Home > News > featured news > Five ways to manage the SBM workload

Five ways to manage the SBM workload

TES | January 31, 2019

On my first day as a school business manager, I sat in a meeting with the other senior leaders and they listed the areas of the school that I would be accountable for. It was a long list: finance, human resources, recruitment, marketing, the premises, extended services, lunchtime arrangements, service level agreements and health and safety. Basically, everything other than teaching the children.I walked out of that meeting and thought: how the hell am I going to manage and cope with all this?Whilst most people will agree that there needs to be targets and monitoring in order to raise standards, this often results in our teams being put under massive amounts of pressure in order to demonstrate that they are delivering on the key objectives. Often when the school has financial issues, the back office staff will see reductions in staffing and an increase in workload. Many will quietly continue to work on, not talking about the rising pressures and increased tiredness. But it is only when small mistakes are made that the truth emerges. The simple signs of this that I have seen include: incorrectly processing finance journals (before mistakes were rare), incorrect dates on letters or simply forgetting to do something. Manage expectations As a school business manager, a key focus should be understanding what your governors or multi-academy trust leaders expect from you. If you know their expectations then you can work on delivering what they want. Don’t be afraid to negotiate if you think they’re asking too much. You need to be able to achieve their expectations within a realistic timeline. My key tip is to put up an A3 wall chart in your office and have the dates on a planner for all to see.

Spotlight

NAVIGATING CX CHALLENGES IN THE DYNAMIC WORLD OF ELEARNING

This whitepaper explores how eLearning providers (Learning Management Systems, Training Management Systems, Learning Experience Platforms, and content providers etc.) can convert these challenges into opportunities by prioritizing the customer experience (CX) to increase customer satisfaction and profitability.

More featured news

Spotlight

NAVIGATING CX CHALLENGES IN THE DYNAMIC WORLD OF ELEARNING

This whitepaper explores how eLearning providers (Learning Management Systems, Training Management Systems, Learning Experience Platforms, and content providers etc.) can convert these challenges into opportunities by prioritizing the customer experience (CX) to increase customer satisfaction and profitability.

Related News

CORPORATE EDUCATION AND TRAINING

ClassIn Launches its World-Class Teaching and Learning Platform in the United States

Globenewswire | April 18, 2023

ClassIn, a world leader in hybrid, blended, and remote learning solutions, today announced the launch of its globally recognized platform in the United States. The ClassIn platform has been purpose-built for education and based on nearly a decade of research, development, and in-market experience. Through its software and hardware solutions, ClassIn provides the digital infrastructure for the hybrid future of education by building classrooms in both the virtual and physical worlds. ClassIn is the only end-to-end education platform with a full suite of innovative tools and features, all designed with hybrid-first pedagogy at its core. It supports active learning, student flexibility, and various teaching and learning methods. While schools have worked to embrace technology for decades, innovation has been slow and fragmented, and most new technologies have been designed to solve a singular problem. Today, the average US teacher uses 148 different EdTech products and the average US school district uses over 1,400 EdTech solutions. The pandemic exacerbated this issue, as most schools implemented “emergency remote teaching” instead of pedagogically aligned instruction, cobbling together many disparate technologies that were not built or designed for education. “Remote and hybrid teaching brought long-touted but previously out-of-reach, student-centric instruction to life, making room for self-guided learning, flexible schedules, and additional time to explore volunteer, hobby, and work opportunities,” said Sara Gu, Co-Founder, and COO at ClassIn. “We’re at an inflection point. The classroom of the future will be networked, digitized, and intelligent, which means our learning solutions must be built on a solid foundation: based on hybrid-first pedagogy and backed by learning science. With over 50 million students using our solution in 160+ countries, our hardware and software solutions reduce districts' need for the patchwork of over 1,400 different technologies by combining many of those capabilities seamlessly.” ClassIn’s comprehensive suite of tools helps educators and administrators address multiple challenges by: • Helping School Districts Address Teacher Shortages: According to the National Education Association, there is a shortage of roughly 300,000 teachers and staff across the U.S. The teacher shortage is particularly pronounced in rural school districts, where the need for special education teachers and STEM teachers is high. ClassIn allows schools to expand the reach of instruction from more experienced faculties to locations where those resources are scarce. • Encouraging Equitable Learning by Leveling the Playing Field for Virtual and In-Person Learning Modalities: From two-way interactive blackboards to breakout rooms, class polling, real-time interaction, and personalized learning, ClassIn encourages student engagement and interaction and allows teachers to design a classroom that goes beyond successful lectures, incorporating other modalities of instruction and teamwork. • Offering Strategic Hardware Solutions: ClassIn X transforms traditional classrooms into outcome-driven hybrid learning spaces through an IoT hardware package that digitizes the physical classroom. It offers a 110’’ smart board that comes with ClassIn software, an AI-enabled multi-directional microphone that clearly captures the sound in an 800-square-foot classroom, and a stationary face-tracking camera, which makes it easy for remote students to see the teacher’s face and gestures. • Providing Fast, Seamless Technology: Built to handle virtual, hybrid, and blended learning, ClassIn’s technology allows up to 2,000 students to interact in a single classroom, with millions more learners able to view and listen to the livestream in real-time. • Streamlining School & District Administrative Tools: The administration dashboard streamlines school management, enabling batch lesson planning for the entire semester and generating data-rich reports that reflect student participation during and after class. The wide variety of functionality allows schools to handle hybrid and blended learning on their terms in a way that works best for their school district and classrooms. Administrators can also easily review and analyze teacher and student performance through over 40 metrics, including attendance, classroom activity, and test and homework data. ClassIn makes it easy to teach, learn, and build learning communities with minimal friction, freeing up teachers to do their best work, and students to do their best learning—all in an active, supportive, and flexible environment. About ClassIn A world leader in learning environment solutions, ClassIn has pioneered the digital and physical infrastructure for the hybrid future of education. Purpose-built for education based on nearly a decade of research, development, and in-market experience, ClassIn is the only end-to-end education platform with a full suite of tools designed with hybrid-first pedagogy at its core. ClassIn serves over 50 million students across 160+ countries. ClassIn has partnered with more than 80,000+ educational institutions including Oxford University Press, Sony Education, EF, The British Council, Pearson, and Udacity. The Series D company has raised more than $500 million and is backed by Hillhouse and Tencent, among others.

Read More

CONTINUING EDUCATION

Interplay Learning and Temperature Control Institute Transform Memphis Students' Career Outlook With Advanced Skilled Trades Training

PRnewswire | April 20, 2023

Interplay Learning, the leading provider of online and virtual reality training for the essential skilled trades, announces a partnership with the Temperature Control Institute (TCI), a unique state-of-the-art skilled trades education program helping underemployed youth prepare for careers in the skilled trades. TCI offers six-month certification courses in HVAC and commercial refrigeration. All students graduate with at least one job-ready certification, such as EPA 608, OSHA 10 and NATE, and use Interplay's training to help prepare for their exams. Graduates are qualified for entry-level employment, offering employers in Memphis, Tennessee and Southaven, Mississippi skilled and job-ready talent. Qualifying students may also receive free tuition through state funding. "Interplay Learning is like having another instructor," said Edward York, TCI Director. "We get more effective learning done in less time, and we're also seeing less wear and tear on our equipment. That's going to allow us to grow faster, so we can help even more young people acquire essential skills that enable them to turn their lives around." Interplay Learning's immersive virtual-reality simulations and robust catalog of technical content enhance TCI's classroom engagement and hands-on training programs. The platform includes expert-led video-based training, knowledge checks, and hands-on 3D simulations to help technicians rapidly develop on-the-job skills and practice troubleshooting in a risk-free, familiar environment. The on-demand courses offer game-like training that provides flexibility so students can practice anytime, according to their learning style, using a tablet, computer, or virtual reality headset. TCI is currently enrolling students at its Southhaven, Mississippi, location conveniently located near Memphis, Tennessee. TCI plans to increase its class size as it expands to a new facility in Memphis later this year and add additional training programs for plumbing, electrical, and building maintenance. "Our mission is to help institutions build better training, better careers, and better lives," said Doug Donovan, founder and CEO of Interplay Learning. "Temperature Control Institute is a shining example of how simulation-based technology can engage and support the next-generation skilled workforce more effectively. We're proud to partner with TCI to support the young, underemployed community in Memphis with an innovative strategy that addresses the skilled labor shortage." Interplay Learning builds better training, better careers, and better lives for its customers and their employees. Its award-winning online and virtual reality training for the essential skilled trades, including HVAC, plumbing, electrical, solar, multifamily maintenance, and facilities maintenance workforces, is scalable and more effective than traditional training methods. By leveraging immersive learning technology, Interplay's customers can train and practice hands-on learning from a desktop, phone, tablet, or in virtual reality, resulting in a highly trained employee who is job-ready in weeks, not years. About Interplay Learning Austin-based Interplay Learning offers scalable and effective training for the essential skilled trades that helps business leaders, educators and their teams build better companies, better careers and better lives. Interplay Learning's immersive online and VR training platform for HVAC, plumbing, electrical, solar, hospitality, multifamily maintenance and facilities maintenance workforces includes expert-led video courses, hands-on 3D simulations, knowledge checks and custom learning paths to upskill advanced technicians and help new technicians be job-ready in weeks, not years.

Read More

CORPORATE LEARNING SYSTEMS

Code Fellows Launches Education Rescue Scholarship

PRnewswire | May 05, 2023

Code Fellows, a premier technical skills training academy offering high-quality job-focused education and training to aspiring learners since 2013, has launched an Education Rescue Scholarship. This scholarship is designed to help students who have invested money in a bootcamp, college or university, and have not received the education, knowledge, or skills needed to find rewarding careers in tech. Prospective students who wish to be considered for the Education Rescue Scholarship must complete an application, be accepted into the program and provide evidence of all payments made towards tuition at a prior educational institution. The amount awarded will be based on the amount of tuition paid and will cover up to the full cost of attending any of the Self-Paced courses offered by Code Fellows. Code Fellows' Self-Paced courses include access to online learning resources and support from full-time professional instructional staff. These courses are designed to help students gain the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in their careers. "Too many programs are teaching outdated curriculum that is not in sync with the industry demands of today, leaving students with a mountain of debt and skills that are subpar or obsolete," said Mitch Robertson, SVP of Business Development and Growth at Code Fellows. "Through continuous iteration, we build, refine, and adapt our curriculum to ensure we are keeping up with the demands of the industry and preparing our graduates for the rigorous expectations of a career in tech today and well into the future." The Education Rescue Scholarship is designed to help students fill in any gaps in their knowledge or skills while equipping them with additional training and skills from industry-leading certified instructors. This may include skills from coding fundamentals to advanced concepts like data structures and algorithms, professional applications and development. Code Fellows offers students, including those utilizing the Education Rescue Scholarship, a number of other resources and support services which increase student success. This includes career services like resume reviews and employer connections, as well as ongoing educational opportunities. In today's rapidly evolving technological world, computer science is a highly sought-after field that offers a plethora of career opportunities. However, not all colleges and universities offering computer science programs are keeping up with the changing demands of the industry. Some institutions continue to use outdated curricula and teaching methods, leading to poor outcomes for students and their future careers. In addition, bootcamps have become increasingly popular over the years, offering an intensive, immersive learning experience in fields like software development, technical operations, and cybersecurity. However, not all of them are delivering on their promises, leaving students without the skills or knowledge they need to succeed in their chosen careers and a mountain of debt. Many students have been let down by these institutions, leaving them frustrated and disheartened. Code Fellows Education Rescue scholarship aims to provide these students with a solution to their problems. "Code Fellows is committed to providing high-quality technical education and supporting students who may have been let down by other educational institutions," said Jeff Malek, CEO of Code Fellows. "The Education Rescue Scholarship is an innovative and much-needed initiative that will help bridge the gap between education and employment. We are excited to offer this scholarship to students who are looking for a solution to their educational problems." The commitment to education and support that Code Fellows demonstrates is a testament to their dedication to their students and to the tech community as a whole. By offering resources and support to students who may have been let down by other educational institutions, they are helping to create a more inclusive and supportive tech industry, while ensuring graduates are exceeding employer expectations. About Code Fellows: Code Fellows is the Pacific Northwest's premier technical skills training academy, delivering high-quality live instruction both online and in person to people from all backgrounds. Learners are guided toward vocational change and life transformation through software development, technical operations, cybersecurity and career training. They guide people from all backgrounds to change their lives through fast-paced, career-focused education. They shape passionate learners with immersive training to meet industry needs and improve diversity.Code Fellows has taught thousands of graduates and iterated on their curriculum and format to ensure students receive the most industry-relevant training as effectively and efficiently as possible. Students are immersed in their learning from full-time instructional staff who are seasoned industry professionals with daily lectures, pair programming, weekly presentations, one-week project sprints, and more. Code Fellows graduates work at Amazon, Microsoft, Zillow, Expedia, XBOX, NIKE, Starbucks, Nordstrom, and over 800 other companies.

Read More

CORPORATE EDUCATION AND TRAINING

ClassIn Launches its World-Class Teaching and Learning Platform in the United States

Globenewswire | April 18, 2023

ClassIn, a world leader in hybrid, blended, and remote learning solutions, today announced the launch of its globally recognized platform in the United States. The ClassIn platform has been purpose-built for education and based on nearly a decade of research, development, and in-market experience. Through its software and hardware solutions, ClassIn provides the digital infrastructure for the hybrid future of education by building classrooms in both the virtual and physical worlds. ClassIn is the only end-to-end education platform with a full suite of innovative tools and features, all designed with hybrid-first pedagogy at its core. It supports active learning, student flexibility, and various teaching and learning methods. While schools have worked to embrace technology for decades, innovation has been slow and fragmented, and most new technologies have been designed to solve a singular problem. Today, the average US teacher uses 148 different EdTech products and the average US school district uses over 1,400 EdTech solutions. The pandemic exacerbated this issue, as most schools implemented “emergency remote teaching” instead of pedagogically aligned instruction, cobbling together many disparate technologies that were not built or designed for education. “Remote and hybrid teaching brought long-touted but previously out-of-reach, student-centric instruction to life, making room for self-guided learning, flexible schedules, and additional time to explore volunteer, hobby, and work opportunities,” said Sara Gu, Co-Founder, and COO at ClassIn. “We’re at an inflection point. The classroom of the future will be networked, digitized, and intelligent, which means our learning solutions must be built on a solid foundation: based on hybrid-first pedagogy and backed by learning science. With over 50 million students using our solution in 160+ countries, our hardware and software solutions reduce districts' need for the patchwork of over 1,400 different technologies by combining many of those capabilities seamlessly.” ClassIn’s comprehensive suite of tools helps educators and administrators address multiple challenges by: • Helping School Districts Address Teacher Shortages: According to the National Education Association, there is a shortage of roughly 300,000 teachers and staff across the U.S. The teacher shortage is particularly pronounced in rural school districts, where the need for special education teachers and STEM teachers is high. ClassIn allows schools to expand the reach of instruction from more experienced faculties to locations where those resources are scarce. • Encouraging Equitable Learning by Leveling the Playing Field for Virtual and In-Person Learning Modalities: From two-way interactive blackboards to breakout rooms, class polling, real-time interaction, and personalized learning, ClassIn encourages student engagement and interaction and allows teachers to design a classroom that goes beyond successful lectures, incorporating other modalities of instruction and teamwork. • Offering Strategic Hardware Solutions: ClassIn X transforms traditional classrooms into outcome-driven hybrid learning spaces through an IoT hardware package that digitizes the physical classroom. It offers a 110’’ smart board that comes with ClassIn software, an AI-enabled multi-directional microphone that clearly captures the sound in an 800-square-foot classroom, and a stationary face-tracking camera, which makes it easy for remote students to see the teacher’s face and gestures. • Providing Fast, Seamless Technology: Built to handle virtual, hybrid, and blended learning, ClassIn’s technology allows up to 2,000 students to interact in a single classroom, with millions more learners able to view and listen to the livestream in real-time. • Streamlining School & District Administrative Tools: The administration dashboard streamlines school management, enabling batch lesson planning for the entire semester and generating data-rich reports that reflect student participation during and after class. The wide variety of functionality allows schools to handle hybrid and blended learning on their terms in a way that works best for their school district and classrooms. Administrators can also easily review and analyze teacher and student performance through over 40 metrics, including attendance, classroom activity, and test and homework data. ClassIn makes it easy to teach, learn, and build learning communities with minimal friction, freeing up teachers to do their best work, and students to do their best learning—all in an active, supportive, and flexible environment. About ClassIn A world leader in learning environment solutions, ClassIn has pioneered the digital and physical infrastructure for the hybrid future of education. Purpose-built for education based on nearly a decade of research, development, and in-market experience, ClassIn is the only end-to-end education platform with a full suite of tools designed with hybrid-first pedagogy at its core. ClassIn serves over 50 million students across 160+ countries. ClassIn has partnered with more than 80,000+ educational institutions including Oxford University Press, Sony Education, EF, The British Council, Pearson, and Udacity. The Series D company has raised more than $500 million and is backed by Hillhouse and Tencent, among others.

Read More

CONTINUING EDUCATION

Interplay Learning and Temperature Control Institute Transform Memphis Students' Career Outlook With Advanced Skilled Trades Training

PRnewswire | April 20, 2023

Interplay Learning, the leading provider of online and virtual reality training for the essential skilled trades, announces a partnership with the Temperature Control Institute (TCI), a unique state-of-the-art skilled trades education program helping underemployed youth prepare for careers in the skilled trades. TCI offers six-month certification courses in HVAC and commercial refrigeration. All students graduate with at least one job-ready certification, such as EPA 608, OSHA 10 and NATE, and use Interplay's training to help prepare for their exams. Graduates are qualified for entry-level employment, offering employers in Memphis, Tennessee and Southaven, Mississippi skilled and job-ready talent. Qualifying students may also receive free tuition through state funding. "Interplay Learning is like having another instructor," said Edward York, TCI Director. "We get more effective learning done in less time, and we're also seeing less wear and tear on our equipment. That's going to allow us to grow faster, so we can help even more young people acquire essential skills that enable them to turn their lives around." Interplay Learning's immersive virtual-reality simulations and robust catalog of technical content enhance TCI's classroom engagement and hands-on training programs. The platform includes expert-led video-based training, knowledge checks, and hands-on 3D simulations to help technicians rapidly develop on-the-job skills and practice troubleshooting in a risk-free, familiar environment. The on-demand courses offer game-like training that provides flexibility so students can practice anytime, according to their learning style, using a tablet, computer, or virtual reality headset. TCI is currently enrolling students at its Southhaven, Mississippi, location conveniently located near Memphis, Tennessee. TCI plans to increase its class size as it expands to a new facility in Memphis later this year and add additional training programs for plumbing, electrical, and building maintenance. "Our mission is to help institutions build better training, better careers, and better lives," said Doug Donovan, founder and CEO of Interplay Learning. "Temperature Control Institute is a shining example of how simulation-based technology can engage and support the next-generation skilled workforce more effectively. We're proud to partner with TCI to support the young, underemployed community in Memphis with an innovative strategy that addresses the skilled labor shortage." Interplay Learning builds better training, better careers, and better lives for its customers and their employees. Its award-winning online and virtual reality training for the essential skilled trades, including HVAC, plumbing, electrical, solar, multifamily maintenance, and facilities maintenance workforces, is scalable and more effective than traditional training methods. By leveraging immersive learning technology, Interplay's customers can train and practice hands-on learning from a desktop, phone, tablet, or in virtual reality, resulting in a highly trained employee who is job-ready in weeks, not years. About Interplay Learning Austin-based Interplay Learning offers scalable and effective training for the essential skilled trades that helps business leaders, educators and their teams build better companies, better careers and better lives. Interplay Learning's immersive online and VR training platform for HVAC, plumbing, electrical, solar, hospitality, multifamily maintenance and facilities maintenance workforces includes expert-led video courses, hands-on 3D simulations, knowledge checks and custom learning paths to upskill advanced technicians and help new technicians be job-ready in weeks, not years.

Read More

CORPORATE LEARNING SYSTEMS

Code Fellows Launches Education Rescue Scholarship

PRnewswire | May 05, 2023

Code Fellows, a premier technical skills training academy offering high-quality job-focused education and training to aspiring learners since 2013, has launched an Education Rescue Scholarship. This scholarship is designed to help students who have invested money in a bootcamp, college or university, and have not received the education, knowledge, or skills needed to find rewarding careers in tech. Prospective students who wish to be considered for the Education Rescue Scholarship must complete an application, be accepted into the program and provide evidence of all payments made towards tuition at a prior educational institution. The amount awarded will be based on the amount of tuition paid and will cover up to the full cost of attending any of the Self-Paced courses offered by Code Fellows. Code Fellows' Self-Paced courses include access to online learning resources and support from full-time professional instructional staff. These courses are designed to help students gain the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in their careers. "Too many programs are teaching outdated curriculum that is not in sync with the industry demands of today, leaving students with a mountain of debt and skills that are subpar or obsolete," said Mitch Robertson, SVP of Business Development and Growth at Code Fellows. "Through continuous iteration, we build, refine, and adapt our curriculum to ensure we are keeping up with the demands of the industry and preparing our graduates for the rigorous expectations of a career in tech today and well into the future." The Education Rescue Scholarship is designed to help students fill in any gaps in their knowledge or skills while equipping them with additional training and skills from industry-leading certified instructors. This may include skills from coding fundamentals to advanced concepts like data structures and algorithms, professional applications and development. Code Fellows offers students, including those utilizing the Education Rescue Scholarship, a number of other resources and support services which increase student success. This includes career services like resume reviews and employer connections, as well as ongoing educational opportunities. In today's rapidly evolving technological world, computer science is a highly sought-after field that offers a plethora of career opportunities. However, not all colleges and universities offering computer science programs are keeping up with the changing demands of the industry. Some institutions continue to use outdated curricula and teaching methods, leading to poor outcomes for students and their future careers. In addition, bootcamps have become increasingly popular over the years, offering an intensive, immersive learning experience in fields like software development, technical operations, and cybersecurity. However, not all of them are delivering on their promises, leaving students without the skills or knowledge they need to succeed in their chosen careers and a mountain of debt. Many students have been let down by these institutions, leaving them frustrated and disheartened. Code Fellows Education Rescue scholarship aims to provide these students with a solution to their problems. "Code Fellows is committed to providing high-quality technical education and supporting students who may have been let down by other educational institutions," said Jeff Malek, CEO of Code Fellows. "The Education Rescue Scholarship is an innovative and much-needed initiative that will help bridge the gap between education and employment. We are excited to offer this scholarship to students who are looking for a solution to their educational problems." The commitment to education and support that Code Fellows demonstrates is a testament to their dedication to their students and to the tech community as a whole. By offering resources and support to students who may have been let down by other educational institutions, they are helping to create a more inclusive and supportive tech industry, while ensuring graduates are exceeding employer expectations. About Code Fellows: Code Fellows is the Pacific Northwest's premier technical skills training academy, delivering high-quality live instruction both online and in person to people from all backgrounds. Learners are guided toward vocational change and life transformation through software development, technical operations, cybersecurity and career training. They guide people from all backgrounds to change their lives through fast-paced, career-focused education. They shape passionate learners with immersive training to meet industry needs and improve diversity.Code Fellows has taught thousands of graduates and iterated on their curriculum and format to ensure students receive the most industry-relevant training as effectively and efficiently as possible. Students are immersed in their learning from full-time instructional staff who are seasoned industry professionals with daily lectures, pair programming, weekly presentations, one-week project sprints, and more. Code Fellows graduates work at Amazon, Microsoft, Zillow, Expedia, XBOX, NIKE, Starbucks, Nordstrom, and over 800 other companies.

Read More

More featured news