EDUCATIONAL Software and Education News for School Administration

New Report Explores Online Giving Trends of 9.5 Million Donors

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 14:34:39 EDT

Target Analytics, a Blackbaud company, released the 2008 donorCentrics Internet Giving Benchmarking Analysis report - detailing the donation trends of nearly 10 million people.

The report's key findings concluded that online non-profit fundraising has increasingly become a significant source of new donors and integrating both online and offline fundraising channels is key to long term success.

"Online giving is growing rapidly, and many online donors have a tendency to also give offline, so fundraisers face increasing complexity in managing an integrated direct marketing program that maximizes donor value," said Rob Harris, Target Analytics' vice president of analytics. "With direct mail, the blueprints for success are well-known, but in this new multi-channel world everything is new and many strategies are still unproven."

Other findings from the 2008 report include:

* Online giving is still relatively small but increasing at a fast rate

* Online donors are younger and generally more affluent than offline donors

* Donor managementmust integrate online and offline channels. While most offline donors stay there, many online donors migrate to offline donor channels in large numbers

Access the full report by going to http://www.blackbaud.com/targetanalytics/benchmarking/dcinternet.aspx or view the press release from Blackbaud here.

Time Saving Tips for Teaching Online

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 12:39:54 EDT

Teaching online can either be a big headache or a pleasure. It really depend on how your approach things and manage your time - as it is slightly different than the traditional classroom.

Kaye Shelton has posted some great tips on the Sloan Consortium's blog to help online teachers better manage their time and make things run smoother. These Time Saving Tips for Teaching Online help you utilitze education technology to reach students all over the world to help them learn whichever subject you're teaching. These tips include:

1. Carefully Develop Online Materials
2. Course Schedule
3. Write a Welcome Note
4. Print out Student Introductions

...and more.

Blackbaud, an education software solutions provider, has many programs available to help you manage and teach courses online.

Check-out the Kaye's full post here for all the tips along with more in-depth explanation of each.

Be a Speaker or Attend Blackbaud's Conference for Nonprofits

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:18:27 EST

Each year, Blackbaud holds informative conferences for The Raiser's Edge and other conferences for nonprofits in North America - one in Ottawa, Canada on May 13-15 and the other in Charleston, South Carolina on November 15-18.

Sessions for these events are either general in nature, directly related to Blackbaud donor management and enrollment management software solutions, while others are developed around specific issues nonprofits face.

Attendees of these conferences travel from across the United States and Canada. The Ottawa conference is expected to draw 300+ attendees while the Charleston conference is expected to have around 1100 people attend.

We're looking for energetic speakers, those who are interactive in their presentation, involving the audience in their session. Speakers are encouraged to attend the entire conference - a complimentary ticket to all events is provided to the speaker at no charge.

To learn more, visit our speaker's resource page and fill out an application.

Deadline to apply for submissions to this year's conference is March 27th.

Blackbaud Student Registration Software Solutions

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 10:38:29 EST

Simplify administrative tasks and make grading a breeze with teacher grading software and online student information solutions from Blackbaud.

Registrar's Office software from Blackbaud is a comprehensive student information system for both teachers and administrators, who can easily look at attendance, discipline and academic records all in one place. Criteria can be pre-determined to automate class scheduling.

A good report card software component makes short work of printing grade reports. And, this K-12 information system integrates with other Blackbaud products, avoiding duplicate information.

This integration also allows certain components of this online student information system to be used over a network. Teachers can access a web version from anywhere with an Internet connection and avoid full licensing fees.

Check out these and other benefits of Blackbaud's Registrar Software solutions...effective management of your school can free up time and resources to do the most important job, educating.

President-elect Obama Links Education Technology to Economic Growth

Wed, 24 Dec 2008 12:26:02 EST

As part of an economic stimulus plan, President-elect Barack Obama has pledged to initiate sweeping efforts to modernize school buildings and equip more classrooms with computers and broadband Internet access. This has brought a new sense of optimism among ed-tech advocates, despite current budget restraints.

In his campaign for the presidency, Obama and his team made pervasive use of the Internet and technology to bolster participation in the political process, which is credited for his landslide victory on November 4th.

Along with indications that he will create a chief technology post in the new administration, Obama is heralding a new era that will revolutionize the way technology is viewed and used in the United States.

Rather than a luxury, Obama views education technology as an infrastructural necessity. In recent years, math and science performance has been on a downward trend. To be competitive in the 21st century, math and science instruction must be world-class and education technology plays an important role.

To reverse this trend, affordable broadband access is necessary to give schools the tools they need to do the job.

In addition to improving education technology, the new president has pledged to bolster professional development for teachers. "Without the right professional-development component, technology resources alone won't be efficient" says Ann L. Flynn, director of education technology at the National School Boards Association.

Obama will be sworn-in as the nation's 44th president on January 20th.

Join Blackbaud on Facebook!

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:54:29 EST

Interact with developers and other users of education management solutions from Blackbaud and keep up to date with goings on at the company while enjoying your favorite social networking utility.

Informative technical posts from strategic education software blogs managed by Blackbaud are linked to Blackbaud's home on Facebook. But it's mixed in with happenings at the company, such as their charitable activities at company headquarters in Charleston, South Carolina.

Pics from company events and Blackbaud employees helping to make the world a better place around the world, from Charleston to Sydney to Indianapolis to London are there.

But the biggest benefit of all is the opportunity to interact with other Blackbaud users and developers and get to know their lighter side too!

Next time you're on Facebook, become a fan of your favorite enrollment management software company.

Economic Woes Putting Strains on States' K-12 Budgets

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 17:25:41 EDT

The current global financial crisis is trickling down to the individual states' strategic enrollment management and education budgets. The situation varies around the country but "...not so many at one time" according to William T. Pound of the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Falling tax revenues and rising budget deficits have caused many states to cut their education budgets this year. The situation is particularly bad in California where frozen credit markets have made it more difficult to borrow operating cash through bonds. The state has been able to meet its current needs but has signaled that it may need to ask for a $7 billion loan from the federal government.

Maryland Governor Patrick O'Malley is trying to plug a $1 billion budget deficit and has resigned that education cuts will have to be made. In Hawaii, $46 million had to be cut from a $2.1 billion K-12 budget. For 2008, Florida had to cut its education budget by $182 million and further cuts are anticipated.

Other states such as Virginia have been able to avoid cuts to education thus far but as the financial crisis drags on, they are looking at some tough decisions. Governor Tim Kaine has avoided education cuts as he tries to close his $1 billion deficit but may be looking to the K-12 budget for the 2010 budget year.

The one bright spot is Texas, where high natural gas and oil prices have buoyed that state's economy. "I suspect we are in better shape than some states," said Debbie Ratcliffe, a spokeswoman for the Texas Education Agency.

The economic situation across the United States is making itself known is very real ways. School administrators need effective enrollment management solutions that can help maintain quality on a leaner budget, which could get even leaner before things improve.

Is the Millennia Generation the Smartest or Dumbest?

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 09:41:21 EDT

That depends on who you ask. Some believe those born between the mid-1980’s and 2000 suffer from digital overload, making them dumber while others believe this generation has intellectual skills and assets made available through education technology solutions that prior generations did not have, in turn making them the smartest yet.

These points were debated at a September 29th luncheon hosted by the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, D.C. Emory University English professor Mark Bauerlein argued that obsession with social networking and video games among students has led them to abandon leisure reading in large numbers. To bolster his claim, statistics from college-admissions tests and other sources were shown as evidence of an intellectual decline.

Bauerlein asserts that the relatively short high school and college years are individuals precious chance to build the foundation of their intellectual lives and careers through acquiring the conceptual skills and background knowledge to build upon.

To counter this argument, historian, economist and demographer Neil Howe explained how youngsters leisure pursuits today are more sophisticated than their elders. For example, the show Gunsmoke was a one plot show while today’s Law & Order is a multilayered drama.

Howe also cited statistics that today’s teens are reversing the trend when it comes to self destructive behaviors such as drug use and teen pregnancy. Also, kids today engage in much more elaborate activities at school than their parents did such as building robots, writing software programs and entering science fairs.

Both scholars agree that millennial are showing positive trends such as reduced violence and greater professional ambitions. Access to education technology has led to a higher availability of cultural and historical resources, thanks to the Internet and more libraries and museums which both scholars point to as a positive development.

In the end, Howe asserts that the millennial generation gets a bad rap, especially by those like Bauerlein who are using a baby boomer yardstick to measure their progress. Generations have characteristics reflective of their times, thus acting as a corrective force to their parents much like the boomers did with theirs according to Howe.

Build Strong Relationships through Constituent Relations Management

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 11:37:13 EDT

In many respects, the strength of a relationship between a non-profit institution and its donors can mean the difference between a successful fundraising campaign or not. It's important to keep in touch with supporters and let you know you appreciate them.

Non-profit fundraising, or constituent relations management software solutions from Blackbaud, helps foster lifelong donor relationships and streamline processes.

The right CRM solution depends on the size of your organization. The Raisers Edge is the most basic, geared for small-medium sized institutions. Better manage contacts, cultivate relationships, and diversifying methods are just a few of the benefits.

The YMCA of Greater Charlotte used the Raisers Edge to raise over $50 million and in the process, received the 2007 Excellence in Fundraising award.

For larger organizations, or those with complex needs, the Raisers Edge Enterprise Edition provides all the benefits of the Raisers Edge along with a scaleable giving hierarchy and automated task scheduling. Other features, only optional with the Raisers Edge, include prospect management and point of sale to name a few.

And if your organization is spread over a large area with many offices and branches, Blackbaud Enterprise CRM may be right for you. Through web delivery, your organization can properly manage reporting requirements along with cultivating strong relationships irregardless of location or currency.

Schools, Teachers & Students - Protect your Computer Technology Investment with Regular Maintenance

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 09:16:11 EDT

The new school year is upon us and teachers, students, and parents are busy with shopping for all the needed items. Computers are a heavy consideration for many, particularly for students in middle school or higher, as education software solutions continue to provide further integration of technology and education.

A computer is like many machines and even the human body, requiring regular maintenance to provide maximum performance. They are quite expensive, but with a regular routine your investment can be a reliable asset for a long time.

One of the easiest things you need to do according to TuneUp Utilities co-founder Tibor Schiemann is defragment your hard drive every two to three months. Windows includes a defragment utility and the process takes around an hour. The more fragmented a hard drive is, the slower the computer runs.

Another step that can be taken to make your computer run smoother is to remove unnecessary files and programs. Many new computers include new programs that may never even be used. Schiemann cautions however to not simply delete program files since registry problems may arise but to use the "Add/Remove Programs" utility in Windows.

For unnecessary files, a disk cleaner utility program is a simple and the best way to remove those without having to manually search for them. Windows includes a disk cleaner utility that can be easily accessed from the start menu.

These steps however can leave code, etc. on the registry, which is the central database for the Windows operating system. All installed programs are kept and run from the registry so it needs to be in good order. Manual registry maintenance is a bit technical so you should either have a professional do it, or use a Windows-certified program.

In addition, internet connection, visual, and sound settings can have impacts on a computers performance. Developing a maintenance routine can save you many headaches, and allow you to take full advantage of the many educational software solutions available.