American Time School Blog

It started with the TV remote, then the cordless phone, then the Wi-Fi router and the Bluetooth speakers. The wires that used to tether us to the rest of the world are slowly disappearing – and for good reason.

They're the same reasons wireless clocks have become the most popular choice for people picking out a new synchronized clock system: convenience, utility, and simplicity. Wireless clock systems are suitable for a vast range of building types, are a snap to install, require minimal maintenance, and can actually be a cost savings over older technologies.

But there are a lot of wireless clock systems to choose from. Here are five factors to consider when evaluating your options.

Anyone paying attention to changes in schools over the years will notice how evolving technology has altered the ways students learn. For example, iPads have replaced textbooks, digital whiteboards have replaced chalkboards, even the classroom itself has been replaced to a degree, with students able to take classes remotely over the internet. The question begs to be asked. Are analog clocks the next to go?

Technology hasn't just changed how we learn; it’s changed what we learn — and the kinds of lessons we value. As digital resources expand, some people question the importance of maintaining the old skills that were once required to survive in the world while others find worth in the mental challenge of doing certain tasks the "hard way."

For example, when word processors and computers became mainstream in America, it was debated whether cursive should be part of the curriculum. A similar discussion is now taking place as we consider the increasing prevalence of digital clocks.

With digital clocks everywhere, especially on the phones and computers that demand our attention all day, teachers are questioning what used to be a basic part of an elementary curriculum: Just how important is it that students learn to read an analog clock, anyway? Here are arguments on both sides.

Remember when you had to go to places to run errands?

Of course, some people still prefer to physically go places, but it wasn't that long ago that if you wanted to deposit a check, you had no option other than to wait in line at the bank. Now you can use your phone to deposit a check.

If you're like most people, you've probably grown accustomed to using a computer and a web browser to take care of your routine business. Some common examples are shopping for new clothes online and conducting business meetings over video chat.

School maintenance workers and administrators can now experience this same convenience by accessing school bells through a web browser. For example, our AllSync® and SiteSync IQ® system can be used with Remote Connect to manage bell schedules. Here’s how to reprogram your bell schedule.

Like many things in this world, schools have become more complex over the years — evolving from the one-room schoolhouse to the sprawling, intricate facilities we see today.

This is where it becomes essential to embrace new technologies. Among these resources are school notification systems that automatically spread important messages throughout a building, keeping students safe and informed while making life easier for staff.

Anytime Chuck Ehler, Superintendent at Rushford-Peterson Schools in Minnesota, gives a tour of a classroom, people say, “Wow! I really like the clocks that you have here. That is really impressive.”

Rushford-Peterson opened its new, state-of-the-art school in 2017, after flooding and aging buildings necessitated the project. But the district not only received a new building, it upgraded technology, too.

“We have everything in this building technologically — from programmable LED lighting to programmable heating and ventilation,” says Technology Director Corey Mattson. “We have wireless access in every corner of the building. We have a secure building with secure entrances.”

School clock systems are reliable. They can keep perfect time for years as long as you perform regular maintenance on them. But when they go down, getting them fixed in a quick and efficient way is important for schools to stay “on the clock.”

Here's how to perform maintenance checks to prevent fire drill repairs and ways to fix your clock system if something does go wrong.

There are few moments during the day as precious as lunchtime. Lunch is supposed to be a refuge from the day's obligations, a time to decompress, regroup and recharge.

Any grown-up with a hectic daily schedule appreciates this, but for young learners, lunchtime is even more vital. It's their time to fuel their brains as they learn about the world around them.

That means people like Joshua Poveda, chef and food service director at Evergreen Charter School in Hempstead, New York, play a vital role in students' education. When Poveda realized lunchtime at his school wasn't the nourishing respite it was supposed to be, he optimized Evergreen's lunch schedule with the help of synchronized clocks.

The end of the school year is here, which means it's time to exhale. Those freshly emptied hallways and classrooms will bring some much-deserved peace and quiet after a long nine months, but they also provide a prime opportunity for routine maintenance.

Now is a good time for building workers to ensure everything is in working order, including looking at the facility's wired clock system. We'll walk you through a checklist to make sure your clocks are in tip-top shape.

For many, spring means sunshine, rain, flowers, warmer weather, and often, a renewed enthusiasm to spend time outdoors. For schools administrators, however, spring also means tornado drills, updating emergency plans, and tracking inclement weather. In fact, many states dedicate an entire week to severe weather awareness during this time of year.

The frenzy of the NCAA basketball tournament is fast approaching, bringing school spirit to a fevered pitch across America. For the most die-hard fans among us, that means painting our faces in their school's colors.

But there are other kinds of faces you can adorn with school spirit — the ones on your clocks. People who run colleges take great pains to build school pride among students, and the clocks that are in every room across campus represent a great opportunity to build on that approach. People glance at the time all day long, so why not install custom clocks to broadcast a subtle, yet ubiquitous message of togetherness and school spirit?