California District Adding Touchscreen Computers That Don't Require an Internet Connection
Alta Loma (CA) School District is adding 14 new education-specific plug-and-play touchscreen computers for its elementary summer program and before- and after-school care.
The computers, AWE’s AfterSchool Edge, will also be used with kindergarteners during the extended portion of their day. Designed for children of all elementary school grades, it contains over 60 educational software programs covering all subject areas: reading, phonics, math, science, STEM, history, geography, writing, reference, graphic arts, and music.
A plug-and-play system, it does not require an internet connection to operate (although it can connect to one). The district can also tap into reporting and tracking features through an online learning management system.
"The AfterSchool Edge computers offer our students a rich collection of education content that gives them an opportunity to learn and explore at their own pace and follow their own interests," said Carol Whitaker, the district’s child care director, in a statement. "The added benefit of using them during the summer months is that they allow students to maintain academic fluency. Our hope is that this fun and engaging tool will allow our students to begin the next school year with little or no summer learning loss."
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Stephen Noonoo is an education technology journalist based in Los Angeles. He is on Twitter @stephenoonoo.