5 KEY THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY

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5 KEY THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY When you re making decisions about IT for staff and students there are several issues to weigh up: Will teachers

How important is portability? Will the device s battery last a full school day? Can it survive if tea is spilt on it in the cafeteria - or if it s dropped in the playground?

1 5 KEY THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY When you re making decisions about IT for staff and students there are several issues to weigh up: Will teachers be able to boot up quickly and easily before class starts? Does the screen size and flexibility allow several students to see it at the same time? How important is portability? Will the device s battery last a full school day? Can it survive if tea is spilt on it in the cafeteria - or if it s dropped in the playground? Are software updates and licenses easy to manage? What happens if it goes wrong? What package offers the best value for price, build quality, robustness, reliability, after sales service, warranties etc.?

CONSIDERATION #1: HOW WILL THE TECHNOLOGY FIT INTO YOUR SCHOOL S IMPROVEMENT PLAN? You should definitely keep in mind your school s improvement plan when deciding on technology for the classroom.

So if you re in charge of choosing and maintaining technology for your school you need to make sure the equipment you choose will deliver on all its planned uses not just now, but in the future.

2 CONSIDERATION #1: HOW WILL THE TECHNOLOGY FIT INTO YOUR SCHOOL S IMPROVEMENT PLAN? You should definitely keep in mind your school s improvement plan when deciding on technology for the classroom. Recent research has shown that many computers in primary and secondary schools are ineffective. So if you re in charge of choosing and maintaining technology for your school you need to make sure the equipment you choose will deliver on all its planned uses not just now, but in the future. You need to look at everything, from better basic classroom computing and management, to the best in-touch and immersive reality in software, hardware and services, so that you re making sure your students and teachers can bring new educational opportunities to life in the classroom. A third of computers in UK schools are ineffective according to a major new survey examining the state of ICT in the sector. The independent survey of a representative panel of UK schools, carried out by the British Educational Suppliers Association (BESA), says that this implies there are 1.1 million such computers in our schools. The survey showed that 35 per cent of all computers in secondary schools, and 31 per cent in primary schools, were ineffective. This would leave the average secondary with 144 ineffective computers, compared with 22 in the average primary. The report says that in recent years an increasing number of computers have been recorded as ineffective due to condition, age or specification. According to the BESA survey, the proportion of schools saying they are well equipped with ICT infrastructure and devices has dropped to its lowest point in six years: A third of secondaries say they re well equipped that s down from 37 per cent last year and 64 per cent the year before that. Primaries are more likely to see themselves as well equipped 60 per cent say this is currently the case, though this is down from a peak of 67 per cent in Even though many school budgets are being severely stretched due to real-terms funding cuts, schools are still looking to increase their IT spending. That s because they re recognising more and more the positive impact that technology has on pupil performance especially when properly applied. 1 5 KEY THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY LenovoNewSchool.co.uk

CONSIDERATION #2: YOUR BUDGET Obviously your buying power depends on your

Technology can be replaced more often if the funds are available on a

In that case, when making a one-time allocation of funds you will probably

COST OF THE CONTRACT ACROSS ITS LIFETIME, INCLUDING: The price of the

3 CONSIDERATION #2: YOUR BUDGET Obviously your buying power depends on your funding sources and the availability of those funds. Technology can be replaced more often if the funds are available on a recurring basis. If not, then longevity is important. In that case, when making a one-time allocation of funds you will probably need to go for technology with a longer lifespan. Budget is always a major factor. We always want the best but we need to be grounded on what we can actually afford. TO HELP MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR BUDGETING, YOU SHOULD ESTIMATE THE TOTAL COST OF THE CONTRACT ACROSS ITS LIFETIME, INCLUDING: The price of the software, hardware and set-up services VAT Delivery charges On-going maintenance costs Running costs The cost of removing and disposing of an item or service you no longer need 2 5 KEY THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY LenovoNewSchool.co.uk

CONSIDERATION #3: THE SCOPE OF YOUR REQUIREMENTS Without a large grant or investment, the range and extent of your IT needs is probably the main issue when deciding on classroom technologies.

So for a 1-to-4 computerstudent ratio, or a notebook initiative, make sure there s enough space and electrical capacity in the classroom, and check the location of the electrical outlets.

4 CONSIDERATION #3: THE SCOPE OF YOUR REQUIREMENTS Without a large grant or investment, the range and extent of your IT needs is probably the main issue when deciding on classroom technologies. You ll also need to look at the technology capacity of your classrooms. So for a 1-to-4 computerstudent ratio, or a notebook initiative, make sure there s enough space and electrical capacity in the classroom, and check the location of the electrical outlets. If your computers are all crowded along a single wall your students won t have the room they need to work in small groups. Here s a list of requirements you may want to factor into your scope of work: THE BREADTH OF SCOPE: Enabling technology, extending to student learning, professional development, staff presentations, internal comms etc. APPLICABILITY TO MOST SUBJECT AREAS: Technology that can be used for instruction across the curriculum, reducing the need for specialised training and support. EASE OF USE: Teachers are likelier to embrace technology that s easy to connect, turn on, and use right out of the box. EASE OF INTEGRATION: Teachers don t have a lot of time. The best technologies allow teachers to transform lessons into exciting and visually rich activities that produce results. MINIMAL TRAINING AND SUPPORT REQUIRED: Set-up, training and annual support should take less than an hour, and the technology should be easy for teachers to troubleshoot. LONGEVITY: The technology should deliver on all the performance features it was selected for for at least five or more years after it s been installed. 3 5 KEY THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY LenovoNewSchool.co.uk

LAPTOPS & TABLETS WHERE THEY BELONG LENOVO ADVANTAGES PORTABILITY The biggest advantage of laptops and tablets is their portability.

5 CONSIDERATION #4: THE TYPE OF EQUIPMENT NOW IT S TIME TO LOOK AT THE COMPUTER. Here are a few of the most important things to think about when you re actually buying the machine: DESKTOP, LAPTOP OR WORKSTATION? LAPTOPS & TABLETS WHERE THEY BELONG LENOVO ADVANTAGES PORTABILITY The biggest advantage of laptops and tablets is their portability. Laptops and tablets are much smaller and lighter than desktops and workstations. Laptops are an all-in-one solution that contains your entire computer system in one easy-to-carry unit. Integrated batteries improve the laptop s portability by giving you up to several hours of work even when disconnected from a power source. Although easier to carry and taking up less desk space, laptops and tablets typically have smaller screens and keyboards than desktops and workstations. So, if you or your students spend most of the school day in one location, you ll probably be more comfortable at a desktop or workstation. That s because of the full-size keyboard and the larger display mounted at a more ergonomic viewing angle. POWER & CAPACITY Even though modern laptops offer near-desktop performance, those type of higher-end systems come at a price - and it still won t match the raw processing power of a high-end desktop or workstation. So if all you re looking for is the most processing power for your money, then you re probably looking at a desktop or workstation solution. UPGRADABILITY The smaller, integrated structure of laptops and tablets makes them harder to upgrade or repair. Modern laptops usually offer fairly easy options for commonly upgraded items such as RAM, hard drive and battery, but if your screen, webcam, keyboard, touchpad or speakers die, it s not easy to replace them. Classrooms Labs/libraries Teacher devices 1:1 deployments Proven, industry-first education-built form factors and features Integrated security and manageability Proven durability Windows and Chrome support 4 5 KEY THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY LenovoNewSchool.co.uk

CONSIDERATION #4: THE TYPE OF EQUIPMENT (continued) DESKTOPS WHERE THEY BELONG LENOVO ADVANTAGES PORTABILITY Most desktops rely on external power sources to operate, so they reduce your freedom to

6 CONSIDERATION #4: THE TYPE OF EQUIPMENT (continued) DESKTOPS WHERE THEY BELONG LENOVO ADVANTAGES PORTABILITY Most desktops rely on external power sources to operate, so they reduce your freedom to move about. POWER & CAPACITY For running standard office applications such as word processing, , and presentation software you can get all the performance you need from a standard desktop PC. UPGRADABILITY The desktop computer s modular design makes it easy to swap out such peripherals, usually without ever opening your case. Also, this modular design gives fewer limits on the size and spec of replacement parts, so you ll have a bigger choice of products. PRICE Desktops are generally less expensive laptops. That s not because they re lower in quality computer or old-school technology. It s just that there s a lot more that goes into building a laptop than there is for a computer that sits on your desk. Computer labs Administrative office Testing centres Optimized for space, energy, heat, and noise efficiency Designed for superior long-term total cost of ownership Proven durability Windows and VDIready solutions 5 5 KEY THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY LenovoNewSchool.co.uk

CONSIDERATION #4: THE TYPE OF EQUIPMENT (continued) WORKSTATIONS WHERE THEY BELONG LENOVO ADVANTAGES PORTABILITY Most workstations rely on external power sources to operate, so you ll need to work in

7 CONSIDERATION #4: THE TYPE OF EQUIPMENT (continued) WORKSTATIONS WHERE THEY BELONG LENOVO ADVANTAGES PORTABILITY Most workstations rely on external power sources to operate, so you ll need to work in that one place. Workstations are difficult to shift, because you have to unplug parts and find safe ways to carry everything without causing damage. POWER & CAPACITY From Computer Aided Design (CAD) to numbercrunching to video editing, compared to a desktop PC an entry-level workstation will provide intelligent performance for many applications. Workstations usually support faster CPUs, more memory modules and larger hard drives than desktop and laptop systems, and their components are less expensive. If you don t need portability, you ll save money by sticking with a workstation. Workstations generally use higher end hardware (sometimes called workstation-class components) like motherboards and GPUs. So they are held to a higher standard than a typical desktop PC, because they use better capacitors and other components. These components can be used at high demand, and can handle these expectations, day in/day out without failure or error. All these parts make workstations more reliable and dependable than a typical desktop. PRICE Because of the higher end hardware, workstations are usually more expensive than desktop PCs. Classrooms Media labs Innovative tool free form factors Superior energy efficiency Diverse portfolio, including world s first multimode mobile workstation 6 5 KEY THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY LenovoNewSchool.co.uk

CONSIDERATION #4: THE TYPE OF EQUIPMENT (continued) THE PROCESSOR Any discussion about microprocessors can quickly become confusing.

The speed of the processor tells you how much data it can process in how much time. In general the bigger the number the better. A microprocessor with 3.

A dual-core processor is like having an extra brain in your head to help you do things. Multi-core computers make it easier to run several programs at the same time.

8 CONSIDERATION #4: THE TYPE OF EQUIPMENT (continued) THE PROCESSOR Any discussion about microprocessors can quickly become confusing. All you need to know is that you re not getting a new computer with old or outdated technology. One way to assess a computer s processors is to find out the number of cores - and the speed. The speed of the processor tells you how much data it can process in how much time. In general the bigger the number the better. A microprocessor with 3.0GHz speed should be twice as fast one running at 1.5 GHz. So what about cores? Today, there are dual-core and quad-core processors. A core is the working part of the processor. A dual-core processor is like having an extra brain in your head to help you do things. Multi-core computers make it easier to run several programs at the same time. As you go up in price, you get more of everything. That sounds great, but you could end up buying more than you actually need. THE HARD DRIVE The hard drive is where the brains and information in the computer is stored. Whenever you load a program (for example, Microsoft Word), it gets stored on the hard drive. And whenever you create your files and save them, they re stored on your computer s hard drive. The operating system and the programs you run are also stored on the hard drive. Most new computers come with 1 terabyte hard drives (1 TB). That s the capacity of 1,000 gigabytes. But if you happen to store your information online on cloud storage, you might want to rethink how much hard drive space you actually need. COMPUTER SOFTWARE Most computers come with Microsoft software. The latest is Windows 10. ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE RAM Basically, the more ram you have, the more browsers and applications you can open. 4GB is the most basic nowadays. 8GB is the sweet spot for most people. For photo or video editing, or planning to do CAD/CAM work, you might need at least 16GB of Ram. The last thing to consider about a computer is does it have a good virus and spyware package? You can t overestimate how important this is. Most computers are bound to get attacked at some point so you need to be prepared when that happens. MEMORY All ads for computers (laptops and desktops) will tell you how much memory the computer comes with in gigabytes. The higher the number, the better off you ll be, especially if you do a lot of multi-tasking, which means running lots of programs at once or watching videos while you re creating complicated spreadsheets and listening to music. 7 5 KEY THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY LenovoNewSchool.co.uk

CONSIDERATION #4: THE TYPE OF EQUIPMENT (continued) OTHER THINGS TO LOOK FOR WHEN CHOOSING MACHINES FOR YOUR EDUCATION NEEDS ALL AVAILABLE FROM THE LENOVO PRODUCT RANGE OF EDUCATION SOLUTIONS: Fast

9 CONSIDERATION #4: THE TYPE OF EQUIPMENT (continued) OTHER THINGS TO LOOK FOR WHEN CHOOSING MACHINES FOR YOUR EDUCATION NEEDS ALL AVAILABLE FROM THE LENOVO PRODUCT RANGE OF EDUCATION SOLUTIONS: Fast boot-up Save time in the classroom by getting up and running fast Large screen size Easier for teachers and students to share a screen and collaborate on projects HD screen Reduces eye strain for more time studying On-board camera Perfect for taking photos and videos for projects Waterproof keyboard Protection from accidental spills in the cafeteria 24/7 onsite warranty If things go wrong, students and teachers can get back to work fast Easy management Save valuable teaching time with fast software updates and simple license management Mil-SPEC tested Tested to military standards to be tough enough for school Backlit keyboard Designed to be used in a darkened classroom or lecture hall Lightweight Easier to carry around between classes Clamshell design Special hinged screen enables sharing and working as a team Touch screen Making teaching and learning more exciting and interactive Long battery life Perfect for a long school day 8 5 KEY THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY LenovoNewSchool.co.uk

CONSIDERATION #5: GETTING ADDED VALUE APART FROM SPECIFICATION REQUIREMENTS, THERE ARE A FEW OTHER POINTS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER WHEN MAKING YOUR DECISION THESE ARE ABOUT ADDED VALUE: Finance options

10 CONSIDERATION #5: GETTING ADDED VALUE APART FROM SPECIFICATION REQUIREMENTS, THERE ARE A FEW OTHER POINTS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER WHEN MAKING YOUR DECISION THESE ARE ABOUT ADDED VALUE: Finance options Warranties Technical design and support Contract management Training support Lenovo products come with specialist finance and warranty cover for Primary and Secondary Schools. And with the support of Lenovo Education Partners you ll be sure of on and offsite services and support, for peace of mind and confidence, whenever you need it, whatever the situation your IT needs are fully covered. To talk to a Lenovo Education Partner today LenovoNewSchool.co.uk/ EducationPartners Powered by Intel. Intel Inside. Powerful Productivity Outside. REFERENCES Intel, the Intel logo and Thunderbolt are trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and/or other countries Google LLC, used with permission. Google and the Google logo are registered trademarks of Google LLC Lenovo. All rights reserved. These products are available while supplies lasts. For any questions concerning price, please contact your Lenovo Account Executive. Lenovo is not responsible for photographic or typographic errors. Warranty: For a copy of applicable warranties, write to: Warranty Information, 500 Park Offices Drive, RTP, NC 27709, Attn: Dept. ZPYA/B600. Lenovo makes no representation or warranty regarding third-party products or services. Trademarks: Lenovo, the Lenovo logo, Rescue and Recovery, ThinkPad, ThinkCentre, ThinkStation, ThinkVantage, and ThinkVision are trademarks or registered trademarks of Lenovo. Microsoft, Windows, and Vista are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Intel, the Intel logo, Intel Inside, Intel Core, and Core Inside are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries. Other company, product, and service names may be trademarks or service marks of others. 9 5 KEY THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY LenovoNewSchool.co.uk

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