American Time School Blog

School is a place to learn. That's the basic principle we teach our children from the first day we send them to school, and it's the driving force behind the quest the create the best learning environment for them. We build new schools, hire good teachers, regularly evaluate new teaching styles and constantly tweak our classrooms to create the best learning environment for the students.

Yet despite our constant focus on finding what's best, the search still continues. After all, we are constantly learning more about what helps them learn. So, let's examine the importance of effective learning environments, and how to create one of your own.

When you're shopping for anything new, it's common sense to think about how it will complement what you already have — the same holds true when you're investing in new clocks for your school. Whether you're just replacing a few old clocks, or have a whole new wing to integrate into your existing school clock and bell systems, there are a few factors to consider that will ensure a smooth transition. Short on time? Check out a short video on clock integrations here. 

Technology has a way of forcing everyone around it to keep up. To make sure you're optimizing the technology experience in your schools, it's important to think about which of your learning tools might be in need of replacement as you work to fully take advantage of your digital ecosystem.

You wouldn't start writing an essay without thinking of the thesis. You wouldn't put flour in a cake after it's out of the oven. And, you shouldn't design a new school building without baking in plans for your synchronized clock system.

There are a lot of factors to consider when integrating the clocks with a new facility, and it's easiest to address the time system as the building designs are drawn up. Anything after that may create more work. 

Let's look at what factors you should be considering as you build your gleaming new complex.

Some people are happy if their car just gets them from point A to point B. Others need to know what makes it go. But if you're in charge of maintenance at a school, you're expected to know how just about everything works; it's your job. 

Among the inner-workings of your building that you'll want to understand is your bell system. The more you know about the bells, the more confident you'll be on the job. You'll be less stressed, too, with the comfort of knowing you can handle issues as they arise, before they turn into headaches.

In tandem with synchronized clocks, your school's bell system is what keeps the day moving along smoothly, so it's important to have a handle on it. With that in mind, here's everything you need to know about the bell system that keeps everyone on schedule. 

Do you feel like you have a lot to keep track of in your life? Maybe you have to remember to drop off and pick up the kids from school. Perhaps you have some dry cleaning to pick up once in a while. And most of us have bills that need to be paid at certain times of the month.

That's likely only scratching the surface, but you probably aren't responsible for making sure dozens of kids are taking their vital medication on time throughout the day. Unless you're a school nurse. Nurses don't just take temperatures and soothe upset stomachs all day; they're tasked with keeping a meticulous schedule for administering any medication that the students might require.

It's another example of how a synchronized clock system can prove indispensable, because when it's your job to make sure kids are taking their medicine on time, you want to be sure your clocks are keeping the right time, too.

To give your students the best chance possible to succeed, you can't overlook the little things. Don't believe it? Just take a look at the wall — and the clock that's on it. Schools operate on a set schedule, and the quality of your clocks plays a crucial role in maintaining that schedule. You likely don't think of clocks as an essential piece of your curriculum or program, but you may not realize how much a faulty clock system can sabotage the productivity of a school day.

Fighting for part of any school's budget is no easy task, but the payoffs of better school clocks can have a lasting effect on your students, your classroom, your colleagues and your school. Here are 4 reasons why you should support better school clocks in your upcoming budget or bond:

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.