Acer Technology Initiative to Help Schools Procure Cutting Edge Technology

Acer, a manufacturer of IT products, including PCs and notebooks, has reportedly devised detailed blueprints to ensure that schools and other educational institutions get access to cutting edge classroom technology.

 

The company is letting schools test its products for free. On the offing are the chances to win a new computer lab that will be equipped with the latest products from the stables of Acer (News - Alert) and Intel that comprises 30 systems of notebooks, desktops and LCDs. Three runner-ups will receive Acer and Intel capabilities to drive a whole classroom of 30 netbooks.

 

Acer’s offer comes at a time when district administration and school IT professionals are drawing out plans for optimal utilization of education stimulus package funds.

 

To participate in “Acer’s Education Technology Initiative,” school staff members and teachers must submit an application prior to Aug. 31 available online at the Web site. There is a limit of one application per individual. The program is open to school IT professionals, teachers, administrators and other associated decision makers.

 

Upon acceptance, school officials receive a free 30-day trial of the latest Acer Aspire One Notebook. The notebook weighs just under 3 pounds and has received several accolades for its powerful and lightweight capability. Once the trial period is over, applicants can return the product without paying a dime toward usage or shipping charges, or buy the same at a discounted rate.

 

Acer will announce the winner of the new technology lab equipped in September, the company said.

 

Classroom technology is seen as vital to improving test scores and even classroom attendance. As per research undertaken in Henry County, Virginia, student scores on state tests saw a 20 percent improvement, during the first year that new laptop technology was brought into the school. Schools everywhere are making use of whatever resources they have and sharing expertise to realize the goal of one-to-one computing. This is the need that Acer’s technology initiative seeks to fulfill.

 

Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, more than $115 billion has been earmarked for education. Schools across the board will probably have different perspectives on modes by which long term results can be generated using education technology, but they all agree that technology is the way to move forward in classroom education.