HP in Primary Education

Some of the older ones amongst us can actually remember a time when there were no computers in schools. Incredible but true. How did we learn? survive, even?

Technology is now ubiquitous; and pupils entering education today, who grow up with limited access to it, are likely to be disadvantaged throughout their time at school and beyond. There is a real danger of alienation (from classmates, and from technology) that a shortage of available ICT can engender.

Primary Schools meanwhile, are all too often forced to do the best they can with limited resources, due to budget and staffing constraints.

In today's Primary Schools, ICT resources tend to be scarce, out of date, and with limited interoperability; and there is a continued reliance on printed materials. Such an environment presents challenges to teachers wishing to personalise lesson plans or provide one-to-one guidance; and can lead to limited opportunities for pupils to explore and learn.

Furthermore, very few IT manufacturers offer solutions specifically for young hands - especially not for very young hands. The 'wish list' for ideal features might look something like this:

• Robust - bordering on indestructible might be more concise
• Engaging - a UI that is simple and instinctive, and adaptable for personalised lesson plans
• Small and light, yet with a long battery life, and a long service life.

With the right tools, enquiring minds can explore literacy and numeracy, music and creativity; while learning to collaborate, and to socialise. Small but vital steps on a larger journey.

Levelling the playing field - HP Innovation in Primary Schools.

HP has developed a large range of best-in-class technology - specifically designed for demanding Primary Educational environments - with price points, programmes and discounts that can make a real positive difference; helping to ensure better ICT coverage in primary schools, for pupils and students of Key stage 3.

Recommendations for the near term include small, ruggedised tablets such as the HP Pro Slate 10, and Pro Tablet 10 Education Edition; which both feature an extra tough chassis and screen, a solidly attached stylus, excellent battery performance augmented by charging carts, robust security features, and a suite of pre-installed educational tools.

These small and portable wireless tablets enable easy connectivity with projectors, whiteboards and other devices - easing the burden on teaching staff; while ensuring that pupils' needs are fully served in the following key areas:

• Literacy and numeracy - via number recognition, spelling utilities, and e-readers
•  Creativity: painting, animated short stories, basic music keyboard skills
•   Collaboration and socialisation
• Practice and remediation of basic skills.

Westcoast's HP in Education portal highlights the key HP products best suited to education to make it easy for schools and their suppliers to make an informed decision on the solutions available as conveniently as possible.

Are you interested in learning more about HP Innovation for Schools and how we can help?

Visit the Westcoast HP in Education portal today

Reinventing the way students learn with HP in Education

 Technology is everywhere and affects nearly every part of our lives from shopping, to socialising and, most importantly, learning. With their great and increasing presence entwined in our lives, innovative IT solutions in the classroom are a valuable learning tool for students everywhere and it's never been a more important time to make technology more accessible to young people in the Education sector.

Westcoast's HP in Education portal highlights the key HP products best suited to education to make it easy for our partners to make an informed decision on the solutions available as conveniently as possible.

HP are reinventing the way students learn and teachers teach by offering very specific solutions depending on the needs at each stage of the education journey from primary education right the way through to university level.

Over the next few weeks, we will be running a 'HP in Education' Blog series and taking a deep dive into the benefits, solutions and products designed specifically around the bespoke needs throughout education from primary to university, special needs to emerging markets.

So keep your eyes peeled and in the meantime here's a few examples of how HP are innovating their solutions designed especially for each stage of education ...

-        In early primary, HP has designed smaller, ruggedized tablets for those tiny hands and moments when faced with an unannounced drop test!

-        For middle school, HP's larger convertibles allow students to work together by collaborating and communicating ideas easily using technology

-        As the curriculum shifts from content consumption to content creation, the shift from tablets to HP workstations allows students to develop their writing skills

-        College & University life demands both on and off-site availability of devices so HP's consistent user experience regardless of device is essential

-        HP also has exclusive value added feature(s) addressing assistive technology for students with disabilities including voice recognition for those challenged by keyboards, Text to speech/ speech to text functionality, and much more within a controlled environment so students can only see apps that are relevant for them (not distracted by others)

Over the last two years, Medhurst IT has been using HP’s Mobility Technology within primary schools, universities and colleges. They have found that this has had a huge impact in growing as a business to reach new target audiences so HP now resonates as a crucial component within the organisation. Tom Drew, Education Sales Specialist at Medhurst, has also been using the Westcoast's SMARTbid tool to get the best pricing on HP devices.

Tom says “HP and SMARTbid allow us to be competitive in the education sector. We always backed ourselves to be successful once taken on by a school or college, but HP kit provides that ‘foot in the door’ that we always lacked when it came to the initial pitch.”

Education customers should also take advantage of HP Subscription: One price, one payment, one place to buy your entire IT solution! If your customers are looking for a better way to manage their schools' PCs then the best solution is a subscription to use bundled hardware and services for a monthly payment. Learn more about HP Subscription here

Interested in learning more about HP Innovation for Schools and how we can help?

<< Visit the Westcoast HP in Education portal today >>