Are you ready for Generation AI?

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The largest generation in history will be more educated and technically-savvy than any other generation. Is your institution ready for them?

Three children watching their devices
The next generation of students will be mobile

Three years from now, the first Generation Alpha students will join the ranks of your institution. Born in 2010, the year the iPad and Instagram were launched, today’s 15-year-olds are the most digitally connected generation.

What’s unique about Gen Alpha, is their “native” use of technology and its effects on how they see and engage with the world. Since birth, they have used screens as pacifiers, entertainment, social facilitators and educational aides. Having engaged with online learning as early as primary years throughout the pandemic, Gen Alphas are self-taught, expect instant answers and are likely to look for them online – via the likes of ChatGPT, TikTok and YouTube – rather than wait to ask their teachers.

As any Gen Alpha parent can testify, most of their conflict is around their use of screen time – whether on phones, gaming devices or TV. While the jury is still out on the effects of increased screen time on brain development, what everyone agrees is that the more time children spend online, the less time they spend engaging with the world around them. But is this a bad thing?

Well, yes and no. While most Gen Alphas love watching funny videos and memes, that’s not all they do online. They also love hacks, DIY and how-to videos, and learn valuable digital skills in the process. Skills they don’t learn in school. They are not only consumers of content, but also creators. The time they spend playing Minecraft, Roblox or Fortnite is not fully wasted. They develop important life skills, such as communication, collaboration, problem solving, strategy planning, creativity and better cognitive performance.  

At AppsAnywhere, we have been asking how Gen Alpha’s needs and behaviours will impact higher education.  We wanted to uncover 3 things: Is Gen Alpha different and if so, how? What is their current use of technology? and What do they expect from higher education? So, we partnered with The Insights Family to ask around 500 young people across the UK about their views and experiences. The new research findings were unveiled by our Marketing Director, Michelle Craig in a keynote address at the UCISA Leadership Conference in Brighton.

Our original research shows that:

  • The physical and digital experiences are equally important
  • Most Gen Alphas know how to code – some learned in school, but most taught themselves
  • 72% think technology is crucial to their future success

The smartphone, their constant companion, not only provides entertainment, but also brings constant attention to issues that could previously be left at school or in the playground. Cyber bullying is the top concern for teens, followed by privacy and hacking, according to our data.

So, what does this all mean for universities and colleges? What do they need to do now to be ready to support the next generation of students to reach their full potential? Are your current strategies designed for long term success, and if not, what needs to change to be prepared for this generational shift?

It is essential for universities to understand changing needs, behaviours and expectations of the next generation, and prepare to engage them in meaningful ways. IT departments need to use their resources carefully to plan ahead not only to meet the demands of the students coming their way, but also to inform how universities can remain relevant and continue to demonstrate their value in an AI world. These are the kinds of thought-provoking questions and discussions our research raised with CIOs and IT leaders in the UK.

Join our next webinar, where we will share key survey findings and launch the research report.

What tomorrow's students expect from software access — and are you prepared?

Join our upcoming webinar to explore:

  1. The evolving expectations of tomorrow's students
  2. The role of digital experience in student success
  3. Ensuring accessibility and inclusion
  4. Key IT strategies and wins
  5. Exclusive insights from our latest survey

Thank you for registering to attend our next webinar! Your tickets are in your inbox.

Look forward to seeing you there!

FAQs

Is there an option to still auto-validate?

Auto validation is still available as an option. We aim to ensure there are as few occasions of attempting to launch but being unable to as possible, and where they occur, explaining why.

Directory path local execution, when does detection occur? During login? During validation?

Detection occurs during validation - the client is given a list of directories to look in and it returns what it finds.

Any CSS options like Dark Mode available for users to customize the look of the portal?

Dark mode wasn't something we were able to do for this version, but it is something that we are looking to include in the future.

Can Download the Client be hidden?

If client download is not available in that instance - such as in labs mode or if client install is suppressed, then the client link will not appear. The client download link will also only appear on platforms which have a client - i.e. Windows and macOS.

When can we get 2.12?

If you would like to upgrade to 2.12 please submit a support request and the team will be touch.

How to implement BYOD in schools

To implement BYOD in a cost-effective and sustainable way, schools will need a clear idea of a number of key data points to understand which technologies are necessary and how many licenses of each technology are required: Number of users/devices Weighting of device type/platform (Windows vs Mac vs Linux) Software titles to deliver Usage data on software titles for licensing User groups requiring specialist software You can read more about implementing BYOD policies in schools in the SecurEdge article, ‘How to successfully implement a BYOD program into your school’ > https://www.securedgenetworks.com/blog/how-to-successfully-implement-a-byod-program-into-your-school

How communication is improved in school with BYOD?

With a BYOD policy implemented, schools can begin working to introduce centralized communication points such as Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs) or Learning Management Systems (LMSs). Software delivery tools such as AppsAnywhere also provide areas that can be used to communicate with students. Once BYOD is enabled, schools can be more confident that students are actively accessing digital academic resources through specific channels, and that communication propagated through those channels is much more likely to be seen.

Does BYOD save schools money?

Yes, it can do. While BYOD technologies may be expensive, with the correct provisioning and tools implemented, the decrease in hardware investment required from schools by allowing students to bring their own device and insight from reporting data can help schools save money on their software delivery.

Why BYOD is good for schools?

BYOD policies in schools reduce the hardware investment of electronic devices, including mobile devices, needed for schools to offer equal access to digital academic resources to all students. By leveraging student-owned hardware, BYOD policies in schools can increase the resources available to students, such as software, digital media and digital learning environments, at a fraction of the cost of ensuring there are enough organization-owned machines for every student to use. Furthermore, BYOD allows students to access school resources outside of school and outside of teaching hours via their own device.

Why is BYOD important in schools?

BYOD policies in schools help to introduce students to completing work from their own devices in preparation for higher education and employment. In an ever-more-digital world, getting used to using personal devices to complete work can help desensitize students to the potential distractions offered by those devices. BYOD can also help students learn to manage their time effectively in a society where the lines between work time and free time are becoming more and more blurred.

When is AppsAnywhere 3.0 out?

We’re excited to be releasing AppsAnywhere 3.0 in December 2022, in time for January enrolment. Your dedicated Customer Success team will be in touch when it’s available to ensure your institution gets the most out of AppsAnywhere.

How can I get the latest version?

To get the latest version if you are currently using AppsAnywhere, schedule a call with your specialist implementations team and we can help you to start benefiting from AppsAnywhere 2.12 now.

Who can help me deploy VDI?

Most IT professionals get excited when considering new technologies and solutions. Without a doubt, the prospect of a VDI deployment project is likely to get your team’s juices flowing. However, deploying VDI is complex and often includes a host of new infrastructure and unique software management tools. The best advice is to engage with a vendor partner early on so that the design for your campus can be vetted by experts who work with VDI on a daily basis. A vendor partner can also help guide through different architecture scenarios, use cases, and potential pitfalls. All of the knowledge transfer gained will put the IT team in a far better position to successfully deploy and support VDI for your campus.

Which is better: DaaS or VDI?

As is the theme throughout the rest of this article, there isn’t really an objective victor in DaaS vs. VDI. However, when it comes to Higher Ed, we rarely see full DaaS deployments. They’re often saved for more limited use cases, such as temporary BYOD access, or delivering to satellite campuses. For the scale of delivery required by HEIT, VDI will usually come out on top. However, you still need to decide whether to go for legacy VDI, or newer, hosted solutions…

What is the difference between DaaS and fully hosted VDI?

DaaS refers to virtual desktops being provided to organizations as a service-based solution. It will include support for managing, upgrading and maintaining virtual machines. It is a more complete out-of-the-box solution with a price tag to match. Fully-hosted VDI is just like legacy VDI, except you don’t need on-premise server infrastructure, and they are often pay-as-you-go. Fully-hosted solutions are also referred to cloud-hosted solutions and they are the same as VDI, except hosted for you, as the name suggests.

Citrix or VMware?

Both VMware and Citrix have a robust product offering across many different solution suites. Historically, Citrix has excelled in the realm of remote app delivery or app remoting solutions. On the other hand, VMware leads the way with full desktop VDI delivery. Deciding on the right approach is solely dependent on the needs of the institution and what goals they are hoping to achieve with the project.

Why have a BYOD policy?

A formal BYOD policy helps to ensure a high chance of success and adoption as well as communicating practical information to users on how to interact with and use software on their BYO devices.

What is in a BYOD policy?

To put it concisely, a BYOD policy should include any or all of the following: Device type Operating system Available resources Security Usage conditions

What is BYOD policy?

A BYOD policy is a formal definition and agreement between the BYOD provider (universities) and the BYOD users (students). It is similar to an SLA (Service Level Agreement) between service-providers and outlines how users can expect to interact with their university's BYOD program, as well as any limitations, usage conditions, and compatibility information.

Related reading

AppsAnywhere Admin Dashboard and AppsAnywhere Portal
NEXT STEPS TO IMPROVING YOUR SOFTWARE DELIVERY

Your apps anywhere, anytime, on any device

Register your interest for a demo and see how AppsAnywhere can help your institution. Receive a free consultation of your existing education software strategy and technologies, an overview of AppsAnywhere's main features and how they benefit students, faculty and IT, and get insight into the AppsAnywhere journey and post launch partnership support.

AppsAnywhere Admin Dashboard and AppsAnywhere Portal
NEXT STEPS TO IMPROVING YOUR SOFTWARE DELIVERY

Your apps anywhere, anytime, on any device

Register your interest for a demo and see how AppsAnywhere can help your institution. Receive a free consultation of your existing education software strategy and technologies, an overview of AppsAnywhere's main features and how they benefit students, faculty and IT, and get insight into the AppsAnywhere journey and post launch partnership support.