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How To Implement a Successful Device Loan Program

If you want your K-12 program to be ahead of the curve, there’s one more program to implement – a device loaner program.

A device loaner program allows your students and faculty to have access to electronic devices like iPads, tablets, and Chromebooks.

With a sound program, your devices will be accessible to those who need them most, which is great news if you have limited electronic assets.

Of course, as any administrator or principal will tell you, running device loan programs in schools presents several challenges. From keeping tabs on your devices to ensuring easy access to authorized faculty and students, there are numerous factors that can hinder successful implementation.

Luckily, K-12-friendly solutions like our CUBE Micro Station and TechGuard Connect Locker make device loan program implementation as easy as arithmetic.

Find out more about how you can implement a successful device loan in your school using our charging solutions.

1. Assess Your School’s Device Management Needs

The first step to implementing any new program is a thorough needs assessment. When it comes to a device loan program, you’ll want to evaluate your device charging and storage needs.

There are numerous considerations to factor in. Right off the bat, take a good look at the following:

The number of devices your school has
What kinds of devices your school has
The number of users (both students and faculty)
How many classrooms your school has and how many students are in them
Whether you need a solution for storage or for charging (or both)

With these pieces of data, you’ll be able to determine what type of charging solution would best suit your new device loan program.

2. Choose Your Solutions Based on Your Needs Assessment

Once you’ve determined what your device management needs are, you will now have sufficient information to guide your charging solution selection.

If you need storage for iPads and other tablets, then you’ll need a storage and charging solution designed for these devices. The CUBE Micro Station is the ideal solution for these devices, accommodating up to ten iPads and tablets in one charging station.

Do you need secure storage for more devices? If you do, there’s no better solution than the TechGuard Connect Locker. The TechGuard Connect Locker offers secure storage for up to ten devices.

Here’s the best part — the TechGuard Connect Locker is capable of charging a wider variety of devices, from iPads to even MacBooks and mobile devices.

3. Set Up Policies on Responsible Device Use

Successful device loan programs for schools are often a two-way street. More than being a top-down affair, the success of your program depends on the cooperation of your students and faculty. For this reason, you’ll also need to set up policies for responsible device use.

When creating policies, you’ll want to cover areas like proper device use, returning and checking out policies, and even what to do in the event of damage or loss.

These policies will promote responsible device usage, fostering a culture of device accountability among your students and faculty.

4. Set Up Security and Authentication Protocols

There are three pillars to any successful device loan program in schools. So far, we’ve covered storage and accessibility. The third and arguably most critical component of shared device management is security.

Security in device loan programs involves setting up barriers to access, whether they’re physical or digital. Physical barriers are often in the form of secure storage encasements and locks. Meanwhile, your digital barriers will often be authentication protocols like RFIDs and PIN codes.

These security measures can prevent your devices from being accessed by unauthorized parties. If you need available solutions that have these features, you can’t go wrong with the CUBE Micro Station and TechGuard Connect Locker.

Let’s start with the CUBE Micro Station. The CUBE Micro Station is a solid-steel stackable encasement that’s capable of holding up to ten devices. It comes with a durable padlock that you can program to prevent unauthorized device access.

For individualized access and security, the TechGuard Connect Locker is the solution for you. Built with a crypto-authentication chip, the locker provides access only to parties with RFID and PIN codes.

These solutions are a must-have to prevent your devices from being stolen or accessed by unauthorized parties.

5. Implement Device Tracking Measures

Even with cutting-edge charging solutions and foolproof device loan policies, there’s always a chance of your devices being damaged or lost. As an added layer of security, one of the best things you can do for your school is to implement ways of tracking devices.

There are numerous strategies you can resort to. For example, you can use written logbooks placed next to your CUBE Stations or TechGuard Lockers, or delegate recording duties to your teachers.

These measures are fine. However, if you want a better solution to device tracking, you’ll be glad to know that the TechGuard Connect Locker has features for this purpose.

The TechGuard Connect Locker comes with our Bretford Connect integration. With this integration, the locker is compatible with various online platforms, including Google Workspace.

The integration gives you real-time data on when devices were taken out of the locker. With PIN and RFID authentication, it will be easier to determine who used your devices last.

Ace Your School’s Loan Device Program Implementation

When you’re implementing a school device loan program, always think of three things: accessibility, storage, and security.

Plan your rollout around these principles, and your students and faculty will benefit from the use of electronic devices. If you need solutions that streamline device accessibility, provisioning, and security, look no further than Bretford.