Hardware & Infrastructure

Computer systems, major hardware & school/district facilities news


Texas District Cuts Energy Costs with Ice Tanks

The Alamo Heights Independent School District has adopted ice-based energy storage technology to cool more than 325,000 square feet during peak demand for its 900-kilowatt solar power systems.

San Bernardino County Overhauls Tech Infrastructure to Support Digital Learning Initiatives

San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools, which serves 33 K-12 districts in San Bernardino County, CA, has overhauled its technology infrastructure to support various initiatives, including the continued implementation of the Common Core State Standards and Smarter Balanced online assessments.

5 Strategies to Create a 'Post-PC Environment'

According to Duane Schau, director of client services at Indiana University, educational technology is moving toward a world where software will be online, students will access everything they need from one cheap device and BYOD will stand for “bring your own data.”

New Hampshire School Doubles Down on Solar Power

New Hampshire's Proctor Academy is adding more solar arrays as the result of a push from the school's student environmental action group.

WiFi on Wheels Puts Two Districts on the Fast Track to 24/7 Access

Internet-enabled school buses keep students connected on the road, in school parking lots and in their own neighborhoods.

How Embedded Technology Is Inspiring Student-Centered Learning

Kirsten Wright, an educational technology teacher at Desert Sands Unified School District (CA), talks about how making the move to 1-to-1 has transformed not only teaching and learning, but the physical design of her districts' classrooms.

USAC Extends E-Rate Application Deadline to April 16

In consultation with the FCC and in response to a request from the country’s largest school districts, the Universal Service Administration Company has extended the E-rate application window for this fiscal year by three weeks.

Cesar Chavez Adds Solar Power for Reduced Energy Costs, Improved STEM Opportunities

The Cesar Chavez Public Charter Schools for Public Policy has installed an interactive learning solar power system at its Washington D.C. Parkside Campus.

Oakland USD Adds Solar To Reduce Energy Costs, Increase STEM Opportunities

Oakland Unified School District has installed solar panels at 16 schools, totaling 3.6 megawatts. In addition to energy, the installations will provide STEM education opportunities for OUSD students.

California District To Save $39 Million with Solar Power

Antioch Unified School District has installed solar power projects at 20 campuses, with a projected savings of $39 million in energy costs over 30 years.

Featured Mobility Articles

Masters of Learning

I had the delightful privilege of moderating the FETC Virtual Conference this past May. One of the events was a Q&A with Elliot Soloway, of the University of Michigan, and Cathleen Norris, of the University of North Texas, regarding their mobile learning research initiatives. Their strong contention is that students will bring their mobile phones to school to learn — and it will happen a lot sooner than we think. It's inevitable, they say, and educators need to get with the picture. By Therese Mageau.

Principals Call for Mobile and Social Technologies in Schools

The National Association of Secondary School Principals is looking to change the conversation about mobile computing and social media in schools.

The ABCs of BYOL

A bring-your-own-laptop pilot program puts an Ohio district closer to its goal of getting a computer into the hands of each of its students.

New York Educators Get Cross-Platform Tablet Training

NYSCATE, the New York State Association for Computers and Technologies in Education, will be training teachers on Android- and Windows-based tablets this summer.

Classroom Walkthrough Comes to Android

Teacher professional development provider Teachscape has brought Classroom Walkthrough to the Android platform.

Using iPods To Increase Reading Comprehension

As a middle school reading specialist in Oregon's Eugene School District 4j, Marilyn Williams found that many of her middle school students weren't finishing their reading or remembering what they read. So she decided to tackle the problem with the help of iPod touch devices.

Student Engagement on the Go

Assistant Principal Patrick McGee explains that whatever the other advantages of adopting iPads and iPods in the classroom, the key is student engagement.

Drill Down: Mobile Devices in Education

As educators continue to weigh the many considerations attached to allowing student-owned handheld devices on campus, Speak Up asked parents what good they think the use of mobile technologies would have on their children's education.

An App for That ... and That ... and That

The mobile technology market is blooming with powerful applications that have the ability to transform education with the ease of a download to any number of handheld devices. To learn what apps educators are finding most valuable to teaching and learning, we asked presenters from this month's Florida Education Technology Conference (FETC) to share some of their favorites.

NEA Program To Award Smart Phone Grants

The NEA Foundation is expanding the focus of its Challenge to Innovate (C2i) grant program. In the latest phase, the foundation will award five grants to support innovative ideas for using smart phones in the classroom.

6 Technologies That Will Change Education

Over the next five years, six technologies will have a profound impact on teaching and learning--and some are already beginning to have an impact.

When Social Networking Goes 'Live'

An English teacher in Iowa talks about how she parlayed Twitter interactions into a class trip halfway around the world.

Philadelphia Elementary School Students Treated to a New iPad Lab

Students at Philadelphia’s Stephen Decatur Elementary school will have access to a new iPad lab when they return to class in the fall.

Accelerated Reader Student App Comes to iOS

Renaissance Learning has released a free iOS app that lets students take their Accelerated Reader quizzes on their iPads, iPhones, and iPods.

ActiveCloud for iOS Enables Seamless Management of Local and Cloud-Based Files

Mobile software company Pocket Watch has released its cloud storage management application, ActiveCloud 1.0, for iOS.

Mobility Webinar

  • How to Select a Tablet Webinar screen capture

    Learn 10 essential criteria that organizations should consider when choosing a tablet computer.

Mobility Podcast

About GovConnection

GovConnection, Inc. is a leading provider of IT products and services to the K–12 and higher education marketplace.

Backed by years of experience and extensive vendor partnerships, our Account Managers are focused on helping you connect with the latest, most effective technology to support education.

With more than 150,000 products, a nationwide network of service partners, and teams of certified technical experts, GovConnection has the resources to help you achieve your IT goals—on time and on budget.

From digital signage in the campus cafeteria to servers in the core of your data center, GovConnection is ready to design, build, and support IT solutions that meet your every need. If you’re looking for an IT provider with the tools to accelerate learning and enhance collaboration, GovConnection is here to put technology to work for you. More Information

Mobility Resources

  • Adobe® Acrobat® X Pro in K–12 education PDF Screenshot

    K-12 educators are using Acrobat to enhance workflows, to improve collaboration, to create e-Portfolios of classroom activities, and even provide documents that are accessible to people with disabilities. Download PDF

  • Laptop Lessons PDF Screenshot

    While you may hear more about iPad’s impact in schools in the news lately, The Peddie School in Hightstown, NJ demonstrates how having a program with netbooks and laptops have benefitted the students. Download PDF

  • Case Study: Archdiocese of Philadelphia PDF Screenshot

    The Archdiocese of Philadelphia needed high-performance devices that offered both great savings and strong warranty to serve over 68,000 students. Acer provided rugged, fast netbooks with large keyboards that could stand up to long-term student use. Download PDF

  • Case Study: Lorain City Schools, OH PDF Screenshot

    The Challenge: Lorain City Schools in Lorain, OH serves 19 different schools and programs with a diverse student population. The Solution: Find out how Acer helped a large school system on a tight budget build a bridge to the 21st century classroom. Download PDF

GovConnection K-12 Overview

  • GovConnection PDF: Experience the GovConnection Difference Today Experience the GovConnection Difference Today

    Download PDF

About GovConnection

GovConnection, Inc. is a leading provider of IT products and services to the K–12 and higher education marketplace.

Backed by years of experience and extensive vendor partnerships, our Account Managers are focused on helping you connect with the latest, most effective technology to support education.

With more than 150,000 products, a nationwide network of service partners, and teams of certified technical experts, GovConnection has the resources to help you achieve your IT goals—on time and on budget.

From digital signage in the campus cafeteria to servers in the core of your data center, GovConnection is ready to design, build, and support IT solutions that meet your every need. If you’re looking for an IT provider with the tools to accelerate learning and enhance collaboration, GovConnection is here to put technology to work for you. More Information