Bulletin staff reports
A 2-in-1 convertible device, called the 3E, which is targeted for students from kindergarten to 12th grade, is getting top marks from various sources including Manteca Unified Superintendent Jason Messer.
“As educators, it is our imperative to support extended learning and expose students to the tools and environment that await them in the work world,” said Messer about this new product. “Devices that are purpose-built for K-12 education, like the 3E, are ideal to meet the needs of this market and help the students leap into the digital age.”
Messer was one of those who spoke Sunday morning at the International Society for Technology in Education conference held in Atlanta, GA, on the importance of technology in preparing students for real-world skills. Messer spoke alongside leaders from Microsoft, Intel and Panasonic as those companies announced the first collaboration on a student device called the 3E.
Manteca Unified has committed to purchase 23,000 of this latest device as part of an initiative to improve student engagement, empower teachers with classroom management tools, and enable IT staff to do more.
This year, Manteca Unified has started upgrading its computer and Internet systems. That is part of the $30 million project called Go Digital which is aimed at bringing Manteca Unified schools’ old and obsolete technology systems to 21st-century technology.
Panasonic, a leader in holistic technology solutions for the education market, today announced it has collaborated with Intel and Microsoft Corp. to deliver a purpose-built mobile computing solution for the K-12 education market. The 2-in-1 convertible device, the 3E, features a tablet that comes with a detachable keyboard to deliver laptop capabilities and aims to engage students, empower teachers, and enable IT. The company unveiled the 3E today at the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Conference.
“Any one of our companies could design and develop a mobile computing solution for the education market,” said Rance Poehler, president of Panasonic System Communications Company of North America. “Delivering a solution was not our goal; we wanted to deliver the solution to the challenges faced specifically by K-12 students and educators. With our combined resources and vast education market experience, these three companies have the ability to collaborate on a solution that is greater than the sum of its parts. By working together, Panasonic, Intel, and Microsoft are helping bring to market a purpose-built education solution that will promote digital literacy and deliver truly personalized learning.”
Created Specifically for Today’s K-12 Student
Developed to foster active learning and effective classroom management, the 10-inch touch-screen 3E 2-in-1 features education-specific software, such as KNO, from Intel and Microsoft. The 3E also includes a detachable keyboard for maximum flexibility, in addition to:
• Interactive STEM-centric Features: The 3E includes a stylus for easier note-taking, an attachable magnifying lens that turns the camera into a microscope, and a temperature probe for lab experiments. These interactive features promote inquiry-based learning and facilitate training in STEM subjects.
• Durability: As a manufacturer of mobile devices that can survive the world’s most extreme environments, Panasonic has infused the student devices with similarly rugged technology: the 3E is able to withstand three-foot drops in addition to being spill and dust resistant, meeting IP51 standard. Such a level of ruggedness increases where and how lessons can be taught, and reduces the risk of device replacement costs.
• Classroom Management: The 3E promotes student collaboration with reversible docking, and allows teachers to control what the students are doing by viewing or unlocking their devices to ensure everyone is on the same page and tracking with the lesson.
