Aimed at providing dependable mobile computing solutions to students and teachers in the K-12 education bracket, Panasonic rolls out its “Engage, Empower, Enable” or 3E mobile device during the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Conference on June 29.
The 3E device is a convertible and portable unit, a tablet that can transform into a laptop with its detachable keyboard and other functionalities. The new computing device was made possible in collaboration with Microsoft Corp. and Intel.
With such collaboration, the three companies were able to bring a “purpose-built education solution” to the market, which intends to deliver personalized learning and promote digital literacy to all students in an attempt to balance inequality in U.S. education.
“Delivering a student device was not our goal; we wanted to deliver the solution to the challenges faced specifically by K-12 students and educators,” Rance Poehler, president of the Panasonic System Communications Company-North America, says in a statement.
3E computing device was designed to incite inquiry-based education, boost engagement as well as develop analytical skills to assist students prosper in STEM subjects. It was also designed to lessen anxiety of teachers by giving them the opportunity to provide personalized learning for their students without disregarding whole-group instruction.
“We’re doing more than simply giving students devices to take notes – we’re empowering teachers to have more control over their lessons and incorporate interactive features that inspire student curiosity and promote inquiry,” John Galvin, vice president at Intel’s Sales and Marketing Group and general manager at Intel Education, says in a statement.
Jason Messer, Manteca Unified School District Superintendent, says devices that are geared to serve K-12 learning are good because it helps students jump into this digital age and sustain the needs of this specific market.
“We are deeply committed to improving student success through innovative technology. Our collaboration with Panasonic to create a STEM-centered Windows 8.1 student device at an affordable price is an important pillar in that effort,” Margo Day, vice president at U.S. Education in Microsoft, says in a statement.
Panasonic’s 3E portable device is being offered at a starting price point of $499. It features a slightly rugged design, 10” touchscreen, 32/64GB storage, 2GB RAM, 1.2 megapixels front and 5 megapixels rear camera, education-specific app or software such as the KNO, stylus, sensors, Wi-Fi capability and detachable keyboard. It runs Microsoft Windows 8.1 Pro and Intel Atom AZ3740D 1.3GHz quad-core processor.
