Deep Dive: Optimizing Independent School Operations through APIs

Talking Technology with ATLIS

Today’s episode is brought to you by Toddle.

Resources

• API dog
• Postman
• Send your first API request
• Microsoft power automate
• SKY API | Blackbaud
• One roster explained
• One roster resources
• What is an API?
• Mulesoft
• Google Apps Script doc on External APIs
• [Webinar] Unlocking Blackbaud Education Management - Syncing your School Data via SKY API & Google Apps Script

Explore the transformative power of APIs in education with insights from tech leaders Bernie McCormick, Nick Marchese, and Shandor Simon, who discuss how APIs enhance interactions between software systems in independent schools and underscore the importance of API literacy and accessible solutions.

The use of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) in independent schools is not just a technical upgrade but a strategic enhancement. In this deep-dive episode, APIs are explored in detail, with guests Bernie McCormick, Nick Marchese, and Shandor Simon providing valuable insights on how APIs facilitate smoother interactions between different software systems, aiding in the management and operation of independent schools. They explore how APIs facilitate data integration and automation, sharing experiences and challenges in implementing APIs. The discussion emphasizes the importance of API literacy among technology leaders and underscores the need for well-formed, accessible APIs from vendors.

Bernie McCormick, CTO of Mary McDowell Friends School (New York) opened the episode by highlighting the quality and functionality of APIs. He emphasized the need for well-formed APIs for seamless integration into independent schools. He stated, “The core systems that most schools use are a combination of security, identity management, communications, email, an enterprise document, all of these things. There's a lot of replication that happens between them. A lot of that was happening manually. When you add people to the process, it creates errors. Most of the APIs that I'm using internally are around the vendors that have well-formed APIs and using them as the source of truth to feed other systems that have less robust APIs." McCormick’s insights set the tone for a discussion centered around the technical and practical aspects of API integration in schools.

Next, Nick Marchese, Director of Academic and Strategic Technology at Emma Willard School (New York) shared his insights on the role of APIs during the pandemic, highlighting their importance in adapting to new challenges. He reflected, “APIs were our lifeline during the pandemic, allowing us to quickly adapt to online learning and real-time data management, which was crucial for our school's operations during that period.” He discussed the transformative impact these tools had in managing real-time updates, reducing manual workload, and enhancing overall efficiency. His narrative painted a vivid picture of how APIs can be leveraged in times of crisis to support school operations.

Shandor Simon, Director of Technology at Beaver Country Day School (Massachusetts) then took the floor, discussing the practical applications of APIs in automating tasks to support teachers and students more effectively. He commented, “With APIs, we managed to automate several of our daily tasks, which significantly freed up time for us to focus more on direct educational support and innovation.” Simon’s contributions highlighted the scalability and adaptability of APIs, from simple tasks to complex integrations.

The episode concluded with a collective acknowledgment of the transformative power of APIs in educational technology. The guests encouraged listeners to start with practical projects, gradually building their understanding and utilization of APIs. The discussion underscored the importance of APIs in the evolution of educational technology, advocating for more standardized, accessible, and affordable solutions for independent schools.

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