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The adolescent years are key in identity development, and as schools continue finding ways to keep kids safe, such as requiring them to wear IDs and uniforms, are they also inhibiting students’ growth into adulthood? Psychologist Erik Erikson stated that identity “enables one to move with purpose and direction through life.” The life skills that schools are looking to instill in our youth are often compromised by the need protect them from violence. How can administrators allow students to develop as individuals while also protecting their well being at school?

Some schools have gotten creative with student IDs. As long as the ID photo is an accurate depiction of the student’s likeness, there is no reason why kids can’t express themselves. For example, a high school in Farmington Hills, Michigan has adopted a quirky tradition that allows kids to dress up in costumes for their ID pictures. Some students choose Harry Potter characters, while others throw it back to the 90s with iconic “Clueless” references. Regardless of each student’s take on humor, this tradition is both fun and safe! It empowers students to express themselves, to show their likes and hobbies, and also gives them a say in how they want to be identified.

Most schools have award programs for good grades, community service and good attendance. These types of awards can be turned into pins or badges that are attached to the student’s ID card or lanyard. Kids who are succeeding in the classroom, on the court and field, or in their community can be recognized by their teachers and fellow students. This empowers kids to keep working toward their goals and it gives them a strong sense of self each time they put their ID card on.

Schools can create award systems with color codes for A/B honor roll, A honor roll, creativity, sportsmanship, community service and more! These merits can be represented by small pins or stickers that attach to the student’s ID card. To go even further, they can be turned in for cash credits that purchase lunch, books, supplies and more. There are many ways that institutions can get creative and encourage students to wear their ID cards.

Libraries, zoos, art museums and other local establishments can also get on board by offering student discounts. This keeps kids interested in learning and experiencing what their community has to offer. Discovering one’s surroundings and world is also a key part of identity development. When students are encouraged to venture out, they’re given a sense of independence and self-esteem that is vital for transition into adulthood.

Student IDs can also aid in creating relationships with staff and classmates. Healthy social interaction should also be taught in schools, and is a large part of succeeding in the job force. Student IDs help kids to identify one another by name, and can provide an ice breaker for conversation. Creative and funny ID card photos are even better, because they allow each student to feel unique and memorable. Photo IDs can foster healthy social interaction in schools! This goes well beyond providing a bland picture that is only intended to improve safety on campus.

There are many ways to allow students to thrive and grow, while also keeping them safe. Read our recent posts about tracking student success with QR code badges and the 3 main types of ID cards to gain insight into some of the latest trends in student identification.

As school starts back across the nation, parents, teachers and administrators are ready to implement their latest plans and teaching strategies to improve retention, behavior and safety. Safety is of growing concern in today’s schools. Initiatives like requiring clear book bags, student ID cards and strict dress codes are all commonly used to help keep students safe, but what NEW things are being done?

Student ID cards are generally worn in obligation and have somewhat of a negative reputation. However, new app-based programs being implemented across the U.S. are shedding a positive light on student IDs and student tracking. With a simple and easy-to-generate QR code, student IDs can be upgraded for use with smartphone apps that boost student engagement and crack down on bad behavior.

Student Recognition and Reward Programs

Programs such as PBIS Rewards help teachers, students and parents stay on the same page about student learning and success. These types of school programs use QR codes that connect to profiles on smartphone apps. Students can earn points that can be used toward purchases and other types of rewards. PBIS and similar programs eliminate paper tickets and boost instructional time, while allowing teachers, kids and parents to see a clear representation of what is happening in the classroom. Students are more engaged and accountable in the learning process because they feel empowered to keep earning positive feedback.

 

 

Positive Behavior Reinforcement

Schools have also begun using apps to cut down on behavioral issues. Programs like Hero provide a convenient and measurable way to keep track of disciplinary actions, late arrivals, absences and can also aid in safety when a student is unaccounted for. These programs make classroom management easier and keep school offices more organized. They also provide a unified standard for student discipline so that each student feels he or she is treated equally. Hero can connect classes, schools and districts to one unified behavior management standard. This helps with positive reinforcement and with intervention. Administrators and parents can see clear trends in student behavior, both at an individual level and school level, and they can intervene before issues escalate.

Schools using programs like Hero have real data that shows them percentages of suspensions, late arrivals and more and they can watch these numbers decrease over time. Schools in 45 states are using Hero. Many other schools have adopted similar programs.

“Research has proven that when school culture is more positive, discipline-related issues decrease. At the same time, in-class instruction time grows and student performance thrives,” according to Hero. Ten and 15 years ago, students were expected to wear ID cards at school, but were not given an incentive to do so. New programs that work with simple QR codes on IDs are helping to encourage kids and keep them accountable.

Some schools may be hesitant to use programs that track student learning and behavior. Perhaps they are concerned with the ethical implications of tracking a student’s every move, they’re afraid of the cost of IDs and the accuracy of QR codes, or the programs themselves are too costly. Also, schools have had to crack down on cell phones in the classroom, which might inhibit some institutions from using programs like PBIS and Hero, however most classrooms offer instructional tablets. These programs can be used on those devices as well.

Tracking programs may not be the best option for some schools or teachers, but cost and technology shouldn’t be the deterrent. There are free behavioral and learning tracking apps online, such as Class Dojo. Stephanie Jones, a dedicated special needs teacher in Jacksonville, Florida swears by Class Dojo.

“It’s easy to use with their app as well as on the computer. Parents have access to view their points – positive and negative, so they know exactly what’s happening in the classroom. You can also update with “class stories” so parents can see what’s going on in your classroom, on field trips – whatever you want to show them,” says Mrs. Jones.

 

Moreover, for apps that work with QR codes, these codes can be easily generated online and are easy to print. They are more forgiving than barcodes because if they are damaged, they can still be scanned with a smart phone to connect to a website or app. There are many businesses that create and print ID cards with QR codes. Here at NameTagWizard.com, you can order fully customized photo IDs for students and employees. Reordering is quick and affordable, so updating IDs for a new school year can be done with just a couple of mouse clicks.

At NameTagWizard.com, we are the Identification Experts, and our sole purpose is to connect names with faces. As technology continues to evolve, we will be doing more than that! More recently, name tags and IDs are used to not only connect a person and their name, but also a person and their digital profile. Schools across the world will continue to grow and use tracking apps to keep kids safe and help them succeed. Our product line will also expand to include everything you need to identify students and employees in today’s digital world.

Security on school campuses is always of high importance, but it’s especially vital at the start of a new year. The beginning of the school year is the best time for parents, teachers and administrators to implement new rules and plans, and this is a key time to apply new safety regulations. Schools can aid in the prevention of school violence and school trespassing with the use of photo ID card policies. When students show up for orientation, they should be handed a photo ID and encouraged to wear it any time they are on campus. As school populations grow and technology becomes more advanced, it’s more challenging to keep kids and staff safe. Knowing which types of photo IDs are available and how they work are the first steps to creating and implementing a school photo ID policy.

 

There are 3 main types of ID cards that are used by colleges, schools and corporations. These are traditional photo ID cards, or flash passes, proximity cards and smart cards. Each card offers a different level of security and potential uses.

1.Traditional Flash Passes – These are traditional photo ID cards that contain the student or teacher’s name, photo and school mascot or logo. They are often called flash passes because they are quickly shown to security officers or patrol guards to gain access to campus or rooms. These types of IDs are beneficial because they help identify who is permitted to be on campus. They rely on human eyes however, and if a person can skip past a security guard, they can gain access to campus with no further measures taken. Although flash passes do not offer extra security, they are still commonly used by schools and can be used to increase safety. Traditional photo ID cards can provide security in the following ways:

• Color coding: Each level of student and staff can wear a different color plastic card. At a glance this can help security officers and administrators identify between a teacher or other staff member, a student and their grade level (which often coincides with areas on campus the student should be), and a visitor. Be sure to offer visitors a temporary ID card that is a unique color to differentiate them from others on campus. Visitor ID cards can be customized with unique ID numbers or expiration dates. Expiration dates make it harder for these cards to be faked or stolen from campus and re-used.
• With Lanyards: Have each grade level, administrative staff member and maintenance employee wear a different color lanyard. Color coding of ID cards and lanyards makes it more difficult for the cards to be duplicated with fakes. Each person on campus should be aware of what the colors mean. Color codes can also help identify students on unauthorized areas of campus. (For instance, 12th graders being on 9th grade halls or wings without need.)
• With Bar codes: Bar codes can be used to confirm attendance at school and at school events. They can also help keep track of where a student was last seen, in case they were to disappear.

Implementing color codes is a simple yet effective way to boost security. Small measures like these make it more difficult to forge IDs, because anything outside of the color codes set up by the school would be easily identified.

2. Proximity Cards – Proximity cards offer another layer of security beyond that of flash passes. Proximity cards use radio frequency to send a special number to door-side card readers. These cards are very difficult to forge, because the card reader will only unlock the door if the scanned number matches an identified number in the school security system. These types of cards can provide security at every access point on campus, from the front entrance to the library and cafeteria (wherever a side-door card reader can be installed). It is difficult to keep security and patrol officers in each of these locations, so proximity cards help to fill that gap.

3. Smart Cards – Many schools and larger corporations are implementing the use of smart cards. Smart cards offer the highest level of security. These cards not only help identify students and staff, they can also be used to purchase lunch, buy drinks or snacks from vending machines and check out library books. These cards contain a chip that communicates with a network, and they allow kids to sign into computers, use printers on campus and more. Parents can also monitor their child’s use of funds, and pre-load the card with lunch money, printer money and more. This eliminates the child’s need to carry cash that can be easily stolen or lost. Schools also benefit from smart cards because they save money on paper, ink and other supplies that are often wasted or overused.

What information should be included on a student ID card?

It is essential for any photo ID to include the most recent photo of the student, which is updated at least once each school year, the student’s name and grade level and the school mascot.

However, some schools also include clubs the student is a member of, sports the child plays and other mentions such as honor roll. These additions can turn a common photo ID into something the student is proud to wear, and can help teachers, coaches and parents locate students after school hours, if needed. Schools can even implement a pin system or star system. Each new accomplishment can come with a new pin on the child’s ID card!

For elementary schools looking to implement a badge policy, the following are important to include on each child’s ID card:

Elementary school name, school mascot or logo, grade level, classroom number, teacher name and parent name. If the student rides a bus, it is also important to include the bus number. All of this information can help keep young students safe on campus, and makes it much easier to guide kids back to their classroom if they are lost.

There are many ways schools can use badges and IDs to keep their kids safe. At NameTagWizard.com we are always open to hearing your ideas. Do you have a unique way you have used school photo IDs on your campus or in your workplace?

Creative Name Tags for Improved Customer Experience

If you’re a Disney fan, you know that they’ve recently upped their efforts at offering the best customer service available. Disney, like many other companies and brands, is striving to create a stronger
emotional connection with their customer. Disney’s strategies for creating this connection include pin trading, celebration buttons and name tags.

At NameTagWizard.com, that’s what we do – we connect names with faces, but why is this so important? It’s important because it increases the potential for a more personalized experience for your customer. Every day we make name tags and badges that help companies identify their staff and maintain a professional image for their business, but name tags can do so much more.

There are many ways employers can get creative with name tags to help initiate personal connections between staff and customer.

If you’re in the entertainment or hospitality industry where employees come from all parts of the world to work for your company, and your guests travel thousands of miles to experience what you have to offer, you most definitely want both parties to feel connected. A positive emotional connection should exist between your customer and your brand image. Ideally this is what brought the customer to you in the first place. More importantly, however, your company should strive for a connection between each customer and staff member. This connection is what keeps your customer coming back and it’s what keeps them from being overly price or convenience conscious. They become brand loyal – which is any business’s ultimate goal. The customer and employee relationship is often the defining interaction for your company and its image.

For many businesses, particularly travel and hospitality, you can initiate personalized interaction between your employees and customers by including their name and home town on their badge. Imagine the personal connection that is created when a customer comes in contact with a staff member who is from the same town. This small moment has a lasting impact not just on the individuals involved, but for the company as a whole. This simple addition of an employee’s home town to a name tag can create many micro moments each day that impress your customer and make them more likely to return, or to speak highly of your business.

Other creative ideas for personalizing name tags include:

1 – A personality identifier
2 – A favorite quote
3 – Voted most likely to be (from the high school yearbook)
4 – A nickname
5 – A zodiac sign
6 – College mascot
7 – Employee since (year)
8 – Favorite pastime

Name tags don’t have to be limited to names and job titles. You can get as creative as you want! Also, customer experience is often closely related to company culture. How happy and fulfilled are your employees? This will show in every interaction with the customer. One way to boost morale and give your employees a chance to feel connected to their jobs is to offer them the chance to decide what goes on their badge. Rather than having each employee wear a name tag that’s been handed to them from their manager, let them decide what should be on their badge. This gives the employee a chance to show who they are at work, whether they are the creative type, analytical type or the office comedian.

Name badges aren’t just plastic or metal tags that are worn from 9-5. They can do so much more for morale and customer experience. Take the opportunity to build personal connections between your staff and your customer with creative name tags from NameTagWizard.com.

Looking to purchase name tags for the staff members of your company? Make sure you get name badges that will last and provide employees a fast and convenient way to identify themselves to clients and customers. Magnetic name tags are by far the most popular style.

Among the many name tag fasteners we offer, magnets are best for wearing with professional clothing because they do not leave holes or tears, like traditional pins do. If you want to ensure that your staff members wear name tags that won’t get lost, these magnets provide a strong hold to all types of clothing.

Here are the most common questions about our magnetic name tags:

How do Magnetic Name Tags Work?

Once you have your name badges designed using our design tool, select magnets as your backing type and this is how they will appear on the back of your badges:

The metal strip is firmly applied with durable adhesive onto the back of plastic or metal name tags, depending on which you choose. These are convenient and allow for easy on-and-off use that won’t leave holes in clothing. The blue plastic strip features 3 strong magnets that will hold the name badge onto all types of clothing, whether it is a thin business shirt or a wool blazer.

Are magnetic name tags harmful?

Magnets are potentially harmful, yes. The blue plastic strip that contains the 3 round magnets features a warning to remind anyone with a pacemaker not to use magnets. “Caution – Magnetic Device, Do Not Use with Pacemaker.” If you are in charge of ordering name badges for your office staff, it is important to be aware of employees who have a pacemaker.

What happens when you put a magnet on a pacemaker?

Magnets are known to interfere with pacemakers, and can inhibit arrhythmia therapy. Individuals with pacemakers are not advised to use magnets. Consult your physician before using magnetic devices. Find more information about magnets and pacemakers here.

What clothing can magnetic badges be worn with?

To ensure the badge is held strongly in place, we suggest only wearing magnetic badges with shirts or other thin material. The magnets are not ideal for thick fleece and jackets.

Magnets give employees the chance to wear their name tag with different outfits. These can either be affixed to their shirt collar, shirt pocket or anywhere else that is convenient for the type of attire they are wearing.

Can magnets harm computers?

When a magnet is close to a computer’s hard drive, its magnetic field can disrupt the hard drive and destroy contents. Magnetic name tags are generally safe and will not come in close contact with computer hard drives, however.

What types of magnetic name tags do you offer?

Magnets can be applied to every name tag we make, this includes photo IDs and traditional plastic or metal name tags. We also offer magnetic name plates for cubicles.

Our magnetic name tags include:

• Engraved
• Full color
• Reusable badges including chalk board and dry erase
• Photo IDs
• Name plates. (Magnetic tape is available for cubicle and wall plates).

If you have further questions about magnets or name badges available at NameTagWizard.com, contact our Customer Focus Team. We will be glad to assist you in placing an order!

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