We've talked a lot about the LearnPad from Educational Resources here at the Roundup. It's a great tablet alternative to the iPad and Android devices, especially since it's designed specifically for education. The tablet has been a big hit in Texas this year, and here's the full press release:
October 28th, 2013 - Texas - Nueces Canyon Consolidated Independent School District (NCCISD) and Midland Independent School District (MISD) successfully implemented 1:1 tablet initiatives using the LearnPad tablet solution.
They chose the LearnPad after conducting extensive research for a tablet solution that met their localized needs. Each school district’s goal was to supply every student with a tablet and integrate it into their existing curriculum and technology. NCCISD has completed this goal, outfitting all 300 students in the district. MISD supplied their entire sixth grade of 1,600 students with LearnPads as part of a multi-year integration of 1:1.
They chose the LearnPad after conducting extensive research for a tablet solution that met their localized needs. Each school district’s goal was to supply every student with a tablet and integrate it into their existing curriculum and technology. NCCISD has completed this goal, outfitting all 300 students in the district. MISD supplied their entire sixth grade of 1,600 students with LearnPads as part of a multi-year integration of 1:1.
Ease of implementation was a key factor for MISD when deciding to go with the LearnPad tablet solution. Dennis Haynie, MISD’s Director of Instructional Technology, said, “It’s so easy with the LearnPad. It takes us about an hour to set up five iPads vs.10 minutes to set up five LearnPads.” MISD teachers also use the LearnPads in a “flipped classroom” environment.
Teachers create lessons with existing content, include new media, and send the students home with the tablets. One of their major concerns with this model is security. MISD piloted both iPads and LearnPads, however, for their students, LearnPad is the obvious choice according to Haynie. “The iPad is a consumer device and there is nothing a school district can do that prevents a student from removing the security and downloading games. The LearnPad is a secure tablet that is locked-down and allows teachers to monitor a student’s activity.”
NCCISD chose the LearnPad tablet solution because it would integrate seamlessly with their existing curriculum. Director of Technology for NCCISD, Louis Webb, said, “All my teachers have been turned loose on the LearnPad with a few days of training this summer. They are leveraging content off the internet that we’ve never been able to use before.
Teachers also have complete control over what the students do. Now that we have the dashboard, they can monitor exactly what’s happening in the classroom.” Webb also touts the LearnPad implementation as “turnkey” and said, “It’s completely changed the way we do business here at our school. The product sells itself.”
The 2013 BETT “Best Digital Device” Award-winning LearnPad “Purpose Built for Education” Solution includes three key components allowing teachers to safely deliver unlimited digital instruction: LearnPad cloud-based Management Portal, LearnPad tablet, and Content Store. The LearnPad tablet solution is offered at two competitive prices, $399 for a 10.1” Quad Core XD and $299 for a 9.7” Dual Core SD.
The LearnPad carries no access, subscription, renewal or reoccurring costs beyond initial cost. The LearnPad is available across the US, Canada, Latin and South America and the Caribbean exclusively by Educational Resources® and ER’s value added selling partners such as ProComputing, among others.
Both technology directors at MISD and NCCISD expressed their desire for a quality classroom tablet solution that was secure and focused on education and found it through Educational Resources and its authorized Texas reseller ProComputing respectively. These directors are recognized by Educational Resources as champions of the LearnPad and teachers and staff members from both districts have attended numerous trainings and have become efficient users.
About Educational Resources®:
ER has been providing instructional technology solutions to schools since 1985. The LearnPad is the only proven, “Purpose Built for Education” solution and customized for classroom use. http://www.edresources.com/
About ProComputing:
For more than 20 years, ProComputing has helped schools and educators prepare and embrace the kinds of change that make a difference in their students’ lives. At ProComputing, they specialize in bringing the 21st century learning environment to classrooms all over Texas. http://www.procomputing.com/
