuming information like this via an app than generalized press releases and what not from CMS. If the CMS app is not going to be bi-directional and interactive then there's not much interest in it on my part.
How about a contact you back app? Don't avoid the issue app? Liar liar pants on fire app?
I think Jeff is exactly right. Pretty much everything I saw on the MISD app is the kind of stuff CMS already has online. The issue is the added convenience -- or additional interactive functions -- that would be available by getting info on your phone.
Ann, If you have a child in CMS school the teacher has a website. They have a Wikki page and daily updates are available. You DONT go to a school or CMS website. Teachers are using email more for progress reports directly with parents which is even better. You cannot get this contact unless you have a kid in school. CMS could not find a Superintendant no less the need for a App.
You can have a pay for performance app. Type in your question, it would respond
"I don't know."
That is not an APP, that is Andy Baxter and his SIX FIGURE salary. I dont know what is more of a joke him or LaTarza.
Is it possible to get an app that would make the replacement principals disappear along with the sorority sisters and the huge number of lesbians hired to run CMS....let's bring back good sound leadership. We don't need managers!
Anonymous 12:01
Facebook Page - Change The Late School Bell CMS
www.change.org/petitions/change-cms-bell-schedule
What good is an app when we have wireless in our school that I can't use.
I have a computer in my classroom, but it's not located in a place where I can get to it easily. I have my own laptop. I'm not asking CMS to buy me one. I use it for so much of my instruction. If I could access the wireless system from anywhere in the classroom, it would be helpful as a teaching tool. Why the heck did CMS go to the trouble to put wireless in the schools when none of us can use it?
Baxter is no longer with CMS.
Well whaddya know? I get all my best CMS updates from these comments. Emailed Andy Baxter, and sure enough: "Friday, Aug 31, 2012, is my last day of a great 4-1/2 years at CMS. I am stepping down as Director of Human Capital Strategies to serve as Vice President of Educator Effectiveness for the Southern Regional Education Board (www.sreb.org)."
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