School Clocks

Wireless clock systems offer a major benefit to schools and all other facilities out there—cost effectiveness.  Without a need for running wires throughout the building, as well as being able to work in conjunction with existing clock systems, the wireless clock is an improvement on efficiency when it comes down to the budget.  However, when using a wireless system to address each school clock in the building, things can sometimes get complicated. Trying to hit each and every clock in the building with the signal, especially in a building of 500 + rooms with heavy concrete or rebar in the walls can cause few clocks here and there to miss the signal from the main transmitter and therefore won’t receive accurate time updates.  Quick-fix remedies have surfaced over the years, such as the use of repeaters (another module that carries the signal farther from the main transmitter).  However, these devices can get expensive when a building requires several of them to properly run the system.  To avoid this issue and maintain that cost-effective aspect of the wireless clock system, schools must use clocks that come with built-in repeaters—a technology that only certain manufactures have successfully created.

The built-in repeater is essentially like the repeater described above, where it takes the signal and launches it farther than the main transmitter could initially carry it.  But when the repeater is literally “built in” to the clock, this eliminates the need to purchase the actual accessory item, and therefore maintains the cost effectiveness of the wireless system.   Aside from its efficiency with cost, the built-in repeaters help with the overall efficiency of the system as well.  When each clock is repeating the signal, the clocks throughout the entire building are essentially communicating with each other.  For instance, when the clock closest to the main transmitter first receives the initial signal, that clock will also release the signal to other clocks in its radius.  As every school clock in the building is receiving and re-transmitting the signal around them, each clock ends up receiving the time correction from multiple sources, which creates something called a mesh network.

The mesh network is created through each clock’s ability to accept and re-transmit a signal.  As every clock performs this task, the coverage of the signal increases immensely.  Each clock’s ability to catch a signal from any point of the building is maximized.  The mesh network also allows for an essentially unlimited amount of clocks.  No more are the days of limiting how many clocks you can run on one system.  With the mesh network, as long as each clock stays within the signal of another clock, the amount of clocks that can be run on the system is almost limitless.

Now that the second school semester has already started, spring time is only a few months away. As this half of the school year winds down, school principals and administrators will start to think about next year and plan ahead for the fall of 2012. In addition to curriculum changes and new teacher hires, building maintenance and renovations must be considered ahead of time so that they can be completed while school is out for the summer. For schools that are looking to update their facility or improve scheduling and organization for the new school year, choosing to install an IP clock system will help to accomplish both of these goals.

A clean building aesthetic with updated appliances, fixtures and systems is integral to a school’s success.  A well-kept school creates a space where parents, students and teachers can feel proud and motivated to do their best. To improve a school’s appearance, outdated, faded or poorly functioning clocks can be replaced with new IP clocks from Sapling. For a classic look, our analog clocks, either round or square, are simple and clear. They can be purchased with standard black numbers or custom colors to coordinate with the school. For a more modern design, our digital clocks are rectangular and very sleek. Both our analog and digital clocks are designed to be clear and easily read, helping to keep your school environment a beautiful one.

In addition to a more aesthetically pleasing facility, Sapling’s IP clocks will help your school to run more smoothly. Perhaps the most obvious change will be that every person will follow the exact same time. Since our clocks are constantly synchronized with each other, and receive their time from a very accurate NTP server, there is no chance of clocks falling behind or running ahead. This means that classes will start and end precisely on time, as well as meetings, recesses and lunch periods. With the addition of a master clock, the bells can be set to ring at the start and end of each class and at the end of the day. For half days and shortened schedules, you don’t have to worry about the bells ringing at the wrong times, since our IP Monitor Software allows complete personalized control settings. The user can set various bell schedules for different days so that when there is a modified schedule, students know where they have to be at any given time. With our digital clocks, the countdown feature can be utilized during tests, presentations, and breaks, so that everyone is aware of how much time remains. With accurate time displays, bell synchronization, and the countdown feature, sticking to the schedule will be more successful than ever.

Another positive change that Sapling’s IP clocks can bring to your school is an increase in efficiency. This particular benefit will most directly help the maintenance team and facilities managers. Without a synchronized clock system, changing numerous clocks after daylight savings time or power outages is extremely tedious and time consuming. You don’t have to worry about that with Sapling’s automatic time adjustments. The clocks receive a signal to correct their time displays right after such events occur. With a master clock, lights and appliances such as printers, microwaves and coffee pots can also be set to automatically turn off at the end of the day, or at the desired time. All of these capabilities save energy and will allow your maintenance staff to use their time for other tasks.

PoE clocks are widely recognized as one of the most advanced timekeeping options available in the synchronized clock system market. If you are unfamiliar with what exactly a PoE clock entails, I have provided the basics of this innovative system. However, even if you are aware of the functionality of a PoE clock system, you may not realize all of the amazing benefits that this type of system can provide for your facility. If you desire heightened precision, efficiency, and control, a PoE clock system may be exactly what you are looking for.

PoE Clock Basics

A PoE (Power over Ethernet) clock is a type of IP clock that is capable of receiving both power and data through a single Ethernet cable. The clocks in a PoE clock system then receive their time input via an NTP (Network Time Protocol) server, meaning that the purchase of a master clock is not necessary.  PoE clocks can be installed one of two ways—either a facility has an existing PoE switch, most often in the control room of the facility, or they opt to use PoE injectors. A PoE injector is shaped like a small box that plugs into both an electrical outlet and an Ethernet jack. The injector then combines these two inputs into a single output which attaches to the clock. PoE Clocks are available in both analog and digital, and offer a number of features accordingly.

The Benefits

Punctuality: Setting the Example with Synchronized School Clocks

Educational goals in grades K-12 expand well beyond the typical math, English, and science subject matter that may initially come to mind. In these formative years, students learn many basic practices that will follow them into higher education and the job world. One such important attribute is punctuality. Schools that are scheduled and organized, and teachers that are consistently prompt to the classroom, can help model timeliness for students. In order to be sure that your institution is setting the proper example, consider installing synchronized school clocks to help keep the entire school running smoothly.                

Synchronized School Clock Systems

Primary and secondary schools range in size from just a handful of pupils per grade to classes of over a thousand students. In large institutions in particular, the number of clocks can reach into the hundreds. Think about your own school days—there was a clock in every classroom, likely a few in each hallway, one in the gymnasium, the art room—the list goes on and on. With stand-alone wall clocks, the discrepancies between clocks are abundant. Certainly you can remember that one classroom clock that was always 3 hours behind, or the one in the cafeteria that was perpetually stopped at 11:35. This lack of harmony between each individual clock can prove problematic. Teachers spend a great deal of time creating carefully-structured lesson plans, and an incorrect clock can cause the class to lose time and miss out on valuable material. Additionally, hallway clocks that are inaccurate can lead students to be late to class, which can be disruptive for teachers and students alike.                

How School Clocks Work

By installing a synchronized school clock system in your facility, these problems can be eliminated. A synchronized school clock system is different than a series of stand-alone clocks, because each individual clock receives its time from the same source. Often, this source is a master clock, which keeps accurate time through its own internal clock, GPS receiver, or NTP server. The master clock then sends this accurate time to every clock in the school, guaranteeing that clocks are not only accurate, but that they will all have unified displays. This will ensure that every member of the student body, faculty, and administration are viewing the same time.                

Benefits of Synchronized School Clocks

A synchronized school clock system provides more than just accurate time, however. A master clock has scheduling capabilities that allow for the school’s bell system to be automated through the synchronized clock system. The master clock, which has the ability to program multiple events, is a vital tool for any educational facility. Because of this scheduling feature, your school does not have to rely on a student or faculty member to manually ring the bells at the beginning and end of each class period, which can easily be subject to error. The breadth of scheduling flexibility allows bells to be pre-programmed for all occasions: assemblies, early dismissals, and delayed openings, to name a few.