My TechDecisions

Jessica Kennedy

Jessica Kennedy is an editor at TechDecisions Media, targeting the higher education market. Jessica joined the TechDecisions team in 2014 and covers technologies that improve teaching and learning.

Lock and Life Safety Code Considerations for Campuses

April 14, 2015 Jessica Kennedy Leave a Comment

When considering security methods, campuses must be familiar with the code requirements that are in place to protect students, staff members and other occupants. The major codes colleges need to focus on entail life safety, fire protection, electrified hardware, and more. Even though they are lengthy, these codes are put in place to impact the devices used to secure doors. An understanding of the codes will help to ensure the selection of code-compliant security methods.

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Facebook & Free Speech: When Colleges Cross the Line

April 13, 2015 Jessica Kennedy Leave a Comment

When colleges don’t know how to react to or support their students’ social media usage, the relationship sours between the two. One example of this is found in the case of the University of Tulsa, where one student was suspended for Facebook comments that he was tagged in, but did not post himself. Freedom of expression expert Will Creeley from the Foundation for Individual Rights Education weighs in on college students’ expression on social media and how colleges can support students’ self-expression. He also offers tips to increase this support, which include keeping negative comments about a college on social media public, encouraging a conversation between college administrators and students about social media, and learning from other colleges’ mistakes with social media.

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10 Common Dorm Security Challenges and Solutions

April 7, 2015 Jessica Kennedy Leave a Comment

Protecting on-campus residences is no easy task and requires the training of staff and students, appropriate policies and procedures, and the deployment of technology. Some specific wayscolleges can address your dorm security issues include finding creative ways to educate students to recognize and report other students of concern, establishing a security program that is predicated on prevention versus police response after an incident, assuring that appropriate protective and emergency planning services are provided by departments outside of residence life control and providing protection to students who likely value convenience and openness versus security and control.

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Chief of District Security Chris Wynn Weighs In on the Who, What & Why of Campus Security Systems

April 6, 2015 Jessica Kennedy Leave a Comment

Even though he works in the K-12 space, Chris Wynn shares his expertise on security systems, and how they can benefit college campuses. In a Q&A with HigherEdTD, Wynn talks about his law enforcement background, the types of security systems schools can have, access control tips, who should be involved in selecting security systems and suggestions on how to pick the security system that best fits a school’s needs.

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EMK Institute Uses New Technology Install to Teach Visitors About U.S. Senate History

April 2, 2015 Jessica Kennedy Leave a Comment

After undergoing a major technology install by Electrosonic, the EMK Institute opens to the public. This install included 750 Google Nexus tablets and interactive software by Control Group; three projection design projectors and tvONE CORIO Edge Blender display that all project content on a curved screen; a video wall that is made of five, 55-inch NEC Display video monitors; three video walls made of Sharp 60-inch video monitors, sound system and Sony cameras for content simulations; eight projectors; nine DHD555 Christie projectors that blend with Vista Systems’ Spyders; two ELO touchscreen kiosks; a pair of ceiling-mounted NEC projectors, cameras and AMX touch panels.

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