How can schools reduce device breakage and sustain their tech resources? Being proactive is key, as demonstrated by Verizon Innovative Learning Schools nationwide.
For example, Hudson K-8 School in Birmingham, Alabama, developed a collaborative, structured process to promote responsible device use and reduce damage claims. Created with input from school administration, IT staff, and the Verizon Innovative Learning Schools Coach, and led by student tech team members, the system is designed for ease and accountability.
Every two weeks, two or three student tech team members spend 10 minutes in each classroom conducting device checks. Using a pre-filled Google sheet, they confirm that each student’s device is present, charged, functional, and updated. Familiarity with this routine makes it a smooth part of the school day.
Since its implementation in the 2021-22 school year, the process has reduced damage claims and increased device usage for academics, and it has even been shared with other Birmingham City Schools. The device checks empower students, build accountability, and support academic success.
Device care is an important facet of ensuring consistent access to devices and connectivity, one of the five domains of Digital Promise’s Digital Equity Framework. Here are six ways your school can enhance device care and foster responsibility among students, ultimately leading to greater sustainability of the technology:
To promote responsible usage, provide high-quality, ongoing device care instruction to students. Teaching them how to handle devices properly—covering aspects like safe storage, routine maintenance, and basic troubleshooting—will instill a sense of ownership and accountability. Empower students to help create resources to promote device care, like this poster created by the student tech team at Frontier School of Excellence in Kansas City, Missouri.
Setting clear expectations for teachers regarding classroom device use is crucial. Educators should model responsible behavior and integrate technology effectively into their teaching practices to reinforce best practices. When teachers prioritize device care, students are likely to follow suit. Common Sense Education offers free courses to educators looking to create clear device use expectations.
Engaging students in device care can significantly reduce damage or loss incidents. Establish student tech teams responsible for minor repairs, device clean-up, and routine checks. These teams can also manage loaner devices, ensuring that students have access to functional technology at all times. This Verizon Innovative Learning Schools Student Tech Team Checklist can help your school get students involved in device care and maintenance. Moreover, making it easy for students to report lost, stolen, or damaged devices by pairing online forms with QR codes posted around the school can streamline the process.
Implement a system of regular physical device checkups to keep track of the condition of each device using a form like this one. Daily and weekly checkups can help catch issues early. For instance, a daily check might involve students inspecting devices before classes, while a weekly review can be conducted by tech teams or teachers.
Leverage your Mobile Device Management (MDM) system to identify lost, stolen, or damaged devices quickly. Weekly login reports can help you track students logging into different devices or identify inactive devices assigned to active students, allowing for prompt action.
Incentivize responsible device care among students. Consider setting a repair budget and redistributing unused funds to schools. Reward students who demonstrate excellent device care and, conversely, provide older devices to those who repeatedly damage their devices until they show personal responsibility.
Structured device checks, routines, and student involvement can drive responsible device use and support sustainability. By taking these proactive steps, school leaders can create a culture of accountability and care around technology. Reducing lost, stolen, and damaged devices not only preserves resources but also fosters a more effective learning environment.
Learn more about Verizon Innovative Learning Schools and explore the Digital Equity Framework to learn how to establish a foundation that can transform teaching and learning both now and in the future.
