The 2024 Merrimack College report on teacher and student mental health underscores a concerning reality: the pressures of digital immersion are increasingly affecting both students’ and educators' well-being. Among the most striking findings, respondents ranked “eliminating or reducing student access to social media during school hours” as the third most recommended step schools could take to support student wellness. Reflecting a rising frustration among educators and IT staff, it's emblematic of the daily challenges facing schools' efforts in managing technology to create a healthier learning environment.
However, addressing this issue is complex. As many K-12 schools have discovered, banning cell phones alone is not a cure-all. Research shows that digital habits don’t simply vanish with cell phone restrictions; instead, students often transfer these habits to school-issued devices, including Chromebooks, iPads, and laptops. Unfortunately, conventional content filtering systems are often outdated, providing minimal resistance to students who easily circumvent them.
A recent study highlighted just how ineffective traditional filters can be, revealing that over 95% of students bypassed URL and keyword-based filters more than 80% of the time. For K-12 educators and IT staff, this creates an exhausting game of cat and mouse that drains time, resources, and, perhaps most critically, morale.
Why Traditional Filtering Isn’t Working for Today’s Schools
Conventional web filters, designed for an internet landscape of the past, have not kept up with the fast-paced digital environment students encounter today. Traditional filters typically rely on URL and keyword lists, an approach that is both inflexible and easily outsmarted by tech-savvy students. And as students devise new methods to bypass these filters—using proxy sites, VPNs, or other tools—the burden of monitoring their online activity often falls on teachers and IT administrators. Consequently, rather than focusing on teaching, educators are increasingly tasked with “policing” students' online behavior, resulting in teacher burnout and frustration.
Further, K-12 IT teams are frequently locked in a reactive cycle. They are constantly updating blocked site lists, patching security gaps, and managing device compliance in an attempt to stay ahead of student circumvention efforts. As a result, both IT administrators and teachers are stretched thin, unable to effectively support a learning environment where students can engage positively with technology.
Moving Beyond “All-or-Nothing” Approaches: Introducing Adaptive AI Solutions
An all-or-nothing approach to internet access is no longer viable for schools. Today’s educators need tools that adapt to the dynamic nature of the internet, allowing students the freedom to explore and learn while keeping them safe from harmful content. Enter AI-driven solutions like Deledao’s ActiveInsights™ suite, which offers an innovative answer to these challenges by utilizing adaptive, real-time filtering technology.
Unlike traditional filters, Deledao’s AI-enabled platform doesn’t rely on static lists. Instead, it actively analyzes content in real-time, distinguishing between safe and inappropriate material, even when new or unsanctioned sites emerge. Deledao’s approach isn’t punitive or restrictive—it promotes responsible digital behavior by giving students access to needed educational content in a secure environment. Designed to foster self-regulation by allowing students to navigate the internet with guidance rather than total restriction, Deledao's unique approach to filtering aligns well with today’s emphasis on digital literacy and personal responsibility.
Consider the comments of Michael Robbins, Chief Technology Officer for Westminster USD in California:
“The Deledao filter guided our students back to learning. We saw a lot of attempts to access blocked content in the beginning, but students gradually stopped trying when
they figured out that they wouldn't be able to bypass the filter. I didn't expect this positive change in student behavior, but it is great to see!”
How Deledao Empowers IT Teams and Educators
Deledao’s ActiveInsights™ suite significantly reduces the burden on IT teams by streamlining workflows and automating routine tasks. Using InstantAI technology, the platform continually updates itself, identifying and blocking new proxy sites in real time removing the constant need for manual list maintenance, saving IT administrators hours every week. According to Kyle Calderwood, Technology Coordinator at Tabernacle Township School District in New Jersey, it’s helped him recapture time he’d been spending JUST on managing proxy sites alone!
“We kept all the features we had with our previous filter product and gained more with Deledao so it was a no brainer. Besides blurring inappropriate images with AI, Deledao developed ProxyGuard™ to detect and block proxy sites like Interstellar in real time. The proxy detection feature alone has saved me 10-15% of my weekly time spent manually adding sites to the blocklist. That’s 4-6 hours I get back every week!”
For teachers, Deledao’s classroom management tools shift the focus back to education. Rather than constantly monitoring students’ screens, teachers can leverage Deledao’s tools to manage internet access seamlessly, empowering teachers to reclaim valuable classroom time and allowing them to engage with students and focus on instruction rather than digital oversight.
A Brighter, Balanced Future for Digital Learning
The need for solutions like Deledao is clear - today's students require tools that guide them toward healthy digital habits without restricting their access to valuable educational resources. Meanwhile, educators need technology that works for them, not against them, allowing them to teach in a balanced, productive environment.
Deledao’s AI-driven platform is paving the way for a more adaptive and effective approach to digital learning, one that respects the educational mission while keeping students safe. For K-12 administrators and IT leaders seeking to maximize their EdTech investments, Deledao offers a smart, sustainable solution.
Take the Next Step with Deledao
Deledao’s ActiveInsights™ suite offers schools the flexibility, efficiency, and peace of mind needed to manage digital learning in today’s complex landscape. Don’t just take our word for it; experience the difference Deledao’s technology can make in your district. Reach out to Deledao to schedule a demo and see how this cutting-edge solution can transform your school’s digital learning environment for the better.
