January 2006 — Industry Perspective

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A Splash of Color, a Dash of Learning

by David Baird

Beyond the benefits of better information retention and greater student engagement, color also helps brighten up a classroom and enhance the learning environment.

Of course, price is always a top consideration whenever schools shop for technology. However, networked laser printers offer educators many more options toward restraining costs. Network management software can control who can print in color and who cannot. It can also allow several teachers to share one machine. This cuts down on the number of devices a school must track and maintain, as well as the amount of supplies schools must purchase and keep in stock. For those areas where a shared network device in a central location for use by several teachers is not practical, there are solutions available that place a color laser printer on a power cart that can be rolled from classroom to classroom. This allows many teachers to enjoy the benefits of the machine, while ensuring the school doesn't have to endure the additional costs.

Some argue that the drawback to laser printers is not the acquisition cost of the machine, but the cost of toner and other maintenance supplies. However, when you compare purchasing a cartridge that will last for 8,000 pages to buying an ink cartridge that needs to be replaced each month, the cost per page actually comes out less. And more importantly, teachers will spend less time dealing with printer maintenance and more time with their students.

Beyond the benefits of better information retention and greater student engagement, color also helps brighten up a classroom and enhance the learning environment. With today's laser printing technology now enabling documents as large as 12x48 inches to be printed affordably in-house, it makes more sense than ever for schools to add a little color to their printing infrastructure.

David Baird is Lexmark International Inc.'s (www.lexmark.com) industry director for Education.

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David Baird, "A Splash of Color, a Dash of Learning," T.H.E. Journal, 1/1/2006, http://www.thejournal.com/articles/17708

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