Top Ed-Tech Resources in 2022

As a premier educational technology supplier for several decades, Arey Jones knows a thing or two about the best machines in the business. We provide customized solutions for our clients, and with that, recommend excellent products that aid in the creation of modern learning spaces.

Our partners are pioneers in the field of EdTech, bringing to the table some of the most cutting-edge tools, gadgets, and programs. To kick off the new calendar year, we’re excited to share some of our favorite features offered by partners of Arey Jones.

HP

HP Education solutions commit to aiding education, everywhere. Its built-for-school technology is perfect for teachers and students alike. The HP Chromebook 11 is a top pick for education. It has so many features to love: a long battery life, a great sized screen, and a HD IPS touchscreen- just to name a few. It’s comfortable and reliable: great for traveling back and forth to school and home.

Microsoft

Microsoft Office 365 is integral to virtually every business and academic landscape. With must-have features like Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and OneNote, it’s impossible to imagine a school without it. 

Recently, Office 365 launched several useful, groundbreaking, and fun new features. Take a look at all of our favorites here. In addition, these free tools from Microsoft make everyday teaching tasks function a little easier.

Google

Google for Education remains a prominent figure in the EdTech world, and for good reason! Google Classroom is filled with incredibly useful programs. Their systems streamline everything from lesson planning to parent communication.

Peruse Google for Education for more information on specific features (such as slides, docs, and meet), and other highlights like professional development.

Google Chromebooks pack some power, but they also boast affordability. Their lightweight design makes them perfect for classroom use, and they can easily be navigated by little hands. When paired with the other, innovative features that Google classroom has to offer, Chromebooks can truly transform the educational experience- both from in and outside of the classroom. Check out some of our favorite things to do with Google Chromebooks.

Dell

Dell is a well-respected and well-known name in the tech industry. They have a device to fit every lifestyle and academic need. One of our favorites is the Dell 3110 Chromebook is designed to last. Its rigorous testing includes making sure it’s able to endure dozens of drops. The keyboard is spill and tamper-resistant, and the ports stay protected and covered with reinforced brackets. These awesome features and its impressively long battery life make this Chromebook a perfect fit for school.

Lenovo

Lenovo is one of the most trusted brands out there.  The Lenovo 100e is perfectly designed with education in mind. It’s durable and light, making it extra portable for students on the move. With rubber bumpers and reinforced hinges, it can stand the test of time (and the test of little ones) in the classroom. 

Lenovo’s 300e is a practical, impressive machine and comes at a price that any school administrator will love. It’s built with education in mind, and with the durability to thrive while under the care of younger students. We love its water-resistant keyboard and the seamless way it is able to run apps. 

These tech devices and programs are sure to assist in making 2022 a great year for education. Click here to find out what services Arey Jones has to offer.

The Best Tech for Summer

The school year’s end is an exhausting but rewarding time. Both educators and students experience the mixed feelings that accompany the conclusion of their grade levels and classes. Due to the unprecedented challenges caused by COVID-19, the end of this school year is particularly bittersweet.

Still, the summer season is always a welcome occasion for rest and renewal. In addition to keeping busy with physical activities and lots of outdoor adventures, it’s equally important for students and teachers alike to continue to exercise their brains. The following tech tools aim to blend playing and learning.

• In the world of convenient devices, HP’s Probook x 360 11 is top notch. This versatile machine is perfect for writing, drawing, reading, and creating. The durability provided by the Probook makes it practical and user friendly, and its spill resistance makes it Popsicle friendly.
  

• The Windows 10 operating system has always been fast and reliable and it also boasts new features that are fun and unique. With just the touch of a few keys, you can talk instead of type. Finding photos is quick and easy with automatic added tabs. Maximize your time by snapping apps side by side.
  

• Microsoft OneNote is ideal for the fast-paced brain of a teacher, and perfect for when you’re inspired with a great lesson idea. Spend a few August afternoons jotting down some lesson plan ideas and getting organized for the coming year. OneNote’s multi-user collaboration allows for sharing ideas with colleagues.
  

• With most summer vacations being put on hold, take an exploratory yet educational adventure with Google Expeditions. Create one to fit the needs of your students, or take an exciting tour created by one of the world’s most well known institutions. 
  

• Keep your mind sharp while having a great time! Geoguessr is an enjoyable way to blend the lines between work and play. The game places you in an unknown location. Using Google Street view, the player will begin to navigate their way home with the help of logic, clues, and the world of technological tools.

What tech tools do you love for summer? Drop your suggestions in the comments!

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The Device to Upgrade in 2020

The beginning of a calendar year means that it’s time for out with the old and in with the new. In the educational and business worlds, the adage applies to the ongoing need to assess the efficacy of technologies. Although most quality devices are designed to last for several years, it’s still prudent to evaluate how well they are meeting the user’s needs. 

For teachers, middle-of-the-year technological changes (especially to their own device) can be difficult to integrate. When the year is in full swing, lesson planning and grading take precedence over navigating a new gadget. Because of this, it’s best to consider implementing the upgrades at the close of the school year. Summer will provide some time to become familiar with the upgraded technology, allowing for comfort and confidence in the new device just in time for school to begin.  

As you’re looking ahead and preparing for the upcoming year, take stock in the efficacy of your computer. If it’s not meeting the needs of yourself or your staff, here is the upgrade we recommend for 2020. 

The Elite Desk 705 is the latest and greatest desktop model from HP’s Z Lineup. Its lag-free performance allows for more productivity in shorter time. And just like teachers, the Elite Desk 705’s strength is multitasking. Windows 10 Pro3 with advanced security, collaboration, and connectivity helps the user effortlessly power through the day. 

With students’ interests in mind, its multifaceted capabilities are designed to handle the best STEM software including SolidWorks, AutoDesk AutoCAD, and AutoDesk REVIT. And with the potential to expand to more bays and slots, it’s the perfect investment that will meet the needs of the upcoming decade. 

Discover more about the Elite Desk 705 and the entire Z by HP Lineup here. 

Most Popular Devices of 2018

Chromebooks are at the forefront of edtech devices and for good reason. Need a device that’s sturdy enough to take what kids can dish out? Go for a Chromebook. Need something powerful enough to meet all your app and online needs? Grab a Chromebook. How about something that does all of the above, while still staying comfortably in budget? You got, Chromebook.

Acer, HP, Dell, Asus and Lenovo all launched new Chromebooks in 2018 each with different options and features that set them apart. The most popular were Dell, Lenovo and HP.

Dell Chromebook 11 2-in-1 5190

Dell’s Chromebook 11 2-in-1 offers the best of both the laptop and tablet worlds. Its 11.6-inch, 2-in-1 screen features multiple viewing modes that allow students to view and write on the Chromebook from any angle - flat, tent, tablet or laptop - making it easy for them to create, collaborate and share ideas. Its Intel dual- and quad-core processor offers at least 10 hours of battery life and can be charged from either of its two USB Type-C ports, which also allows the Chromebook to be connected to a multitude of other devices.

Built for durability, the Chromebook 5190 2-in-1 comes with a sealed, spill-resistant keyboard that is able to withstand up to 12-ounce spills, rubberized protective bumpers along the base and an LCD screen. And, if that wasn’t enough durability, it has been tested to withstand 30-inch drops onto steel so it can easily survive lockers, lunchrooms, backpacks, buses and whatever else a student can dish out. It starts at $369.

Lenovo 500e Chromebook

The 11.6-in 2-in-1 500e Chromebook is made with the same rugged materials as the Dell Chromebook and features similar modes: laptop, tablet, tent or stand. But, one of its best features is the EMR pen. It is great for extended notetaking and writing, fine art or graphic design, detailed math problems requiring a student to show their work, and more. The EMR pen is pressure-sensitive and highly accurate. It runs on machine intelligence from Chrome OS to predict where the writing will go, giving it more of a real pen experience. One cool feature is that no charging or pairing is required, so the pen can be shared between students and across devices. And it’s garaged inside the Chromebook when not in use.

The Lenovo 500e also has two HD cameras to improve collaboration and videoconferencing. The 720p front-facing camera is great for capturing creative projects from anywhere, while the 5MP world-facing camera makes it easier to record and take pictures in the correct orientation from all four modes. The world-facing camera is on the keyboard side of the 500e Chromebook, so it can take photos while being held like a tablet. It starts at $319.

HP Chromebook x360

HP’s x360 Chromebook was created for both the education and consumer markets. It is a 2-in-1 with an 11.6-inch scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass display. Combine that with the spill-resistant keyboard and the x360 is ready for what the classroom can dish out. This Chromebook combines a rugged frame with the 360-degree touchscreen; which is essential for running Android apps. It is built to survive drops and tumbles, and still run like a top. 

The specs are pretty standard: 1.1GHz Celeron, 4GB of RAM and 16GB of expandable storage. There is an upgraded version with 32 GB of storage if you need it. HP’s x360 also comes with a part of USB-C ports and a microSD card reader. At $299.99, this Chromebook is good place to start if you’re curious about Google’s Chrome OS.

Wondering what the most popular devices of 2019 will be? We have a few ideas.

New Chromebooks For Education in 2018

Chromebooks are changing the way students learn. Today, more than 25 million teachers and students are using Chromebooks for education globally, 30 million teachers and students are using Google Classroom and 80 million are using G Suite for Education. Chromebooks allow educators to teach with touch screens, apps, 3D printers and even remotely if need be.

Acer, HP, Dell, Asus and Lenovo will all launch new Chromebooks in 2018. The Dell and Lenovo models were announced first at the Bett annual trade show in London. Here is a quick breakdown what these two have to offer:

Dell Chromebook 11 2-in-1 5190

Dell’s Chromebook 11 2-in-1 is its newest Chromebook for education. It has the best of both the laptop and tablet worlds. Its 11.6-inch, 2-in-1 screen features multiple viewing modes. These modes allow students to view and write on the Chromebook from any angle - flat, tent, tablet or laptop. This feature makes it easy for students to create, collaborate and share ideas. The available world-facing camera allows students to take advantage of flipped viewing and recording angles, while the optional Dell Active EMR Pen provides a digital way to take classroom notes.

Equipped with an Intel dual- and quad-core processor, it has at least 10 hours of battery life, which means it’s good past the last bell. It can be charged from either of its two USB Type-C ports, which also allows the Chromebook to be connected to a multitude of other devices.

It’s also built for durability. The Chromebook 5190 2-in-1 comes with a sealed, spill-resistant keyboard that is able to withstand up to 12-ounce spills, rubberized protective bumpers along the base and a LCD screen. And, if that wasn’t enough durability, it has been tested to withstand 30-inch drops onto steel. That means it can survive lockers, lunchrooms, backpacks, buses and whatever else a student can dish out.

Lenovo 500e Chromebook

The 11.6-in 2-in-1 500e Chromebook is made with the same rugged materials as the Dell Chromebook and features all of the same modes: laptop, tablet, tent or stand.

But, one of its best features is the EMR pen. It is great for extended notetaking and writing, fine art or graphic design, detailed math problems requiring a student to show their work, and more. The EMR pen is pressure-sensitive and highly accurate. It runs on machine intelligence from Chrome OS to predict where the writing will go, giving it more of a real pen experience. One cool feature is that no charging or pairing is required, so the pen can be shared between students and across devices. And it’s garaged inside the Chromebook when not in use.

The Lenovo 500e also has two HD cameras to improve collaboration and videoconferencing. The 720p front-facing camera is great for capturing creative projects from anywhere, while the 5MP world-facing camera makes it easier to record and take pictures in the correct orientation from all four modes. The world-facing camera is on the keyboard side of the 500e Chromebook, so it can take photos while being held like a tablet.

HP Chromebook x360

HP’s latest Chromebook was created for both the education and consumer markets. It is a 2-in-1 with an 11.6-inch scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass display. Combine that with the spill-resistant keyboard and the x360 is ready for what the classroom can dish out. This Chromebook combines a rugged frame with the 360-degree touchscreen; which is essential for running Android apps. It is built to survive drops and tumbles, and still run like a top.

The specs are pretty standard: 1.1GHz Celeron, 4GB of RAM and 16GB of expandable storage. There is an upgraded version with 32 GB of storage if you need it. HP’s x360 also comes with a part of USB-C ports and a microSD card reader. At $300, this Chromebook is good place to start if you’re curious about Google’s Chrome OS.

Look for more new models to roll out as Google will continue to update its Chromebooks For Education page throughout 2018.